The Pont Neuf, literally “New Bridge”, is actually the oldest bridge in Paris. Yes, I agree, that’s a very misleading name.

Let’s discover 10 things you probably didn’t know about the Pont Neuf.

 

10 things you didnt know about pont neuf in paris france

 

The Pont Neuf is a very central bridge in Paris, that has been spanning the Seine river for more than 400 years. If you’ve been to Paris, you’ve probably seen it several times, from outside the Louvre or Notre-Dame de Paris for example.

Let’s learn more about it, and see more epic images of its architecture!

You can click on any of the part above to go straight to it!

Let’s get started with the first item on the list: the Pont Neuf location

 

Pont Neuf Location

The Pont Neuf is located in the first arrondissement of Paris.

It spans the river Seine, and passes on the Ile de la Cité, in front of the Place Dauphine.

 

It’s within very close walking distance of the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.

 

the pont neuf bridge in paris first arrondissement

 

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Pont Neuf

I love discovering a new place with short & interesting facts. Little facts that spark my interest, and that will make me love the place even more.

Let’s do exactly that with the Pont Neuf: today we’ll discover 10 facts about the Pont Neuf that you probably didn’t know, and that will make you enjoy your next visit even more!

 

1 – It’s the oldest standing bridge in Paris

The Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge in Paris, which means that among all the bridges still in use, it’s the oldest.

The construction started in 1578, and the bridge was finished in 1607. The construction took 29 years; not because builders were slow back then, but because the construction had to be suspended for 10 years.

In 1588, the Catholic League forced King Henri III to flee Paris, putting the construction of the Pont Neuf to a halt.

In 1599, King Henri IV resumed the construction of the bridge.

 

walking under the pont neuf

 

The Pont Neuf is more than 400 years old!

 

2 – It was completely restored in 2007

Due to its old age, some of the parts of the bridge were tarnished, and the details of the sculptures weren’t as sharp as they once were.

 

the masks of the pont neuf

 

In 1994, a major renovation project started. It lasted 13 years, and was completed in 2007, for the 400th year anniversary of the bridge.

 

3 – The name marks its difference

The name “Pont Neuf” means “New Bridge” in French. But as we saw, the Pont Neuf is actually the oldest bridge in Paris.

So, why this name?

The name comes from the fact that back in 1607, it was a one-of-a-kind bridge, unique in its architecture and design. It was totally different from the other centuries old bridges of the French capital, and thus a “new bridge”.

 

strolling on the pont neuf

 

4 – It’s the first fireproof bridge in Paris

As written above, the Pont Neuf was unique in its design. One of the reason of its uniqueness lies in the construction materials used for the bridge.

Before, all the bridges in Paris were built from wood, which made them highly susceptible to fire.

 

the pillars of the bridge

 

The Pont Neuf was built from stone, making it the first fireproof bridge in Paris.

 

5 – First bridge to cross the Seine river in a single span

Before the Pont Neuf was built, it was a long journey to go from the Louvre to the left bank of the Seine. It required crossing 2 bridges, and a very long walk on each side of the river.

 

pont neuf paris header image

 

The Pont Neuf is the first bridge to entirely cross the Seine river, from right bank to left bank, in a single span.

 

6 – It’s the 3rd longest bridge of Paris

In the center of Paris, it’s the longest bridge (238 meters). It’s also the longest bridge on which you can walk in Paris.

 

pont neuf paris in moody weather

 

But it’s technically the 3rd longest bridge of Paris, after the 2 bridges of the Boulevard Périphérique (the ring road around Paris): pont aval du périphérique (312 meters) and pont amont du périphérique (270 meters).

 

7 – It’s the first bridge with sidewalks, and even the first sidewalks of Paris

Before the Pont Neuf, there were no sidewalks in any Western cities. Before sidewalks, pedestrians would walk on the street, among horses and mud.

 

pont neuf with view on the statue henri iv

 

The bridge features sidewalks, inspired by Roman roads, made to facilitate crossing for pedestrians.

 

8 – It’s classified as a Historical Monument

Since 1889, the Pont Neuf is listed as a “Monument Historique“, a special distinction for high-importance buildings in France, that are thus protected.

 

pont neuf oldest bridge in paris

 

9 – It features a bronze statue of King Henri IV

The project for the statue was started in 1605 by Marie de Médicis (second wife or Henri IV). The statue was finished in 1614, after the king’s assassination in 1610.

 

statue henri iv on the pont neuf bridge paris

 

The statue was then taken down during the French Revolution. It was built again by Louis XVIII, and finished in 1818.

 

10 – There are 831 sculpted masks on the Pont Neuf

The whole length of the Pont Neuf is decorated by sculpted masks; 831 to be exact.

These masks are called “mascarons”. They are statues of greek mythology deities, the satyrs.

 

mascarons on the pont neuf

 

When you first glance at the bridge, you often overlook these masks. The first times I saw the bridge, I didn’t even notice them, and just though it was some columns to decorate the bridge.

But once you know they are there, you cannot ignore them!

 

So there you have them, the 10 things you probably didn’t know about the Pont Neuf in Paris!

 

What To Visit Next?

After visiting the Pont Neuf, there are several other places you could check out.
The 3 that I recommend are:

These 3 places are easy to visit after the Pont Neuf; walk on the bridge to reach the Ile de la Cité, and the 3 locations are located right there on the middle of the Seine river.

 

beautiful lamp posts on the pont neuf

If you want other ideas of places to visit in the same area, you could also check out these:

I hope you enjoyed learning more about the oldest bridge in Paris. Did you already know these 10 facts? Or did you just learn about it? Either way, let me know in the comments below!

If you plan to visit the Pont Neuf, make sure to tag your Instagram photos with #kevmrc so that we can all see them!