Pont Alexandre III: Paris's Most Beautiful Bridge

Pont Alexandre III lies in a straight line from the Army Museum at Les Invalides toward the Seine. Walk out through the main gate and you'll see the statues that adorn the bridge in the distance. If you want to fit the vast Invalides into a single frame, or take in the whole view from afar, head toward the bridge.

The Seine is crossed by many bridges, and Pont Alexandre III is often named the most beautiful of them. Other famous Paris bridges include the Pont Neuf, beside the equestrian statue of Henri IV, and the Pont des Arts, where couples visiting Paris used to hang padlocks as symbols of love. As the padlocks multiplied, their weight became a safety problem; they were removed, and the bridge has since been altered so locks can no longer be attached.

Construction of Pont Alexandre III began in 1896, and it was completed in time for the 1900 Paris World's Fair. It was built to commemorate the military alliance France and Russia signed in 1892, and it is said to take its name from Russia's Alexander III.

The bridge dates from the late 19th century, France's Belle Époque, meaning "beautiful era." True to the name, it was a peaceful and prosperous time before World War I. It was during the Belle Époque that Art Nouveau, meaning "new art," was born in Paris, and you can spot traces of it in the bridge's decoration. The best-known Parisian examples are the Metro entrances. Popular in Europe and America from the late 19th to the early 20th century, Art Nouveau is marked by animal, flower and plant motifs and flowing curves. It shaped not only architecture but fashion and painting too.

In romance films such as Midnight in Paris, Pont Alexandre III appears as a "bridge of love," where beautiful, romantic love seems bound to bloom. The night view of Paris from the bridge, set against its ornate decoration, is especially lovely. Be sure to cross it at least once during your trip.