Quai de Béthune, Riverside street in 4th arrondissement, Paris, France
Quai de Béthune runs just under 400 metres along the Seine on Île Saint-Louis, between the Pont de Sully and the Pont de la Tournelle. One side is a tree-lined pavement above the water, the other a row of 17th-century hôtels particuliers, most listed as monuments historiques. The quay has no lower riverbank.
The riverside street was developed in the early 17th century and was originally named Quai du Dauphin. It was later renamed to honor Maximilien de Béthune, an influential French minister of that era.
The quay's name honours Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully (1559–1641), minister to Henri IV. Before that it was Quai du Dauphin, then Quai des Balcons after Louis Le Vau proposed balconies on the island's river facades, and Quai de la Liberté during the Revolution. Look for the doorways at nos. 20 and 22, carved with checkered wood and large round-headed nails, each topped by a winged chimera.
The street is easily accessible on foot and connects Pont de la Tournelle with Boulevard Henri-IV. Sully-Morland metro station is nearby and offers convenient public transport connections.
The quai has no lower bank: its stone parapet drops straight into the Seine, as seen in the weathered beige wall with cylindrical pillars along the top. The name honours Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully (1559–1641), minister to Henri IV. During the Revolution it was briefly called quai de la Liberté.
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