Vedettes du Pont Neuf, River cruise service at Square du Vert-Galant, Paris, France
Vedettes du Pont Neuf is a boat service departing from the Île de la Cité for guided sightseeing cruises on the Seine. Its fleet includes vessels with enclosed lower decks and open upper decks, such as the white-hulled boat with a red waterline stripe and the name "Vedettes du Pont Neuf" on its side. Cruises last about an hour and pass landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and the Louvre.
The Bateaux Mouches name comes from the Mouche boatyards of Lyon, where the vessels were originally built; steamers ran at the 1867 Exhibition but stopped during the Great Depression. Jean Bruel (1917–2003) founded the Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches, whose name is a registered trademark, and boat tours flourished again after World War II. The company remains the oldest operator of Seine sightseeing cruises.
The name "Bateaux Mouches" comes from the Mouche boatyards of Lyon, where these excursion boats were originally built, not from the French word for fly. The Vedettes du Pont Neuf is one of several operators running hour-long cruises with live or recorded commentary; its boats carry a life ring marked "Paris" and the company name on the enclosed deck.
Boats depart throughout the day and early evening, with frequencies varying by season. It is wise to check departure times in advance and consider reserving a spot, especially during busy periods.
The boats pass under many different bridges, each from a different period and with its own architectural story to tell. You can sail beneath bridges spanning from the Napoleonic era to modern times in a single tour.
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