Pont Neuf: The Oldest Bridge in Paris

Once you've finished at Sainte-Chapelle, leave the Île de la Cité and head for the Louvre. Two bridges lie along the way, and the first is the Pont Neuf, the most famous bridge on the Seine. In French, "pont" means "bridge" and "neuf" means "new," so the name means "new bridge." In reality, though, it is the oldest bridge in Paris. It earned the name "new" because most Seine bridges were wooden when it was built, and this stone bridge was a new style for its time.

The Pont Neuf is famous not just for its age but also as the setting of the film Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge). In fact, permission to shoot on the bridge was never granted, so a set was built elsewhere and nothing was actually filmed here, but the movie made the bridge a hit. Despite its romantic title, the film drew harsh criticism for its provocative subject matter, while others praised how well it captured passionate love at rock bottom. It follows a homeless couple: a woman who is slowly losing her sight and a man who becomes obsessed with her after they meet, both people at the very bottom of society with nothing left to lose. It's no postcard of the bridge, but it may be the film that best captures the hidden meaning of the "new bridge."

One last thing: according to local lore, snapping a photo on the round balcony of the bridge brings good luck. Believe it or not, it's a fun photo op to add to your trip.