Palais de Tokyo and the Flame of Liberty

Before you reach the area around the Pont de l'Alma, where the Bateaux-Mouches dock is, you'll pass the Palais de Tokyo. Much like the Palais de Chaillot in feel, it is now a contemporary art museum. It gets its name from the fact that when it was built, the street it stood on was called the Quai de Tokyo, named after the capital of Japan, an ally in World War I. The street is now called Avenue de New-York, but the building is still known as the Palais de Tokyo. It is also a well-known spot for viewing the Eiffel Tower, thanks to its distinctive architecture, which gives you a fresh perspective on the tower. A small pond between the buildings makes the view especially beautiful.

A little further on, you reach the Pont de l'Alma, and just in front of it is the Flame of Liberty. This golden sculpture of a flame was originally erected as a symbol of Franco-American friendship, but since Princess Diana's fatal accident in the tunnel just below, it has become an unofficial memorial to her. She was killed in a car accident in the tunnel running beneath the Pont de l'Alma; the story is that her car, speeding to escape paparazzi, skidded in the tunnel. The accident happened in 1997, more than 20 years ago, yet mourners still gather around the square to remember her.