Hotel Pont Royal

Pont Royal.

by breughel

Most bridges on the Seine in the centre of Paris provide nice views. The Pont Royal is certainly one of them. It is the usual link between Le Louvre or the Terrasse des Tuileries with the Musée d'Orsay on the Rive gauche.
The view on the former station d'Orsay is one of the best you can find for you photo's.
On your left, towards the east, you will distinguish the île de la Cité with, from left to right the fine and high turret of the Chapelle Royale and the towers of Notre-Dame.
Closer on the right, the gilded cupola of the Institut de France juts out among the buildings of the Quai de Conti.

It is the third oldest bridge in Paris, after the Pont Neuf and the Pont Marie. It replaced a wooden bridge from 1632. King Louis XIV financed this stone bridge achieved in 1689 and gave it the name of pont Royal.
Of course with the revolution the name Royal was changed to Pont National.
Napoléon I changed again the name to pont des Tuileries. It was only in 1814 with the Restoration by King Louis XVIII that the bridge got back its Royal name.
Length of this bridge is 110 m.

L'Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

by hquittner

The Arc du Carrousel (jousting yard) is a clever take on the Arch of Septimus Severus in Rome. It has 8 spectacular pink marble columns derived from another old chateau and it served 2 purposes: as a gateway into the Tuilleries Palace and as a base for the 4 gilt bronze horses from San Marco in Venice, which Napoleon claimed as spoils. The Arc was built from 1806-8. They were returned of course (in1815). In 1828 a quadriga was installed on top bearing the Goddess of Peace. As expected the Arch is decorated with sculpted bas-reliefs of symbols of Napoleon's military success. The Palace was destroyed in the 1871 Revolution. A bit further West the Garden of the Carrousel exists which is now continuous with the Tuilleries Gardens since the motor access to the Pont Royal is now a tunnel. These changes have made this the most spectular vista in Paris.

The Rewards of A Queen's Imagination

by CALSF

My favorite Parisian park has to be the Luxembourg Gardens which was actually the property of Queen Catherine de Medici. I would say that this is my second favorite Parisian park. Another property of hers was the Palais des Tuileries which burned to the ground in 1871 and was never rebuilt.

However, the grounds-or the gardens-remain. And this is known today as the Jardins des Tuileries. During Catherine de Medici's reign she had the gardens designed to her specifications. It was Le Notre, the landscaper of many famous gardens (including the gardens at Versailles), who redesigned the gardens into what we see today.

It's got the typical gravel pathways, statues, lots of beautiful flowerbeds lining the pathways, fountains, and ponds. Surrounding the ponds are the typical green metal chairs that are so handy for taking leisurly breaks from walking. During nice weather the chairs are occupied by the sun-loving Parisians. So do take a seat when one becomes available during a sunny day to contemplate all the beauty that surrounds you.

The Tuileries Gardens is a must-see for me as it's in a most scenic location. One entrance faces the Place de La Concorde and the Champs Elysees while another entrance faces Rue de Rivoli. From St. Germain des Pres walking along the Seine you cross the Pont Royal onto the Ave. du General Lemonnier with the gardens parallel to you. Looking back you will see the Musee d' Orsay with its huge clock and to your right, the Musee de Louvre. And way in the distance to your left is the Place de La Concorde entrance facing the Champs Elysees.

It is because of all of these wonderful perspectives I love these gardens in addition to its own beauty.

Up the Seine by Batobus (Pt.2)

by hquittner

"The Petit Palais"

Beyond the end of the Alexandre III Bridge we could see the dome of the Petit Palais

"The Grand Palais"

To the left across the Av. Winston Churchill stands the large curved roofed Grand Palais where we have gone to many blockbuster Art Retrospectives.

"The Mansions"

Looking carefully into the depth of the Place de la Concorde we can see Gabriel's majestic columned mansions : the Hotels Crillon and de la Marine.

"Solferino Bridge"

The next span is the Solferino and beyond it we can see the Pont Royal and the Louvre in the background on the left.

"Pont Royal"

In the background on the right as we near the Pont Royal we see the Dome of the Institute de France

"Musee d'Orsay"

The first stop on our trip is a dock below the Musee d'Orsay. It has taken us only 10-15 minutes for this leg of our trip. We start up again.

"The West Terminal Pavillion of the Louvre"

We reach the west end of the Louvre just after we pass under the Pont Royal. The Arc du Carrousel is enclosed within and is not visible.

"Guichets du Carrousel"

This grand passageway now allows traffic to deliver you to the pyramid entrance to the Louvre. The Pont du Carrousel delivers the traffic from the Left Bank.