Paris Pont Alexandre III bridge in France
Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle (World Fair), the Paris Pont Alexandre III bridge is a marvel of architectural and artistic ingenuity, and its construction symbolizes the Franco-Russian alliance, with the bridge named in honour of Tsar Alexander III.
Among the bridge's numerous decorative elements, you will find emblematic statues such as the Fame of Pegasus, the Nymphs of the Seine, and the Nymphs of Neva, and these gilded sculptures were crafted by esteemed artists like Amédée d'Alby and Louis Jean Resal, contribute to the bridge's opulence and grandeur. With such artistic endeavours poured into its creation, it is no wonder that Pont Alexandre III is considered one of the most extravagant Paris bridges.
A bit of history
The Pont Alexander III was constructed by the French engineer Amedee d'Alby and the renowned engineer Louis Jean Resal who also helped design the Pont Mirabeau and the Pont de Bercy bridges in Paris, however, it was the architects Joseph Cassein-Bernard and Gaston Cousin that came up with the initial designs for this particular Paris bridge.
Now it was truly a major feat of engineering, due to the fact that it is not only a single arch span, but it was required to be also a low bridge, so as not to obstruct the views from Les Invalides over to the Avenue des Champs Elysees.
Work started on the Paris Pont Alexandre III in 1896 and the first foundation stone was laid by Tsar Nicholas II in the October of that year, and he was the son of Tsar Alexander III who had completed the Franco-Russian alliance in 1892, which is what this bridge is dedicated to.
And even though the bridge was completed in approximately two years, some of the additional ornamental elements took longer to finish the ornate Pont Alexandre III bridge, and it was inaugurated in 1900 for the Paris Universal Exhibition.
About the Pont Alexandre III Bridge
Well let us start with the bridge itself. We mentioned earlier that the Pont d'Iena is a low bridge, but the Paris Pont Alexandre iii bridge has a single span arch and on either bank at each end you will find a 17 metre high pillar, and these pillars are designed to act as counterweights for the stability of the remarkable bridge.
But rather than these being boring columns, they were made to be ornate with gilded statues positioned on top that are designed to represent Pegasus being held by Fame, and these are sometimes just known as the Fames of Pegasus.
On the right bank or North side of the river, which is the side you will find the Grand Palais, you can discover the Renommee des Sciences or Fame of the Sciences and the Renommee des Arts or Fame of the Arts, which were both produced by Emmanuel Frémiet. And at the base of the first you will find a statue called La France Contemporaine that translates to Contemporary France, which was produced by G Michel and the other statue called France de Charlemagne or Charlemagnes France was sculpted by A Lenoir.
However, on the left bank of the River Seine, which is the side you will find the fabulous Les Invalides complex, you will also be able to discover the other two gilded equestrian statues or Fames of Pegasus with the first being called the Renommee du Commerce or in Englsih the Fame of Business or Commerce , which was sculpted by P Granet and the Renommee de l'Industrie, or Fame of Industry, that was produced by C Steiner.
At the base of each of these two columns you will again find two statues and the first is known as the France Rennaissante that was executed by Jules Coutan and the other statue is La France de Louis XIV produced by Laurent Marqueste.
There are also four lion statues that are situated at all four corners and these were produced by the French sculptors Jules Dalou and Georges Gardet.
Now on either side of the Paris Pont Alexandre III bridge right in the centre of the long curved arch, you will find a keystone, and on one side you will find the beaten copper sculpture representing the Nymphs of Neva with the arms of Russia, and on the opposite side, you will find the Nymphs of the Seine, again sculpted in beaten copper but with the coat of arms of France. And both of these were produced by Georges Recipon, who also worked on the Grand Palais, which is when he sculpted the beautiful quadriga statues in readiness for the 1900 World Fair in Paris.
And as well as all of these decorations on the Pont Alexandre III bridge, there are also four monumental candelabra, which are surrounded by cupids and sea monsters that were executed by the sculptor H Gauquic.
So as you can no doubt tell, this is one of the fabulous Paris tourist attractions that should not be missed, and even high quality the Pont Alexandre III photos do not give it justice compared to seeing it in person.
Visiting the Paris Pont Alexandre III Bridge in Paris
Classified as an historical Paris monument you will find the Pont Alexandre III located between the 8th Arrondissement on the right bank and the 7th Arrondissement on the left bank of the River Seine.
At one side in the 8th is the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, along with the Avenue des Champs Elysees, and the nearest Metro station on this side is the Champs Elysees - Clemenceau stop via lines 1 and three. Yet on the other side in the 7th the nearest Metro stop is called Invalides via lines 8 and 13, but this also serves the RER trains on line C, and as you can probably gather from the name, this is the side of the fabulous Hotel Les Invalides with its different museums and the Tomb of Napoleon.
Of course, there are also other forms of Paris transport that stop close by to the Pont Alexandre III including some Paris buses, plus there are velib bike rental stations situated nearby, and the tour buses such as Paris Big Bus tour and the Paris Tootbus tour also pass the Pont Alexandre III bridge on their routes as well.
