The Seine River is a very important transportation artery for Paris. It is called the “lifeblood of Paris” and is also the most beautiful “boulevard” in the city. Much of the special romantic charm of Paris is attributed to the river that cuts the city in two.
the history of Paris It has a strong connection with the Seine since its early days as a Gallic village. In the past, the river served a variety of purposes: it was part of the sewage system, but also a major source of drinking water, it served as an important trade route, laundresses did their work there, and King Henry IV swam naked in it in the hot summer of 4.
Anyone who comes to the city today cannot ignore the river that gives Paris its special character. The river meanders lazily for 13 km through the city. It enters Paris in the southeast, close toVincennes Forest, flows alongside three islands: Île de la Cité, Île Saint-Louis, and Île des Swans. It originates fromBurgundy And it continues along a 776 km course until it empties into the sea at La Haber.
Along the banks of the Seine, breathtaking views can be seen and most of the important and noteworthy buildings and attractions of the City of Lights are located, such as: Eiffel Tower, The Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Notre Dame Church, theConcord, Tuileries Gardens, theConcierge And more. It is not for nothing that the tourist ships (The Batu MoshThe canals in the river are equipped with powerful lighting that makes the buildings powerful and unforgettable at night. This is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to get to know the city.
The riverbanks are declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the height of summer, significant parts of the Seine quays are transformed into urban beaches where you can find games, dancing, sand, palm trees, sunbeds, deckchairs, beach huts, hammocks, cafes and a Riviera atmosphere.
The 37 bridges of Paris, spread along the river and connecting the right bank to the left bank, play a crucial role in the city's unique architectural heritage. Some of the bridges have achieved world fame, others remain unknown. But all of them are an excellent reason to take a tour along the river. You can enjoy the magnificent Parisian view from each bridge both during the day and at night.
No fewer than 12 bridges serve the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis. The main reason for this is that around these two islands the Seine splits into two branches, so that separate connections are required from the islands to the right bank and from the islands to the left bank. The oldest bridge is the Pont Neuf, inaugurated in 1607, while the youngest bridge is the Pont Simone de Beauvoir, inaugurated on July 13, 2006, and allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross between The 12rd District ל13th District.
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Join us on a virtual journey to the most fascinating district in Paris. Together we will discover hidden courtyards, French nobility, and the true stories behind the magnificent facades.
The ten most beloved bridges of Paris
From the variety of bridges, I have chosen the 10 greatest for this article. We are now embarking on a fascinating walking tour along the banks of the river. We will actually walk across Paris, from west to east, and stop at my chosen bridges.
Mirabeau Bridge (Pont Mirabeau)
Our starting point is the Mirabeau Bridge. The Mirabeau Bridge is not located in the heart of Paris and is therefore less well known to the public. The 173 m long bridge was inaugurated in 1897. It connects The 15rd District ל16th DistrictThe bridge offers a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire wrote the famous poem “Mirabeau Bridge” about it: “Under the Mirabeau Bridge the waters of the Seine flow, with them our love.”
Here is Serge Reggiani's immortal version of this song:
Pont de Grenelle
The Pont de Grenelle connects the 15th and 16th arrondissements near the Radio House. FranceIt is an arched bridge and is 220 meters long. It was inaugurated in its current form in 1966. Near the bridge, which is located at the southwestern end of Swan Island, is the largest Statue of Liberty in Paris. About one kilometer away is the Eiffel Tower.
Bir-Hakeim Bridge (Pont de Bir-Hakeim)
The Bir Hakim Bridge connects the 15th and 16th arrondissements and hugs the 7th arrondissement very close to the Eiffel Tower. Metro line 6 runs over the bridge, partly on the elevated track, and allows you to peek into the private apartments next to it. The view is wonderful: the bridge on its 2 levels, the view from it, the general atmosphere, and “France Awakening” – a sculpture by Holger Wederkinch that was given to France in 1930 by the Danish community.
Pont de l'Alma
On our way east, we will pass the Pont de l'Alma, which connects the Eiffel Tower to Trocadero, and the Passerelle de Debilly, and we will reach the next chosen bridge – the Pont de l'Alma, which was inaugurated in 1856 and underwent a major renovation between 1971 and 1974. The bridge is 153 m long and connects the7th District ל8th District.
Next to the bridge is the 'Flame of Liberty' statue and in the tunnel under the bridge, Princess Diana was killed in an accident. Under the Pont de l'Alma is the Zouave statue (pictured) which serves as a marker for the water level in the Seine. In 1910, the water unusually reached the chin of the flooded and frightened statue. You can read more about this flood in the article Swinging but not sinking.
Pont Alexandre III
We passed over a bridge. The invalid And we find ourselves in a spectacular place. The Alexander Bridge, connecting the 8th and 7th arrondissements, is undoubtedly the most beautiful bridge in Paris and without competitors. The cornerstone of the bridge was laid in October 1896 by Tsar Nicholas II and it is named after his father Alexander III. Construction was completed in 1900 on the eve of the Universal Exhibition. The bridge is located between the Invalides complex and the Grand and Petit Palais.
It is filled with Art Nouveau decorations, special street lamps, statues, nymphs and winged horses covered in gold placed at each corner of the bridge. It is one of the most suitable places in Paris to renew the air and your health, while admiring the surrounding landscape. Both because of the sparkling copper decorations and gold plating of the cupids, and because of the wonderful views that can be seen from the bridge from all sides, including a particularly spectacular view of the nearby Invalides.
Concorde Bridge (Pont de la Concorde)
The BridgeConcord Inaugurated in 1791, it connects the 7th arrondissement with the prestigious Place de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement. The central location of the bridge allows for spectacular views from all sides. The photo attached to this article was taken from under the bridge. Everyone takes photos of it from above, I decided to diversify, to immortalize a different, unusual and original perspective. Some of the bridge stones are stones brought fromBastille After its demolition. The stated goal was “to allow people to forever walk on the ruins of the ancient fortress.”
Bridge of the Arts (Pont des Arts)
We continue facing east. With the Tuileries Gardens and the Louvre Museum on our left, we will pass the Passerelle Solferino opposite the Musée d'Orsay, cross the Pont Royal and the Pont du Carrousel until we land on one of the most famous and unique bridges in Paris - the Pont des Arts.
The Pont des Arts Contemporains is a 1984 replica of the first cast iron bridge in Paris. It is made of steel and connects the Louvre Museum in the 1st arrondissement with The 6rd DistrictThe Bridge of Arts was inaugurated in 1803 and was the first bridge designed for pedestrians only. At the beginning of its existence, it was only possible to cross the bridge for a fee.
On the day of its inauguration, 65 Parisians paid to walk on it. Until a few years ago, thousands of lovers' padlocks hung on its railings and it was called the Bridge of Locks. The locks were removed by the Paris municipality for safety reasons. At the southern end of the Pont des Arts is a prominent and impressive building with its columns and large dome. This is the 'Institut de France', which was built in 1688. The institute contains five academies. The 'Académie Française', founded by Cardinal Richelieu, is the best known of the five and one of the most important academies in the world in the field of linguistics.
You can read more about both the bridge and the academy in the article The story of Von des Aars and the Collège de France.
Pont Neuf
Its name is “The New Bridge” (Pon Neuf) but it is actually the oldest bridge in Paris. On May 31, 1578, King Henri III laid its cornerstone. In its center stands a statue of King Henri IV, who inaugurated the bridge in 3, riding on horseback. The architecture of the bridge is an example of the Italian Renaissance. It connects the1th District ל6th District.
It is one of the most famous and beautiful bridges in Paris. The bridge is 275 meters long and is supported by 12 arches, each with grotesque carvings at the top. The bridge overlooks wonderful views around the Seine River, such as: the Louvre Museum, the French Institute, the Pont des Arts, and more.
We are actually at the western end of the Ile de la Cité. Here at the “tip” of the Jardin Vergalin, below the new bridge, the Seine River splits into two branches.
On the left bank are the Pont Saint-Michel, the Petit Pont, Pont au Double, and Pont de Archeveche. On the right bank are the Pont de l'Echange, Pont Notre-Dame, and Pont D'arcole. The Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis are connected by the Pont Saint-Louis, a very romantic bridge at sunset.
Exchange Bridge (Pont au Change)
From the selection of bridges connecting the Île de la Cité, I chose the Pont des Expositions. The bridge stands on the Seine between the 1st and 4th arrondissements near the magnificent Conciergerie building seen here in the background. The bridge was built in the 9th century. Starting in the 12th century, money changers (bankers) settled on the bridge, hence its name (“Bridge of Exchanges”). More precisely, in 1141, King Louis VII founded a money exchange office there.
Immediately afterwards, the king ordered all the money changers to settle on the bridge, and since then it has been called that (first “the money changers’ bridge” and then to this day “the money changers’ bridge”). Over time, the money changers’ shops and the goldsmiths’ and jewelers’ shops that were set up on the bridge multiplied so much that it was impossible to see the Seine at its foot. In 1788, the houses and shops on the bridge were demolished and the view was returned to residents and visitors.
There are also several important bridges on the Ile Saint-Louis. Connecting the island to the right bank, we will see the Louis Philippe Bridge and the Marie Bridge. The Souley Bridge extends at the eastern end of the island near SQUARE BARYE. Just before it is the Pont de la Tournel, where we will end our tour.
Pont de la Tournelle
The original Pont de la Tournelle was built of wood in 1370. The current bridge was expanded and renovated between 1923 and 1928. It connects the 5th arrondissement to the Île Saint-Louis. The bridge offers a wonderful view of Notre Dame. I really like the unique combination of the bridge, the river, the ships and the tall statue. A statue of Sainte-Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, stands on the Pont de la Tournelle and supervises the movement of ships on the river. The statue is the work of Paul Landowski, a French-Polish artist who later gained world fame when he created the giant statue of “Jesus the Redeemer” towering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Wonderful article with stunning photographs. The details are just the right amount, in the right dosage. Thank you, Joel.
Thank you.
I enjoyed seeing the pictures. It brought me back to my trips to Paris.
Hoping to go back and travel soon.
Thank you Sarah Daphne
Great article, wonderful route. Do you have an estimate, Yoel and/or Zvi, of how many kilometers it is?
Already fantasizing about the route for my next time in Paris….
Thank you and may you continue to come up with more amazing articles ⭐
It really depends on where you want to start and where you want to end (I'm guessing you don't want to go from the eastern border to the western border or vice versa). Once you know this, you can use GOOGLE MAPS and it will give you the walking distance.