The Bridges of Paris: a tour from one bank to the other

What would Paris be without the Seine and its bridges? The Hotel Université invites you to discover two of the capital’s most iconic bridges, the Pont Neuf and the Pont des Arts.

The Pont Neuf: the oldest bridge in Paris

It’s quite ironic that the oldest bridge across the Seine should be called the New Bridge, but the Pont Neuf is so named because in the late 16th century it was something of an architectural novelty. Unlike previous bridges, there were to be no houses built upon it, and it was designed to have paved walkways for the convenience of pedestrians. Construction began in 1578 under Henri III and ended in 1607 under Henri IV. On August 23rd, 1614, an equestrian statue of Henri IV, who had been assassinated four years previously, was erected at the point where the bridge crosses the Ile de la Cité. Commissioned by Marie de Medicis, the King’s widow, this work by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna was destroyed during the Revolution, but then recreated in 1818, using a surviving cast of the original, by François-Frédéric Lemot.

Mascarons and balconies

The Pont Neuf, connecting the left and right banks of the Seine to the western end of the Ile de la Cité, offers one of the most beautiful walks in Paris. It has wide walkways and semicircular balconies between each arch, where merchants and craftsmen would set up their booths in centuries past. This tradition lasted until 1854. Look over the parapet and study the cornices: you will see 385 grotesque stone heads carved by the French Renaissance sculptor, Germain Pilon. Decorated with vines, grapes and acanthus leaves, these are known as mascarons. Wrapped in fabric by Christo and Jeanne-Claude as a temporary art installation in 1985 and covered in flowers by Kenzo in 1994, the Pont Neuf has also inspired painters, including Lallemand, Renoir and Vallotton. Continue your walk to the Carnavalet museum, where you will find many paintings of the Pont Neuf during different eras.

The Pont des Arts

From the Pont Neuf, you will have a beautiful view of the Pont des Arts, the bridge that connects the Malaquais and Conti quays and the Institut de France with the Louvre and François Mitterrand quays and the Cour Carrée.

First metal bridge in Paris

It was between 1801 and 1804 that the first metal bridge in Paris was built and called the Pont des Arts. This nine-arched construction was designed to be a hanging garden, with many shrubs, flower baskets and benches for walkers. Weakened by bombing during two World Wars, as well as impacts from poorly-piloted boats, the original bridge was dismantled and rebuilt in accordance with the original design between 1981 and 1984. The one difference was that the number of arches was reduced from nine to seven to match those of the Pont Neuf.

Of love locks and street art

Offering a unique view of Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Institut de France, the Pont des Arts is also famous for its love locks. Since 2008, the latticed parapets were festooned with thousands of padlocks inscribed with the names of lovers from around the world. After much controversy regarding the dangerous weight and unsightly nature of these installations, the love locks were removed permanently from the Pont des Arts, beginning on June 1st 2015, and replaced by wooden panels dedicated to street art.

When you stay at the Hotel Université, located on the left bank, in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres district, it takes just a few minutes to walk to these two legendary bridges and admire the views that have enraptured generations of Parisians, visitors, artists and filmmakers.

~oOo~

Picture Bridges 'Pont des Arts' et 'Pont Neuf' copyright holder : Tourist Office Paris - Photographer David Lefranc

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Hotel Université
Distinguished hotel at the heart of Paris Saint-Germain-des-Prés