The Pont Alexandre III () is a

deck arch bridge An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side, and partiall ...

that spans the

Seine The Seine ( , ) is a river in northern France. Its drainage basin is in the Paris Basin (a geological relative lowland) covering most of northern France. It rises at Source-Seine, northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plat ...

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. It connects the

Champs-Élysées The Avenue des Champs-Élysées (, ; ) is an Avenue (landscape), avenue in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, long and wide, running between the Place de la Concorde in the east and the Place Charles de Gaulle in the west, where the Arc ...

quarter with those of the

Invalides The Hôtel des Invalides (; ), commonly called (; ), is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and an old sold ...

and

Eiffel Tower The Eiffel Tower ( ; ) is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889. Locally nicknamed "''La dame de fe ...

. The bridge is widely regarded as the most ornate, extravagant bridge in the city. It has been classified as a French ''

monument historique () is a designation given to some national heritage sites in France. It may also refer to the state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building, a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, ...

'' since 1975. Pont Alexandre III

History

The

Beaux-Arts style Beaux-Arts architecture ( , ) was the academic architectural style taught at the in Paris, particularly from the 1830s to the end of the 19th century. It drew upon the principles of French neoclassicism, but also incorporated Renaissance and B ...

bridge, with its exuberant

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...

lamps,

cherub A cherub (; : cherubim; ''kərūḇ'', pl. ''kərūḇīm'') is one type of supernatural being in the Abrahamic religions. The numerous depictions of cherubim assign to them many different roles, such as protecting the entrance of the Garden of ...

nymph A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...

s and winged horses at both ends, was built between 1896 and 1900. It is named after Tsar

Alexander III of Russia Alexander III (; 10 March 18451 November 1894) was Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from 13 March 1881 until his death in 1894. He was highly reactionary in domestic affairs and reversed some of the libera ...

, who had concluded the

Franco-Russian Alliance The Franco-Russian Alliance (, ), also known as the Dual Entente or Russo-French Rapprochement (''Rapprochement Franco-Russe'', Русско-Французское Сближение; ''Russko-Frantsuzskoye Sblizheniye''), was an alliance formed ...

in 1892. His son

Nicholas II Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov; 186817 July 1918) or Nikolai II was the last reigning Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland from 1 November 1894 until his abdication on 15 March 1917. He married ...

laid the foundation stone in October 1896. The style of the bridge reflects that of the

Grand Palais The (; ), commonly known as the , is a historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris between the Champs-Élysées and the Seine, France. Construction of the began in 1897 following the demolitio ...

, to which it leads on the right bank. The construction of the bridge is a marvel of 19th century engineering, consisting of a high single span steel arch. The design, by the architects and Gaston Cousin, was constrained by the need to keep the bridge from obscuring the view of the

or the

. The bridge was built by the engineers

Jean Résal Jean may refer to: People * Jean (female given name) * Jean (male given name) * Jean (surname) Fictional characters * Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character * Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations * Jean ...

and . It was inaugurated in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle (''universal exhibition'') World's Fair, as were the nearby

and

Petit Palais The (; ) is an art museum in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Built for the Exposition Universelle (1900), 1900 Exposition Universelle ("universal exhibition"), it now houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts (''Musée des beaux-arts ...

Sculptures

Nymphes de la Neva sur le Pont Alexandre III

Numerous sculptors provided the

sculpture Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

s that feature prominently on the bridge.

''Fames''

Four gilt-bronze statues of ''Fames'' watch over the bridge, supported on massive

masonry Masonry is the craft of building a structure with brick, stone, or similar material, including mortar plastering which are often laid in, bound, and pasted together by mortar (masonry), mortar. The term ''masonry'' can also refer to the buildin ...

socles, that provide stabilizing counterweight for the arch, without interfering with monumental views. The socles are crowned by

Fames In Roman mythology, Fames is the personification of hunger, who can arouse an insatiable appetite. She was often said to be one of the several evils who inhabit the entrance to the Underworld. In Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'', she lives in Scythia, a de ...

restraining

Pegasus Pegasus (; ) is a winged horse in Greek mythology, usually depicted as a white stallion. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. Pegasus was the brother of Chrysaor, both born from Medusa's blood w ...

. :*On the

Right Bank In geography, a bank is the land alongside a body of water. Different structures are referred to as ''banks'' in different fields of geography. In limnology (the study of inland waters), a stream bank or river bank is the terrain alongsid ...

: ''Renommée des Sciences'' ("Fame of the Sciences") and the ''Renommée des Arts'' ("Fame of the Arts"), both by

Emmanuel Frémiet Emmanuel Frémiet (6 December 182410 September 1910) was a French sculptor. He is famous for his 1874 sculpture of Joan of Arc in Paris (and its "sister" statues in Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon) and the monument to Ferdinand de Lesseps in S ...

. At their bases, ''La France Contemporaine'' ("Contemporary France") by Gustave Michel and ''France de Charlemagne'' ("France of Charlemagne") by . The lions groups are by

Georges Gardet Georges Gardet (October 11, 1863 – 6 February 1939) was a French sculptor and animalier. Biography The son of a sculptor, Gardet attended the École des Beaux-Arts in the ''atelier'' of Aimé Millet and Emmanuel Fremiet (another noted ...

. :*On the

Left Bank In geography, a bank is the land alongside a body of water. Different structures are referred to as ''banks'' in different fields of geography. In limnology (the study of inland waters), a stream bank or river bank is the terrain alongsid ...

: ''Renommée du Commerce'' ("Fame of Commerce") by and ''Renommée de l'Industrie'' ("Fame of Industry") by . At their bases, ''France de la Renaissance'' ("France of the Renaissance") by

Jules Coutan Jules-Félix Coutan (; 22 September 1848 – 23 February 1939) was a French sculptor and educator. Life As a student at the École des Beaux-Arts, Coutan was awarded the Prix de Rome in 1872; after his return to Paris he executed the ...

and ''La France de

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

'' ("France of Louis XIV") by Laurent Marqueste. The lions groups are by

Jules Dalou Aimé-Jules Dalou (; 31 December 183815 April 1902) was a 19th-century French sculptor, admired for his perceptiveness, execution, and unpretentious realism. Early life Born in Paris to a working-class family of Huguenot background, he was rais ...

''Nymphs''

The

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 Paris, and faces the ''Nymphs of the Neva'' with the arms of

Imperial Russia Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor/empress, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * ...

. They are both executed in hammered copper over forms by

Georges Récipon Georges Récipon (17 January 1860 – 2 May 1920) was a French painter and sculptor,Exhibition Document, Musée du Chateau, Dinan, Brittany-France, 3 June - 26 September 1986 whose major works are probably his sculptures at the Grand Palais in Pa ...

. In the same political spirit, the Trinity Bridge in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

was conceived as a memorial to the Franco-Russian Alliance. It was designed by

Gustave Eiffel Alexandre Gustave Eiffel ( , ; Bonickhausen dit Eiffel; 15 December 1832 – 27 December 1923) was a French civil engineer. A graduate of École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, he made his name with various bridges for the French railway net ...

, and the first stone was laid in August 1897 by French president

Félix Faure Félix François Faure (; 30 January 1841 – 16 February 1899) was President of France from 1895 until his death in 1899. A native of Paris, he worked as a tanner in his younger years. Faure became a member of the Chamber of Deputies for Seine- ...

Cultural associations

Films and videos

* In the 1956 film ''

Anastasia Anastasia (from ) is a feminine given name of Greek and Slavic origin, derived from the Greek word (), meaning "resurrection". It is a popular name in Eastern Europe. Origin The name Anastasia originated during the Early Christianity, early d ...

'', the final battle takes place at the bridge. *

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in May 1964. The band initially consisted of Graeme Edge (drums), Denny Laine (guitar/vocals), Mike Pinder (keyboards/vocals), Ray Thomas (multi-instrumentalist/vocals) and Clint W ...

' first music video footage for the song “

Nights in White Satin "Nights in White Satin" is a song by English rock band the Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward. It was first featured as the segment "The Night" on the album '' Days of Future Passed''. When first released as a single in 1967, it reached nu ...

” was shot two times with two scenes throughout the middle and the ending of the song in 1967. * In the 1976 film ''

Pardon Mon Affaire ''Pardon Mon Affaire'' () is a 1976 French romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Yves Robert. It stars Jean Rochefort, Claude Brasseur, Guy Bedos, Victor Lanoux, Danièle Delorme and Anny Duperey. The original title contains a pun in F ...

'', a character drops a gun into the river from the bridge. * In the 1979 film ''

French Postcards ''French Postcards'' is a 1979 coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama film directed by Willard Huyck, who co-wrote the screenplay with Gloria Katz. It stars Miles Chapin, Blanche Baker, Mitch Hoefer, David Marshall Grant, Valérie Quennessen ...

'', the final romantic scene takes place on the bridge. * In the 1985

James Bond The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...

film ''

A View to a Kill ''A View to a Kill'' is a 1985 spy film, the fourteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the seventh and final appearance of Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from ...

'', Bond comes to a halt at the bridge in a hijacked taxi. Moments later, Bond jumps from the bridge onto a boat. * In the U.S. version of " The Captain of Her Heart" music video. * In the 1997 animated film ''

'', the bridge is damaged by

Rasputin Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin ( – ) was a Russian mystic and faith healer. He is best known for having befriended the imperial family of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, through whom he gained considerable influence in the final ye ...

in an attempt to kill

, who in real life was the granddaughter of

. Ironically, his downfall and ultimate death take place on the same bridge. * In the 1998 film '' Ronin'', the spy team meets some arms dealers under the bridge on the

. * In the 2004 film ''

A Very Long Engagement ''A Very Long Engagement'' () is a 2004 romantic war drama film, co-written and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel and Marion Cotillard. It is a fictional tale about a young woman's desperate search for he ...

'', Marion Cotillard's character kills the character played by François Levantal under the bridge. * In the 2005 film ''

Angel-A ''Angel-A'' is a 2005 French romantic fantasy drama film written and directed by Luc Besson and featuring Jamel Debbouze and Rie Rasmussen. Plot A freeze frame shows Andre (Jamel Debbouze), who describes himself via a voice over, stating that ...

'' it is the Pont Alexandre III from which Angela and André jump into the Seine. *In the 2006 music video for

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey ( ; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Songbird Supreme" by ''Guinness World Records'', Carey is known for her five-octave voc ...

's hit single " Say Somethin'" with

Pharrell Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973), also known mononymously as Pharrell, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer. He first became known as one half of the music production duo ...

and

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

. * In the 2006 episode "

Cold Stones "Cold Stones" is the 76th episode of the HBO series ''The Sopranos'' and the 11th of the show's sixth season. Written by Diane Frolov, Andrew Schneider, and David Chase, and directed by Tim Van Patten, it originally aired on May 21, 2006. St ...

" of ''

The Sopranos ''The Sopranos'' is an American Crime film#Crime drama, crime drama television series created by David Chase. The series follows Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey American Mafia, Mafia boss who suffers from panic attacks. He reluct ...

'', Carmela Soprano and her friend Rosalie Aprile walk in wonderment over the bridge. * In the 2007 film ''

Rush Hour 3 ''Rush Hour 3'' is a 2007 American Buddy Cop film, buddy cop action comedy film directed by Brett Ratner, written by Jeff Nathanson. It is the third installment in the Rush Hour (franchise), ''Rush Hour'' franchise and sequel to ''Rush Hour 2'' ...

'', the taxi cab where Inspector Lee and Agent Crater rode was chased by motorcycles after escaping the casino, while a gunshot was targeted on the window of the cab. * In the 2011 film ''

Midnight in Paris ''Midnight in Paris'' is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in Paris, the film follows Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a screenwriter and aspiring novelist, who is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationsh ...

'', 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. * In the 2016 film '' Me Before You'', the closing shot was filmed near the northeast corner of the bridge. * In the 2016 Bollywood film ''

Befikre ''Befikre'' () is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film written, directed, and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. It stars Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor as two commitment-phobic individuals who enter into a casual ...

'', the song "Nashe si Chadh Gayi" was shot on the river bank by the bridge. * The 2018 film '' Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'' features a sequence with the main character, Newt Scamander, capturing an escaped magical creature known as a Zouwu on the bridge. * In the 2020 Netflix Original TV series ''

Emily in Paris '' Emily in Paris'' is an American romantic comedy drama television series created by Darren Star for Netflix. The series stars Lily Collins as aspiring marketing executive Emily Cooper, an American who moves to Paris to provide an American p ...

'', Savoir, the French marketing firm where Emily works, films a perfume advertisement here with their client, Maison Lavaux. * Jung Jaehyun ( NCT) was shooting a music video for his

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

of the 2017 song "

I Like Me Better "I Like Me Better" is a song recorded and produced by American singer Lauv. It was released on May 19, 2017, and is included on his compilation album ''I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist)'', which was released on May 31, 2018. The song was wri ...

" by

Lauv Ari Staprans Leff (born August 8, 1994), known professionally as Lauv (), is an American musician best known for his breakout hit "I Like Me Better"; included on his compilation album ''I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist)'', which was releas ...

. *

Maison Margiela Maison Margiela, formerly ''Maison Martin Margiela'', is a French luxury fashion house founded by Belgian designer Martin Margiela and Jenny Meirens in 1988 and headquartered in Paris. The house produces both haute couture-inspired artisanal c ...

staged their Artisanal 2024 runway show in the stone chamber under the bridge.

Musicals

* In the 2017 Broadway musical ''

'', based on the 1997 film, the bridge is seen in the second half of the musical and in the closing scene. Anastasia was the granddaughter of Alexander III, who is mentioned in the musical.

Sports

In June 2017, with Paris competing against Los Angeles to host the

2024 Summer Olympics The 2024 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad () and branded as Paris 2024, were an international multi-sport event held in France from 26 July to 11 August 2024, with several events started from 24 July. P ...

(the latter would go on to host the 2028 edition) , Paris turned some of its world-famous landmarks over to sports and installed diving boards on the Alexandre III bridge that spanned the Seine. The swimming leg of the

triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of Swimming (sport), swimming, Cycle sport, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the ...

and

marathon swimming Marathon swimming is a class of open water swimming defined by long distances, with being the unofficially held minimum distance. Routes are typically geographically based or buoy based. Geographical routes include crossings of channels an ...

events was held here.