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Pont Alexandre III

Coordinates: 48°51′49″N 2°18′49″E / 48.86361°N 2.31361°E / 48.86361; 2.31361
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Pont Alexandre III
Pont Alexandre III; Grand Palais in the background
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
View of the street crossing on the bridge.

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 is classified as a French Monument historique.

Location on the Seine in Paris.

History

The Beaux-Arts style bridge, with its exuberant Art Nouveau lamps, cherubs, nymphs and winged horses at either end, was built between 1896 and 1900. It is named after Tsar Alexander III, who had concluded the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892. His son 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 and Gaston Cousin, was subject to strict controls that prevented the bridge from obscuring the view of the Champs-Élysées or the Invalides.

The bridge was built by the engineers Jean Résal and Amédée d'Alby. It was inaugurated in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle (universal exhibition) World's Fair, as were the nearby Grand Palais and Petit Palais.

Gilded "Fames" sculptures on the socle counterweights.

Sculptures

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 of the Neva relief.

"Nymphs"

The Nymph reliefs are at the centres of the arches over the Seine, memorials to the Franco-Russian Alliance. The "Nymphs of the Seine" has a relief of the arms of France, and faces the "Nymphs of the Neva" with the arms of Imperial Russia. They are both are 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 laid in August 1897 by French president Félix Faure.

Cultural associations

Films and videos
  • In the 1956 film Anastasia.
  • In the 1979 film French Postcards, the final romantic scene takes place on the bridge.
  • In the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill, Bond (Roger Moore) comes to a halt at the bridge in a hijacked Renault 11 taxi.
  • In the 1997 animated film Anastasia, the bridge is damaged by Rasputin in an attempt to kill Anastasia, who in real life was the granddaughter of Alexander III of Russia.
  • In the 1998 film Ronin, the spy team meets some arms dealers under the bridge on the Right Bank.
  • In the 2004 film A Very Long Engagement, Marion Cotillard's character kills the character played by François Levantal under the bridge.
  • In the 2005 film Angel-A it is the Pont Alexandre III from which Angela and André jump into the Seine.
  • In the 2006 music video for Mariah Carey's hit single "Say Somethin'" with Pharrell and Snoop Dogg
  • In the 2011 film Midnight in Paris, the bridge is depicted in multiple scenes, including the final one.
  • Adele's music video for the song "Someone Like You" was shot on the bridge in 2011.

References

  1. ^ a b "Alexandre III Bridge". Structurae—International Database for Civil and Structural Engineering. Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn Verlag. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  2. ^ Books.google.com: "the most ornate"
  3. ^ Books.google.com: "the most extravagant"
Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
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48°51′49″N 2°18′49″E / 48.86361°N 2.31361°E / 48.86361; 2.31361

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