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Pont Neuf

Pont Neuf (8A)

Pont Neuf which means “New Bridge” is curiously the oldest in Paris and marks the beginning of the Île de la Cité. You will recall it name, seeing as it has been mentioned over and again by different writers, painters and film directors.

It was Henry III who placed the first stone in 1578 but its construction suffered serious delays due to the civil wars between 1588 and 1598. The work was left untouched until Henry IV commissioned the project to be restarted by Guillaume Marchant and François Petit. For this reason, the equestrian statue you can see on the Île de la Cité is of Henry IV, who finally opened the bridge in 1607 and he gave it its name. 

Pont Neuf was the first uncovered stone bridge, since it was built without houses on top, and at more than 200 metres in length is also the longest bridge in Paris.

Features of the construction include, as well as its 12 arches, the fact of being the first bridge with a pavement and small balconies for pedestrians. If you want, you can also go down some steps to get a really good view of the bridge and take home a lovely photo.

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