Pont Alexandre III by Klod5
Most people consider the Pont Alexandre III the most beautiful bridge in Paris. It is lavishly decorated with lampposts and sculptures of cherubs and nymphs. On each end of the bridge are large gilded statues on 17 meters high granite pillars. Each of the ornaments on the bridge was created by a different artist.Aligned with the Esplanade des Invalides, the Pont Alexandre III connects the Grand and Petit Palais on the right bank with the Hôtel des Invalides on the left bank.Construction of the bridge, designed by the architects Résal and Alby, took almost 3 years. It was first prefabricated in a factory and later transported and assembled by a large crane. One of the requirements for the bridge was that it should not obstruct the view on the Invalides and Champs-Elysées. This resulted in a very low 40 meters wide bridge with a single 107.5 meters long span and a height of only 6 meters.
In october 1896, the first stone was laid by the Russian Tsar Nicolas II. It was named after his father, Tsar Alexander III. Construction only started in May 1897 and the bridge opened just in time for the Universal Exposition of 1900.
