Square du Vert-Galant: A Hidden Gem at the Tip of the Island

Halfway across the Pont Neuf you'll come to an equestrian statue. It portrays Henri IV, who was king when the bridge was completed. The row of buildings ahead of it stands on an island, the same one that holds Notre-Dame: the Île de la Cité, which the Pont Neuf crosses. Yes, there's an island right in the middle of the city.

Because the Pont Neuf spans the very tip of the island, you can see a triangle of land jutting out below the bridge like the prow of a ship. Willows hang over it and it's hard to make out at night, but this is the Vert-Galant, a tiny park. In The Lovers on the Bridge, the failing-sighted Michèle wants to capture Alex's face on canvas and sketches it by feeling his features with her hands; this is the spot where that happens. Small but lovely, it's a hidden gem. You'll find hardly any tourists, just Parisians enjoying picnics. On nice days I used to bring a blanket, pick up beer and saucisson (a jerky-like snack) from the supermarket, and lie around here.

Head down to the riverside path, and you can watch the sunset with the water almost lapping at your feet, with the Pont des Arts, the "Bridge of Arts," across the way. Pack whatever snacks suit you, whether wine and cheese, beer and crackers, or cola and fries, and the whole afternoon gets even better. And don't forget to wave when a Bateaux-Mouches or Bateaux Parisiens boat goes by. I wave with great enthusiasm every time one passes, and the passengers laugh and wave back. Sometimes I even raise a toast to people drinking beer on deck. You'll never see them again, so don't be shy. Flash a big smile and wave.