This is a must and one of the most beautiful bridges around, and of course ,it is in Paris, I like to update this older post with new text and links for you and me. I have written a post on all the bridges of Paris and on several of them individually,see posts, I walked and drove this bridge many times and never tired of it. Therefore, here is my take on the Pont Alexandre III of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
A beautiful bridge with great architecture and a wonderful history, The Pont Alexandre III is located in both the 7éme arrondissement or district and on the quartier des Invalides no 26 or neighborhood as well as the 8ème arrondissement or district and the Quartier des Champs Elysées no 29 or neighborhood of Paris, It is on the Seine, port des Champs-Elysées, and other than walking to it you can use public transport such as metro Invalides at about 250 meters with lines 8 and 13, metro Champs Elysées Clemenceau on about 350 meters with lines 1 and 13 as well as REC C Invalides at about 260 meters, The wonderful use of bus is recommended other than walking with bus lines 72 and 93 Grand Palais at less than 100 meters, Paris is a unique cith with department and City falling under zip code 75. It links the Esplanade des Invalides on the rive gauche or left bank at quai d’Orsay to Cours la Reine on the rive droite or right bank at Avenue Winston-Churchill, where the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais are located.
A historical reminder ,tsar Alexandre III of Russia, was not really a friend of France even if spoked perfect French, just out of geopolitical convenience he was honored with the bridge. The Pont Alexandre III was built during the Belle Époque opened just in time for the Universal Exposition of 1900. The bridge is decorated with lampposts and sculptures of cherubs and nymphs. Tall pillars on either side of the bridge are topped with large gilded statues, and connects the Invalides to the Grand and Petit Palais. Few Parisians know that the axis of the Alexander III bridge is slightly skewed compared to that of the Seine. Far from being an error on the part of the architect, this orientation of the bridge was intended to be in perfect continuity with the Esplanade des Invalides. The bridge thus participates in the Republican axis created under the Third Republic for the Universal Exhibition of 1900 for which it was built.
A bit of history I like or rather long history I like …. tell us that the Pont Alexandre III was inaugurated for the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900, the bridge was intended to symbolize Franco-Russian friendship, established by the signing of the alliance concluded in 1891 between Emperor Alexander III and the President of the French Republic Sadi Carnot . Dead in 1894, Alexander III will never see the bridge that bears his name today. It was his son, Tsar Nicolas II, who laid the foundation stone for this monumental work of art with the Empress and President Félix Faure (as President Carnot had been assassinated in 1894) on October 7, 1896. During the decision to organize a Universal Exhibition of 1900, it was decided to destroy the Palace of Industry dating from the 1855 exhibition to replace it with two palaces, on either side of a track that would extend the Place des Invalides. In the spring of 1900, the Lumière brothers did not resist the urge to film the crowd of visitors to the Universal Exhibition, wandering from the Pont Alexandre III to the Esplanade des Invalides.
The bridge was made of cast steel ,in order to resist the enormous horizontal thrust, it was equipped with very massive abutments. It is a metal bridge 154 meters long and 45 meters wide composed of a single arch of 107 meters comprising three points of articulation, allowing to cross the Seine without an intermediate support point. Two stone tunnels of 22.50 meters each are located at its ends. Because of its large span for a low height, the pont Alexandre III exerts a significant lateral thrust. In order to avoid the spacing of the anchors, the banks were considerably reinforced by means of immense concrete masses, undoubtedly the most important foundations ever made. The monumental columns seem like matches in comparison: their foundations being independent of those of the bridge, their role is only decorative. The Pont Alexandre III bridge is illuminated by 32 bronze candelabras which were made by the Lacarrière establishment, also known for the realization of the monumental chandelier of the Opéra Garnier! The four renown’s at the top of the entrance pylons represent the right bank, upstream: La Renommée des arts, by Emmanuel Frémiet; right bank, downstream: La Renommée des sciences, by Emmanuel Frémiet; left bank, upstream: La Renommée au combat, by Pierre Granet; left bank, downstream: Pegasus held by the Renown of the War, by Léopold Steiner (due to his death in 1899, the group was completed by Eugène Gantzlin). The decorations at the base of the four pylons have as themes: right bank, upstream: France of the Middle Ages by Alfred-Charles Lenoir; left bank, upstream: France in the Renaissance by Jules Coutan; left bank, downstream: France under Louis XIV by Laurent Marqueste; right bank, downstream: Modern France by Gustave Michel. The authors of the groups of lions led by children to the bridge entrances are: left bank: Jules Dalou; right bank: Georges Gardet.
The different bronze or copper groups spanning the bridge are: Les Amours supporting the four lampposts, by Henri Désiré Gauquié; Four geniuses with fish and shells, by Léopold Morice and André Massoulle; in the center upstream of Concorde: Nymphs of the Neva with the arms of Russia, by Georges Récipon; downstream center of Alma: Nymphs of the Seine with the arms of Paris, by Georges Récipon. The apron supported by the metal arch is decorated with a series of masks and garlands taking up the rhythm of the connecting posts. The Pont Alexandre III bridge has changed color several times; it went from gray to green-brown then to pearl gray. It resumed its original colors during its only restoration in 1998. A medal by engraver Daniel-Dupuis commemorates the laying of the foundation stone of the bridge. It carries the allegorical figures of Peace, France and Russia as well as the Nymph of the Seine and views of the projected work. A copy is kept at the Carnavalet museum of Paris (see post).
Finally, the Pont Alexandre III has been seein in several films, my favorites are 1966: Does Paris burn? by René Clément; 1973: The Adventures of Rabbi Jacob by Gérard Oury; 1985: Dangerously yours by John Glen, with Roger Moore in the role of James Bond 1997: Anastasia by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, the bridge is the place of the final fight against Rasputin and 2011: Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen! In music my favorites are on British singer Adele shoots the clip for her ballad “Someone like you” .2011. The clip “It’s almost the end”, by Mozart, the rock opera was filmed on and around the bridge. The Diva Mariah Carey filmed a large part of her music video for the song “Say Something” in 2006, featuring Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg.
The Paris tourist office on the Pont Alexandre III : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/transport/pont-alexandre-iii-p1875
The City of Paris on bridges to see so the pont Alexandre III : https://www.paris.fr/pages/a-la-decouverte-des-ponts-parisiens-les-plus-romantiques-18806
There you go folks, one of my glorious road warrior rides into Paris and taken many friends over it. As well as walking over, of course,,,, Just wonderful views and easy parking nearby for sublimes walks in beautiful Paris. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Pont Alexandre III of Paris as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 