Paris is defined, above all, by the two banks of the Seine, the left bank and the right bank. But no one can stay on just one side; there's too much to see! That's where the bridges of Paris come in. There are 37 of them criss-crossing the river and linking the two banks of the city. Fortunately, in keeping with its reputation, the bridges of Paris are as beautiful as they are functional. In fact, many bridges are destinations in themselves. We have selected some of our favourite Parisian bridges.
PONT ALEXANDRE III
Dubbed "the most beautiful bridge in the world", those who have set eyes on the Alexander III Bridge generally agree. Built between 1896 and 1900, the bridge is named after Tsar Alexander III, the Russian sovereign under whose reign the Franco-Russian Alliance was ratified. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, and its ornamental decorations, notably the Art Nouveau lamps and the huge gilded statues that preside over each side of the bridge, are still a marvel today. The bridge was inaugurated in 1900 to coincide with the Universal Exhibition, as were the Grand Palais and Petit Palais, its neighbours.
BIR-HAKEIM BRIDGE
The Pont de Bir-Hakeim links the 15th and 16th arrondissements and is one of two viaduct bridges in Paris, with a pedestrian and car lane underneath and a metro line above (the other being the Pont de Bercy, also used by metro line 6 in the 12th and 13th arrondissements. Linked to the Ile aux Cygnes at its eastern end (one of Paris's five Liberty statues is at the western end!), it is adorned with numerous commemorative plaques and statues, but its main attraction is the incredible view it affords over the Eiffel TowerIt is also possible to enjoy the view from the footpath and from line 6 of the metro as it passes between Bir-Hakeim and Passy stations.
PONT NEUF
It is the oldest bridge in Paris - if neuf does indeed mean "new", it is also the masculine singular of the word "nouveau", an amusing irony for a bridge whose construction began in 1578. It was the first bridge to be built to link the main roads - the Rue de Rivoli on the right bank and the Rue Dauphine on the left, providing access to the Ile de la Cité and the Place Dauphine in the centre.
ARTS BRIDGE
Officially, it's the Pont des Arts, but you might know it better as the "bridge of love padlocks". A tradition developed a few years ago of adding a padlock to the sides of the bridge with the names of couples inscribed on it, then throwing the key into the Seine to represent a bond that can never be broken. While it is not yet known whether this tradition brought luck to the tens of thousands of people who added padlocks to the bridge, the padlocks were removed in 2015 due to their weight affecting the integrity of the bridge and were replaced with glass panels.
PONT DE LA TOURNELLE
Linking the Île Saint-Louis to the Left Bank, the Pont de la Tournelle offers both an impressive view of Notre-Dame and a statue of the patron saint of Paris, Sainte Geneviève. Facing east, away from Notre-Dame, it's easy to miss, as you can only see it from the back - a mistake that its creator, Paul Landowski (who also designed Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro), always deplored. Legend has it that the prayers and determination of Geneviève, the daughter of a magistrate, saved Paris from being pillaged by Attila and the Huns, because she convinced the Parisians to stay and fight for their city. This is why she is depicted on the statue as protecting a small child, Paris.
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