Pont Alexandre III

Coordinates: 48°51′49″N 2°18′49″E / 48.86361°N 2.31361°E / 48.86361; 2.31361
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Pont Alexandre III
The bridge seen from the Pont de la Concorde, 2012
Coordinates48°51′49″N 2°18′49″E / 48.8636°N 2.3136°E / 48.8636; 2.3136
CrossesThe Seine River
LocaleParis, France
Next upstreamPont de la Concorde
Next downstreamPont des Invalides
Characteristics
Total length160 metres (520 ft)[1]
Width40 metres (130 ft)[1]
Location
Map
Location on the Seine in Paris.

The Pont Alexandre III is a

deck arch bridge that spans the Seine in Paris. It connects the Champs-Élysées quarter with those of the Invalides and Eiffel Tower. The bridge is widely regarded as the most ornate, extravagant bridge in the city.[2][3] It has been classified as a French monument historique since 1975.[4]

History

The

Nicholas II laid the foundation stone in October 1896. The style of the bridge reflects that of the Grand Palais
, to which it leads on the right bank.

The construction of the bridge is a marvel of 19th century engineering, consisting of a 6 metres (20 ft) high single span steel arch. The design, by the architects Joseph Cassien-Bernard [fr] and Gaston Cousin, was constrained by the need to keep the bridge from obscuring the view of the Champs-Élysées or the Invalides.

The bridge was built by the engineers

Jean Résal and Amédée Alby [fr]. It was inaugurated in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle (universal exhibition) World's Fair, as were the nearby Grand Palais and Petit Palais
.

Sculptures

Gilded Fames sculptures on the socle counterweights.
Nymphs of the Neva relief.
Twilight view, looking toward the dôme of Les Invalides

Numerous sculptors provided the sculptures that feature prominently on the bridge.

Fames

Four gilt-bronze statues of Fames watch over the bridge, supported on massive 17 metres (56 ft) masonry socles, that provide stabilizing counterweight for the arch, without interfering with monumental views. The socles are crowned by Fames restraining Pegasus.

Nymphs

The

Imperial Russia. They are both executed in hammered copper over forms by Georges Récipon
.

In the same political spirit, the

Trinity Bridge in Saint Petersburg was conceived as a memorial to the Franco-Russian Alliance. It was designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the first stone was laid in August 1897 by French president Félix Faure
.

Cultural associations

Films and videos

Musicals

  • In the 2017 Broadway musical Anastasia, based on the 1997 film, the bridge is seen in the second half of the musical and in the closing scene. Anastasia was the granddaughter of Alexander III, who is mentioned in the musical.

Sports

In June 2017, with Paris competing against Los Angeles to host the

2024 Olympics, Paris turned some of its world-famous landmarks over to sports and installed diving boards on the Alexandre III bridge that spanned the Seine.[6]

Gallery

View of the street crossing on the bridge Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France

Olympic Days Paris June 2017 - Diving Platform Pont Alexandre-III

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Alexandre III Bridge". Structurae—International Database for Civil and Structural Engineering. Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn Verlag. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  2. .
  3. .
  4. ^ Base Mérimée: PA00088798, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French) Pont Alexandre III
  5. ^ "Pont Alexandre III". Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Paris Puts On Show To Wow IOC In 2024 Bid". CBS Los Angeles. Retrieved 22 November 2017.

External links

48°51′49″N 2°18′49″E / 48.86361°N 2.31361°E / 48.86361; 2.31361