Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris. The bridge is composed to two separate spans, one of five arches joining the left bank to Ile de la Cité, another of seven arches joining the island to the right bank. The bridge was begun in 1578 by King Henry III. It was completed in 1607 and inaugurated by King Henry IV.
At the point where the bridge crosses Ile de la Cité, there stands a bronze equestrian statue of King Henry IV of France. This statue was destroyed in 1792 during the French Revolution, but was rebuilt in 1818. The statue is named le Vert-Galant in honor of Henry IV, nicknamed the "Green Gallant".
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Great Bernie! I would like to add that at one point in the very old days there were shops built on top of the bridge, a bit like the Ponte Vechio in Florence Italy. In some sort it was the Paris shopping mall of the time. :-)
ReplyDeletePierre