Pont Neuf . Bridge

Visit the Pont Neuf, one of the most famous and beautiful bridges in Paris. A symbol of the city for more than four centuries, the bridge attracts a steady stream of sightseeing visitors as well as locals who come here to walk.

Pont Neuf in French means "new bridge", however, this structure is quite old. Construction began in 1578 by order of King Henry III, however, it was not until 1607, during the reign of King Henry IV, that the bridge was inaugurated. With a length of more than 230m, this is the first bridge to cross both branches of the Seine, connecting District 6 on the left bank and District 1 on the right bank of the Seine, spanning the western cape of Île de la Cité island. , where Dauphine Square is located. Pont Neuf is 20.5m wide, including 11.5m of bridge and two sidewalks, 4.5m wide on each side.

Pont Neuf has 12 arched spans. The part of the bridge spanning the large branch of the Seine River connecting to District 1 consists of 7 spans. The part connecting to District 6 includes 5 spans. At each pier there is a semicircular "balcony" that juts out into the Seine. The outer side of the bridge is decorated with 381 sculptures of the faces of the gods in ancient legends, such as the god of the goat, the god of the forest. Each statue depicts a different emotion, many depict a grimace, which looks quite strange.

For the best views of Pont Neuf, head to the Ponte des Arts pedestrian bridge near the Louvre, famous for its love locks attached to the fence. From here, visitors can see the 12-span Pont Neuf bridge with all the splendid images of this construction. Notice the two distinct sections of the bridge: one connects the left bank to the island of Île de la Cité, the other connects the island to the right bank of the Seine.

Notice the decorative lines of the spans, the numerous strange statues and carved winged beasts. Some people think that these statues represent river gods, others think that these are humorous images representing ordinary people lounging on the bridge. The best angle to see the winged animal statues is from below, when passing under the spans; Take a boat along the Seine for a close-up view.

Walk across the bridge and enjoy sweeping views of the Louvre and Tuileries palaces, as well as the old La Samaritaine shopping mall. Once you've reached the junction between the bridge and the Île de la Cité, look for the bronze statue of King Henry IV on horseback. This is a reconstruction of the previous statue that was demolished during the French Revolution. Take a break or camp in the small square of Square du Vert-Galant in the center.

Address : 15 Place du Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France

Price : Free