[MR] Wikipedia: Pont Neuf, Oldest Bridge in Paris

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

On this day in 1578, French king Henry III laid the first stone for *Le Pont
Neuf* (" The New Bridge"), ironically now the oldest surviving bridge in
Paris. The bridge was completed in 1606.

*Le Pont Neuf* spans the River Seine at the northwestern end of *L'**Île de
la Cité,* the heart of Paris and location of *Notre Dame* Cathedral. It
consists of two spans of stone arches crossing the channels of the river on
either side of the Island.

Contrary to the usual medieval practice of allowing houses to be built on
bridges, *Le* *Pont Neuf* was planned as as a carriage-way with pedestrian
lanes on both sides. Structures, except for two pumping stations (one of
which included a carillon), permanent structures were never allowed. In
later years (post-SCA period) the bridge became cluttered with quazi-legal
merchant stalls and shacks.

The history of this bridge is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_Neuf .

More about *L'Î**le de la Cité* is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele_de_la_Cit%C3%A9