No less than 37 bridges span the Seine, the river that separates the Left and Right banks of Paris. The river banks have been listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site since 1991. Here are our top 10 favourite bridges of Paris…
Facts about the bridges of Paris
- There are 37 bridges spanning the Seine in Paris.
- Five of them are pedestrianised and two are rail bridges (métro and RER).
- Eight bridges connect the Left and Right Banks of Paris via the Île de la Cité and four via the Île Saint-Louis.
- One bridge (Pont Saint Louis) links the two islands to each other.
- Ten of them caught our attention.
Book a cruise on the Seine!
Fancy discovering the bridges from the river? Book one of the following cruises with our partner Tiqets.
Choose from a daytime promenade to a dinner cruise!
- Seine River Cruise by Bateaux Mouches
- Batobus – Riverboat Shuttle Service
- Champagne Cruise on the Seine
- Lunch Cruise on the Seine
- Gourmet Dinner Cruise on the Seine
- Dinner Cruise on the Seine
1. Pont de la Tournelle
The first bridge built on the site was completed in 1620. The present-day bridge dates from 1928. A tall pylon flanks the bridge, topped by a statue of St. Geneviève, the Patron Saint of Paris. It links the Left Bank to the peaceful Île Saint-Louis.
2. Pont Marie
Constructed in 1670, the bridge is one of the oldest in Paris. It links the Right Bank to the Île Saint-Louis.
3. Pont au Double
There has been a bridge spanning the river on the site since 1626. The latest version, a single arch cast-iron bridge, dates from 1883.
4. Pont au Change
Linking the Île de la Cité to the Right Bank, the first version of the bridge dates to the 9th Century. It was rebuilt several times since and the current bridge dates from 1860. It bears the initials of Emperor Napoleon III.
5. Pont Neuf
The Pont-Neuf (literally New Bridge) is actually the oldest of all the bridges of Paris. Designed in 1607, it crosses the west tip of the Île de la Cité.
6. Pont des Arts
The footbridge offers one of the most romantic views of Paris. In the distance, the Île de la Cité can be seen and the medieval-looking bridge of Pont-Neuf links the Right and Left banks.
7. Pont Alexandre III
The bridge named after the Tsar of Russia was built during the Belle Époque and connects the Invalids to the Grand and Petit Palais.
Find out more about Pont Alexandre III.
8. Passerelle Debilly
This pedestrianised built in 1900 and listed as a Historic Monument looks like a mini-version of the Sydney bridge! It offers spectacular views over the Eiffel Tower.
9. Pont d’Iéna
Listed as a Historic Monument, the bridge dates from 1814. It is very famous for its remarkable position, linking the Trocadéro to the Eiffel Tower and Champ-de-Mars.
10. Pont de Bir-Hakeim
The particularity of the double-decked bridge from 1878 and 1905 is that it was designed for both road and métro traffic.
Find out more about Pont de Bir-Hakeim.
Bridges of Paris: English-French Vocabulary
(f) for féminin, (m) for masculin and (v) for verbs
- bank = quai (m)
- bridge = pont (m)
- island = île (f)
- Left Bank = Rive Gauche (f)
- monument = monument (m)
- Right Bank = Rive Droite (f)
- river = rivière (f)
- to span = traverser (v)
- World Heritage Site = Site du Patrimoine Mondial (m)
If you want to learn more about the bridges of Paris, check out this beautiful coffee table book: Bridges of Paris by Michael Saint James. We love it and our copy of the book is set on a favourite part of our bookshelves at home! Order your copy on Amazon (affiliate link):
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