Le Pont Neuf

Le Pont Neuf, which means the new bridge, is actually the oldest bridge in Paris.

The lovely bridge in the heart of the city has a storied history dating back to 1578 when construction began. Twenty-nine years later, the bridge was completed and in 1607 it was inaugurated by Henry IV.

The bridge is bisected by the Île de la Cité, in the middle of the Seine. The span between the left bank and the Île has five arches and the span between the Île and the right bank has seven. There are 381mascarons or masks representing Greek mythological figures that adorn the bridge.

For two weeks In September 1985, the Pont Neuf stood wrapped in fabric, an installation created by the world-renowned duo Christo (Christo Vladimirov Javacheff) and Jeanne-Claude (Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon).