The bridges of the historic heart of Paris

It's a nice day, the sky is blue... What a pleasure to follow the course of the Seine between the Ile Saint-Louis and the Ile de la Cité!

Nowadays, the Seine can be crossed very easily to move from one bank to another. We are amazed by the beauty of the quays, we laugh at (and grumble too) the banks turned into sand beaches during the months of July and August.

We have forgotten the importance of rivers to trade with other cities; we have forgotten the importance of bridges which enabled to cross it. They were less numerous then and when one of them collapsed, it had to be rebuilt very quickly. You will see that some have been rebuilt more than seven times on the same spot!

We have forgotten the importance of rivers to trade with other cities; we have forgotten the importance of bridges which enabled to cross it. They were less numerous then and when one of them collapsed, it had to be rebuilt very quickly. You will see that some have been rebuilt more than seven times on the same spot!

The bridges indirectly relate the Parisians' lives since the Middle Ages. From the oldest to the newest, from the most astonishing to the simplest, the bridges of Paris's historical heart recount more than six years of history.

By bike or by foot, cross the two oldest islands of Paris and succumb to the charm of the river which has inspired poets, writers and composers, and so for a good reason.