Pont Neuf, Stone bridge in 6th arrondissement, France
Pont Neuf is a 238-meter stone bridge spanning the Seine in Paris, linking the Left and Right Banks through Île de la Cité. Its twelve arches rest on wide piers equipped with semicircular balconies that offer pedestrians space to pause and look out over the water.
Construction began in 1578 under Henry III and was interrupted during the Wars of Religion until completion in 1607. This bridge was the first Parisian Seine crossing built without houses on top, marking a new urban planning decision at the time.
Despite its name, the structure is actually the oldest standing bridge in the city. Its stone masks show grimacing faces, animal heads and grotesque figures that have watched passersby for centuries.
Metro station Pont Neuf is nearby and provides direct access to the crossing. Both cars and pedestrians use the passage, with sidewalks on each side allowing a walk across the river.
An equestrian statue of Henry IV stands at the center, replacing the original monument destroyed during the French Revolution. Beneath its base sits a small capsule containing documents and relics from the early 19th century.
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