The Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. It stands by the western (downstream) point of the Île de la Cité, the island in the middle of the river that was, between 250 and 225 BC, the birthplace of Paris, then known as Lutetia and, during the medieval period, the heart of the city.
The bridge as seen from the Pont des Arts
Painting of the Pont Neuf project as approved by King Henry III in 1578. The bridge was completed in 1607 with a less ornate design.
The mascarons, 381 in number, are copies of the Renaissance originals
Statue of Henry IV on the Pont Neuf (1618, destroyed 1792, replaced 1818)
Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. With an official estimated population of 2,102,650 residents as of 1 January 2023 in an area of more than 105 km2 (41 sq mi), Paris is the fourth-most populated city in the European Union and the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2022. Since the 17th century, Paris has been one of the world's major centres of finance, diplomacy, commerce, culture, fashion, and gastronomy. For its leading role in the arts and sciences, as well as its early and extensive system of street lighting, in the 19th century, it became known as the City of Light.
Image: La Tour Eiffel vue de la Tour Saint Jacques, Paris août 2014 (2)
Image: 04 2017. Notre Dame de Paris 71
Image: Basilique du Sacré Cœur de Montmartre, Paris 18e 140223 2
Image: Paris Pantheon Facade