Pont Neuf, Paris, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Pont Neuf is the oldest surviving bridge across the Seine in Paris, crossing the river at the western tip of the Île de la Cité. Despite its name, which means New Bridge, it was completed in the early 1600s under Henri IV. Its stone arches, carved masks and open views along the river make it one of the best-loved places in the city.

The story behind it

Work began in 1578 under Henri III, stalled during the turmoil of the Wars of Religion, and finished under Henri IV in 1607. It earned its name because it was new in spirit as well as in date: built of stone, with pavements for walkers, and designed as an open crossing rather than a street of houses over the water. It soon became a meeting place, busy with traders, street performers and booksellers.

Henri IV is the king everyone links with the bridge. Born a Protestant, he became king in 1589 and turned Catholic in 1593, a choice tradition sums up as "Paris is well worth a Mass". In 1598 he issued the Edict of Nantes, which granted Protestants freedom of worship and helped end decades of religious war. His nickname was the vert-galant, a nod to his many romances. An equestrian statue of him stands on the bridge. It is the basis of the old riddle about the colour of his white horse, though nobody can say for sure what colour the real horse was. His white plume at the Battle of Ivry in 1590 is better documented.

Older stories cling to the spot too. Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake in March 1314 on a small islet beside what is now the tip of the island. Legend says he cursed King Philip IV and Pope Clement V from the flames. Both men did die within the year.

What to look for

• Look under the cornice for the carved stone masks, grotesque faces that run along the bridge in great numbers.
• Notice the half-moon alcoves above the piers, which were once used by stallholders and now make good places to sit above the river.
• Find the equestrian statue of Henri IV at the point where the bridge crosses the island, and see how the king is shown.
• Walk down the steps to the Square du Vert-Galant at the island's western tip for a view back up at the arches.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the bridge and the tip of the island, longer if you want to sit by the water.
• Early morning is quietest, and the light at the end of the day is lovely on the stone and the river.
• The Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie and the Place Dauphine are all a short walk away on the island, so check current opening hours if you plan to go inside.
• It is an open public bridge, so there is nothing to book and you can stop as long as you like.

See it on a quest

Mysterious Paris: The Order of the Knights Templar suits this spot well, given the Templar story attached to the tip of the island. You reach the bridge on foot as one stop of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Ghosts of Paris: Mona Lisa Murder Mystery takes you through the same part of the city in a darker mood. The app guides you from stop to stop, explains what you are looking at, and sets a puzzle in the streets around you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Romantic Paris: A Forbidden Love Adventure along the Seine follows the river, and Pont Neuf is a natural stop on it. You walk there yourself, hear about the place when you arrive, and solve a puzzle in front of it. One ticket covers the whole group.