Pont Napoléon-III, Stone bridge in Nice, France
Pont Napoléon-III is a stone bridge crossing the Var River to link Nice with Saint-Laurent-du-Var, serving as a key transport corridor for the region. The structure features multiple traffic lanes and displays decorative vases and bronze lampposts added during recent renovation work.
This bridge was constructed between 1862 and 1864 as a replacement for a wooden predecessor that once stood at the site. Originally, it marked the boundary between the Duchy of Savoy and Provence County.
The bridge received decorative elements in 2010, including nineteen polyester resin vases and bronze lampposts to commemorate its 150th anniversary.
The bridge operates as a major traffic artery with thousands of vehicles crossing daily to and from the airport and neighboring areas. Best experienced outside morning and evening rush hours when traffic flow is lighter and crossing takes less time.
In 1919, pilot Auguste Maïcon flew his aircraft twice under the bridge's arches in a daring maneuver that showcased both his skills and the structure's height and stability. This unusual stunt reveals how the bridge captured attention as a landmark even in aviation's early days.
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