Bridges: More Than Crossings

The 37 bridges that span the Seine in Paris are characters in their own right. The Pont Neuf, despite its name ("New Bridge"), is the oldest, completed in 1607. It was revolutionary for its time—the first bridge without houses built on it, designed as a public space where all classes could mingle.

Each bridge tells a story. The ornate Pont Alexandre III celebrates the Franco-Russian alliance. The modern Pont Charles-de-Gaulle connects the new National Library with Bercy, symbolizing the link between knowledge and commerce. The Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir, a sleek footbridge, honors the feminist philosopher while providing wheelchair-accessible connections between the river's banks.

The bridges have also been stages for human drama. During World War II, the Resistance used them for clandestine meetings. In 1961, during a peaceful protest against the Algerian War, police threw dozens of Algerian demonstrators from the bridges into the Seine; the exact death toll remains disputed, but the tragedy is now memorialized with plaques along the river.

Today, the bridges serve as meeting points for Paris's diverse communities. The Pont des Arts, once famous for its love locks, now hosts impromptu concerts where musicians from around the world share their traditions. On summer evenings, the Pont de la Tournelle becomes an outdoor dance floor for tango enthusiasts, while the arches of the Pont Marie shelter homeless individuals whom local organizations work to help.