Equestrian statue of Henry IV, Historical monument on Pont Neuf, Paris, France.
The equestrian statue depicts a king in full armor mounted on his horse, holding a scepter decorated with floral ornaments. The bronze figure stands on a pedestal at the western end of a bridge spanning the Seine.
An earlier mounted statue stood at this location from 1614 but was destroyed in 1792 during the French Revolution. The current bronze version was erected in 1818 after the monarchy had been restored in France.
The statue shows a king in armor on his horse at a bridge where many Parisians cross every day. This mounted figure has become a familiar sight that connects the city's past with its present.
The statue is easy to reach and invites you to linger on the bridge where you can see the water and surrounding architecture. Visiting outside peak tourist hours makes for a more relaxed experience when the bridge is less crowded.
Small objects and medals were hidden inside the horse's body during its installation in 1818 and are now kept in the National Archives. These hidden treasures were only discovered when the statue was examined for maintenance work.
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