The elegant 17th-century Pont Neuf Paris is the oldest bridge in the French capital, and one of the city’s most famous landmarks.
It’s one of the most romantic places in Paris, the evocative 400-year-old bridge a gorgeous backdrop to a riverside stroll along the Seine or a picnic on the riverbank.
My Pont Neuf Paris guide delves into the history of Paris’ oldest bridge, suggests things to see and do on and around the bridge and also offers tips on some of the best places to visit nearby.
Hotels Near Pont Neuf Paris
L’Hotel – stunning Left Bank 5-star in the former home of Oscar Wilde
Relais du Louvre – beautiful historic 4-star boutique hotel next to St Germain l’Auxerrois Church and the Louvre
Hotel Britannique – beautifully decorated red and gold rooms, 19th-century hotel in a superb location next to Place du Châtelet and the Seine
Hotel Du Quai Voltaire – deluxe riverside hotel close to the Pont des Arts, a short walk to the Pont Neuf and Île de la Cité
Why Visit Pont Neuf Paris
The Pont Neuf is the oldest and one of the most famous Paris bridges.
It’s also one of the most beautiful Parisian bridges, its twelve arches (seven to the right bank, five to the left bank) one of the best-known Paris landmarks, and a major part of the Paris – Banks of the Seine UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Pont Neuf forms part of some of the best views in Paris, especially from the Pont des Arts looking upstream towards the Île de la Cité and Notre Dame de Paris.
It also commands some magnificent views of Paris, including towards the Louvre and one of the best Eiffel Tower views.
Seine Cruises Passing The Pont Neuf
Almost all Paris river cruises pass the Pont Neuf, which is in prime Paris sightseeing territory. These cruises all pass beneath this beautiful 400-year-old bridge:
Romantic Seine Cruise With 3-Course Dinner – longer than usual two-hour cruise taking in all the sights and a few extras along the way
1-Hour Seine Cruise From Eiffel Tower – a wonderful introduction to Paris and the sights along the Seine
Paris Evening Lights Cruise – one of the beast things to do in Paris, experiencing the city at its most beautiful between sunset and twilight
Pont Neuf Paris History
King Henri III decided to build Pont Neuf Paris in 1577, the first bridge to span the whole of the river Seine.
Work commenced on the bridge in 1578, under the auspices of Baptiste Androuet du Cerceau, and was finally completed in 1607 during the reign of Henri IV. Like other bridges in Paris, the Pont Neuf was intended to be lined with houses each side.
Construction had been delayed for a decade by the Wars of Religion, during which Henri III was deposed and killed. Henri IV instigated the resumption of the building work in 1599, but without the houses – another first for Parisian bridges. The work continued under architects Guillaume Marchant and François Petit.
Around the same time, the Samaritaine water pump was also built, and this supplied water to the area immediately to the north-west including the Louvre and what is now the Tuileries Garden.
The alcoves on the bridge were used as sites for trading and, later, shops. A variety of traders set up there including booksellers who would sell their wares from the parapet of the bridge.
These are the predecessor of the bouquinistes who, four centuries later, still sell books, paintings, posters and more along both banks of the Seine around the Île de la Cité.
The shop buildings were eventually removed in the 19th century. The bridge also has a small niche in French culinary history, giving its name to pommes Pont Neuf, thick-cut potato chips (or French fries) which were regularly sold around the bridge.
Pont Neuf Paris has long inspired artists, and has been depicted in paintings by the likes of JMW Turner, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (pictured) and Claude Monet (possibly his grimmest ever painting).
In 1985, the Pont Neuf was also famously wrapped in fabric by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who later went on to wrap the Arc de Triomphe in 2021. Now, in 2026, it is the central part of the La Caverne du Pont Neuf installation – essentially turning the bridge into a cave – by JR.
What To See At Pont Neuf Paris
The Pont Neuf was the first bridge to link the left and right banks of the Seine, and at 238 metres is the longest of the bridges over the Seine in Paris’ historic centre.
It’s also a wide bridge, at over 20 metres across – this allowed for the construction of pavements, unique at the time it was built. If you wanted to cross one of the other Paris bridges in the 17th century, you would have to squelch your way through the mud to do so.
As you approach the Pont Neuf, you’ll notice the row of intricately carved heads, or mascarons. These 381 vivid grotesques are meant to ward off evil spirits. They have been incorrectly attributed to renowned Renaissance sculptor Germain Pilon, but he died in 1590, long before the completion of the Pont Neuf.
As you walk across the Île de la Cité from one section of the Pont Neuf to the other, you’ll find the equestrian statue of King Henri IV, who commissioned the construction of Pont Neuf but was assassinated in 1610, three years after it was completed.
Henri was popularly known as the Vert Galant, which literally translates as ‘Green Gallant’. In other words, he was an older man with a predilection for chasing after women, especially younger ones.
A small park named after him, the Square du Vert Galant, is at the bottom of two narrow flights of stone stairs, and it’s one of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in Paris. It’s especially popular with locals in summer, who sit in the shady garden or on the riverside with a bottle of wine or picnic.
If you’re planning on a Seine river cruise – one of the best things to in Paris – one of the best operators, Vedettes du Pont Neuf, run boat trips from next to the Square, right below the Pont Neuf. We went on a Seine sunset cruise, which is a stunning way to see the city.
Where Is Pont Neuf In Paris
The Pont Neuf spans the River Seine at the western end of the Île de la Cité. It is in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.
It links the Quai du Louvre on the north side (Right Bank) of the Seine with the Quai de Conti on the south side (Left Bank).
Here are some distances from some of the main Paris landmarks to the Pont Neuf:
- Notre Dame Cathedral – 850 metres – 10-minute walk
- Louvre Museum – 400 metres – 5-minute walk
- Pont des Arts Paris – 400 metres – 5-minute walk
- Saint Germain des Prés Church – 850 metres – 10-minute walk
- Eiffel Tower – 4 km (2.6 miles) – 10 minutes by RER from St Michel Notre Dame
- Musée d’Orsay – 1 km by bus 87
How To Get To Pont Neuf Paris
If you’re travelling by Metro, the nearest station is Pont Neuf, on the pink line 7. It’s on the right bank (rive droite), and buses 21, 27, 58, 67, 72 and 74 all call at the Quai du Louvre stop within a few metres of the bridge on the same side of the river.
You can also reach the Pont Neuf via Metro line 4, which calls at St Michel (on the Left Bank) and Cité, a five-minute walk away on the Île de la Cité.
You can also get there via St-Michel Notre Dame on the RER B and C lines – these are linked via subway to the St Michel line 4 station. Buses 27 and 87 also stop close to the Pont Neuf, at the Pont Neuf – Quai des Grands Augustins stop.
Things To See Near Pont Neuf Paris
Just across the street from the statue, Place Dauphine is one of the most beautiful squares in Paris. It was laid out and built between 1607 and 1610, and named after his son the Dauphin, who succeeded him as Louis XIII in 1610.
It’s a picturesque shady square with restaurants, cafes and a small boules court, well worth a stop for half an hour or so.
Place Dauphine has a view to the back of the Palais de Justice, which is home to two of the most fascinating Paris sights, the Conciergerie and La Sainte Chapelle Paris.
The Conciergerie is a medieval palace which was converted to a prison in medieval times, while Sainte-Chapelle, one of the most famous churches in Paris, was a private royal chapel built by Louis IX and one of the greatest achievements of Gothic architecture.
It’s only a short walk from there to Notre Dame de Paris, the iconic Gothic cathedral which reopened in December 2024 following the catastrophic 2019 fire.
And just beyond there, you’re into the wonderful Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin), a fascinating area which extends from the Seine up the hill to the Pantheon Paris.
Pont Neuf Paris – Final Words
Pont Neuf and the area around it are exceptionally beautiful. I first got to know the area intimately while living in Paris in the summer of ’92. It’s more popular now, but hasn’t lost any of its magic.
If you’re looking for a romantic break in Paris, take a bottle of wine down to the Square du Vert Galant one summer evening and finish up by walking back up to the bridge and watching the sunset behind the Louvre and Eiffel Tower from there.
I’ve written many more articles on Paris, and here’s a selection of them for you to browse:
General Paris Articles
Best Eiffel Tower Views – over 20 superb vantage points of the most famous landmark in Paris
Sunset in Paris – the best 15 places to see one
Visiting the Arc de Triomphe Paris – all you need to know before you visit one of the great monuments of Paris
Paris Carousels – the best merry-go-rounds in Paris
Statue of Liberty in Paris – seek out the replicas of Lady Liberty across the French capital
Bridges in Paris
Famous Paris Bridges – 15 of the most beautiful bridges on the Seine
Pont Alexandre III Paris – the most flamboyant, ornate bridge in Paris
Bir-Hakeim Bridge Paris – stunning double-decker bridge near the Eiffel Tower
Pont des Arts Paris – elegant iron bridge connecting the Louvre and Institut de France
Pont Neuf Paris – the venerable oldest bridge in Paris, and sometime art installation subject
Churches In Paris
22 Famous Churches in Paris – 22 ecclesiastical wonders
La Sainte Chapelle Paris – one of the wonders of the Gothic Age
Basilica of St Denis Paris – the birthplace of Gothic architecture
Saint Germain des Pres – landmark ancient Left Bank church
Saint Etienne du Mont – stunning Latin Quarter church
Saint Sulpice Church Paris – vast Neoclassical church dominating the Latin Quarter skyline
Pantheon Paris – the resting place of many famous French luminaries
Saint-Séverin Church Paris – Left Bank Gothic wonder
St Julien Le Pauvre – humble ancient church within sight of Notre Dame
Montmartre
Abbesses Metro Station Paris – one of the most beautiful Metro stations in Paris
Rue de l’Abreuvoir – one of the most picturesque streets in Paris
Rue St Rustique Paris – ancient Parisian street in the heart of Montmartre
Sacré Coeur Basilica Paris – the white-domed symbol of Montmartre
Parks in Paris
Square du Vert Galant Paris – the most romantic garden in Paris
Jardin du Luxembourg – one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris
Tuileries Garden Paris – amazing garden near the Louvre
Parc Monceau Paris – gorgeous folly-filled park near the Arc de Triomphe
David Angel
David Angel is a travel photographer, writer and historian with more than 40 years of experience exploring Europe. From great historic cities to remote mountain villages and wild coastlines, he has spent decades uncovering the stories behind the places he visits. Fluent in French and Welsh, and conversant in several other European languages, he brings a deep understanding of Europe’s history, cultures and people to every guide. His photography and writing have appeared in the Guardian, the BBC, Condé Nast Traveller, The Times and The Sunday Times.