Alexander III Bridge

The Alexander III Bridge is a bridge, typical of the Beaux Arts style of the French Third Republic, that crosses the River Seine as it passes through Paris and connects the esplanade of Les Invalides with the monumental complex formed by said bridge, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. It was classified as a historical monument in 1975 and in 1999 it was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, included within the delimitation Banks of the Seine in Paris.

It is one of the longest bridges in the city (the longest is the New Bridge at 232 meters) and is located between the VII and the VIII arrondissement of Paris. The first stone of the construction of the bridge was laid in 1896 by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and it was inaugurated on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1900.

History

In the place that the bridge would occupy, there was a metallic suspension bridge. In 1896, it was decided to build the bridge to alleviate the dense traffic in Paris, but above all for the project of the World's Fair in Paris (1900). The first stone was laid by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his wife Alejandra Fiódorovna Románova on October 7, 1896, in the presence of French President Félix Faure. In that act the Franco-Russian alliance was celebrated, already maintained between Tsar Alexander III of Russia, to whom the bridge is dedicated, and President Marie François Sadi Carnot. For their part, the French built the Trinity Bridge over the Neva River in Saint Petersburg.

The Alexandre III Bridge was inaugurated by Émile Loubet on April 14, 1900, in conjunction with the Universal Exposition. In 1925, the bridge was part of the Exposition of Decorative Arts in Paris, and various tents. In 1975, the Pont Alexandre III was declared a French historical monument.

The work underwent a complete restoration in 1991, but its appearance was not modified. The bridge was repainted in the original gray tint.

Architecture

Crepuscular view, looking at the dome of Les Invalides.

Although the foundation stone was officially laid in 1896, construction of the bridge did not begin until May 28, 1897. The architects involved in the construction of the bridge were Joseph Marie Cassien-Bernard and Gaston Cousin, and their engineers they were Amédée Alby and Jean Résal.

It is one of the first prefabricated structures in the world, since its parts were cast and forged in Le Creusot, to be transported later to Paris, where they were placed on the Seine by means of a huge crane. The architects respected the orders given so that the construction of the bridge did not affect the view towards Les Invalides and the Champs-Élysées, that the width of the bridge was proportional to that of Avenue Winston Churchill and that there were not a large number of arches. that hindered the navigation of the river.

The conditions were accepted and the bridge was built, becoming an exponent of French architecture from the late 19th century and a symbol of the Belle Époque. It is 40 meters wide and a single arch of 109 meters in length, which makes it possible to cross the Seine in a single flight.

Decoration

Nereida, work of André Massoulle.

The bridge houses abundant decoration along its entire length, which performs the function of a counterweight. The garlands of shells and marine flora suspended under the cornice help balance the whole. Thirty-two bronze lampposts located on the railings illuminate the bridge. The four lampposts at the ends of the bridge are more ornate.

Its ends are decorated with four monumental pairons 17 meters high that have at their top statues of gilded bronze Pegasi that stand on their two hind legs and symbolize the success of arts, sciences, commerce and industry. At the base of each pairon are two statues representing "The France of Charlemagne", "Contemporary France", "The France of Louis XIV" and "Renaissance France". There are also four lion statues.

As a sign of the Franco-Russian alliance, the bridge has statues that represent "The Nymphs of the Seine", which in turn represent France, and "The Nymphs of Neva", those of Russia, which are work of Georges Récipon, who also made the chariots for the Grand Palace.

The sculptures, friezes and other decorations were executed by members of the French Artists Salon: Georges Récipon, Emmanuel Frémiet, Jules Coutan, Henri Gauquié, Grandzlin, Pierre Granet, Alfred Lenoir Laurent Marqueste, André Massoulle, Gustave Michel, Léopold Morice, Abel Poulin and Leopold Steiner.

Surroundings

View of the Alexander III Bridge with the Grand Palais at the bottom.

The Schuman Declaration is the title given to the speech delivered in 1950 by Robert Schuman at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the south side of the Alexander III Bridge. The European Commission recognizes this declaration as the birth of the European Union (EU).

In the Grand Palais is the Foreign Press Center, a tool "dedicated to the international press as well as a space for freedom and dialogue where opinions, political, religious or ethnic considerations are confronted without any restrictions." The premises are located in the south wing of the building, on Calle de la Reina, in front of the Alejandro III bridge.

In 2013, the transformation of the banks of the Seine began to make more space for pedestrians and bicycles. Barges were installed around the bridge to offer cultural and gastronomic activities.

In culture

In 1957, the film Funny Face shows Paris as the capital of fashion and includes a shooting on the Alexandre III bridge.

In the 1998 film Ronin, American actor Robert De Niro stars in a car chase scene passing the Alexander III Bridge and the Bir-Hakeim Bridge.

On the other hand, in 2017, the specialized website Film France published a list of 23 other films in which the Alexandre III Bridge appears.

Site of tribute to the fallen soldiers

The popular tribute on the Alexandre III bridge is an initiative of the military governor of Paris that dates back to 2011. Since then, every time a soldier dies in an operation, a tribute is paid at Les Invalides, the governor invites the French to the bridge.

Legacy

Since 2003, the 240 m Seri Gemilang Bridge has been erected in Putrajaya (Malaysia), which is inspired by the Alexander III Bridge.