Quai François-Mitterrand

The quai François-Mitterrand is a riverfront walkway along the Seine in Paris, stretching approximately 710 meters and measuring about 22 meters wide. The path runs beside the walls of the Louvre Palace and connects several important bridges including Pont Royal, Pont du Carrousel, and Pont des Arts.

The quay was formed from the combination of two older waterfront paths and received its current name in 2003 to honor President François Mitterrand. The area evolved as part of the urban development that connected the Louvre and Tuileries palaces.

The quay serves as a connecting path between the river and the Louvre Museum, where visitors and locals naturally move between the building and the water. The way people use this space reflects its role as part of a larger system linking several important Parisian landmarks.

The path is easy to access with multiple entry and exit points from the bridges, giving visitors several ways to orient themselves. The best time for walking is in dry weather when the surface is most pleasant to use.

During a transformation in the mid-1800s, the royal monogram was replaced by Napoleon III's emblem, reflecting the political shifts of the era. This small historical gesture is barely visible today but shows how different periods have left their marks on this location.

Location: 1st arrondissement of Paris

Location: Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois

Length: 710 m

Width: 22 m

Part of: road network of Paris

Shares border with: Place du Carrousel, Quai des Tuileries, quai du Louvre, rue de l'Amiral-de-Coligny, Pont du Carrousel, Pont Royal, Quai Aimé-Césaire

GPS coordinates: 48.85972,2.33472

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:20