May 8th, 2023 - 236 Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France

1st, 2023 - June 2nd, 2023: Europe Trip

May 8th, 2023 - 236 Pont Neuf, 75001 Paris, France

Paris Sightseeing

Here we were standing on Pont Neuf (French pronunciation: [pɔ̃ nœf], "New Bridge"), 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 BCE, the birthplace of Paris, then known as Lutetia and, during the medieval period, the heart of the city. The bridge is composed of two separate spans, one of five arches joining the left bank to the Île de la Cité, another of seven joining the island to the right bank.

The first noticeable icon for tourists on the bridge is the bronze Statue équestre d'Henri IV (Equestrian Statue of Henri IV) situated on Square du Vert-Galant, a small public park named in honour of Henry IV, nicknamed the "Green Gallant". Behind the statue is the Mémorial du templier Jacques de Molay, dernier Grand Maître de l'Ordre du Temple (Jacques De Molay (Knight Templar) Memorial).

Actually, if we had gone to the tip of square at the Saule Pleureur de la Pointe (Weeping Willow of the Point), we could have taken some nice pictures but, on my mind, i was worried that we might not get to visit the Eiffel Tower because Erin planned to draw it. But, on this bridge was the first glimpse we had of the Eiffel Tower.