The Alexandre-III bridge is located in Paris. It crosses the Seine between the 7th and the 8th districts.
Origin of the Alexandre-III bridge
It was inaugurated for the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900. The bridge was intended to symbolize the Franco-Russian friendship. It follows the signing of the alliance concluded in 1891 between Tsar Alexander III (1845-1894) and the President of the French Republic Sadi Carnot. The foundation stone was laid by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Empress Alexandra Fedorovna, and President Felix Faure on October 7, 1896. It has been classified as a historical monument since 1975
Construction of this bridge is a real technical feat
The construction in 3 years of this structure was entrusted to engineers Jean Résal and Amédée Alby, as well as architects Cassien-Bernard and Gaston Cousin. Alexandre-III bridge is 45-meter wide, made of cast steel.
The specifications called for it to be flat enough so that the entire Invalides could be seen from the Champs-Élysées. It should not hinder navigation and have an air draft at least equal to that of the most modern bridges.
Because of its large span for a low height, the Alexandre-III bridge exerts a significant horizontal thrust. In order to prevent the anchors from spreading apart, the banks have been considerably reinforced by means of huge concrete blocks, probably the largest foundations ever built. The monumental columns seem like matchsticks in comparison: their foundations being independent of those of the bridge, their role is moreover only decorative.
The environment of the bridge and the perspective of the Invalides Monument
Built along the axis of the Invalides esplanade, it leads from this esplanade to the Petit Palais and Grand Palais also built for the same Universal Exhibition. The panoramic view of these buildings, the Eiffel Tower, and the Seine River make it a very popular place to walk, day and night.
Decoration of the Alexandre-III bridge
The bridge is illuminated by 32 bronze candelabra.
The four statues at the top of the entrance pylons represent "La Renommée des arts", "La Renommée des sciences", "La Renommée au combat" and "Pégase tenu par la Renommée de la Guerre". The decorations at the base of the four pylons have the following themes:
- right bank, upstream : France in the Middle Ages (Alfred-Charles Lenoir) ;
- left bank, upstream : France during the Renaissance (Jules Coutan);
- left bank, downstream: France under Louis XIV (Laurent Marqueste);
- right bank, downstream: Modern France (Gustave Michel).
The groups of lions led by children at the entrances of the bridge were sculpted by Jules Dalou (left bank) and Georges Gardet (right bank).
The different groups in bronze or copper spread over the bridge are :
- Les Amours soutenir les quatre lampadaires, by Henri Désiré Gauquié ;
- Four geniuses with fish and shells, by Léopold Morice and André Massoulle;
- in the center upstream (Concorde): Nymphs of the Neva with the arms of Russia, by Georges Récipon;
- in the center downstream (Alma): Nymphs of the Seine with the arms of Paris, by Georges Récipon.
On the column, right bank downstream was engraved this inscription: "On April 14, 1900, Émile Loubet, President of the French Republic, opened the Universal Exhibition and inaugurated the Alexandre-III Bridge".
The Alexander III bridge has been seen in more than 15 films. The diva Mariah Carey shot a large part of her video clip for the song "Say Something" in 2006.
The Alexandre-III bridge as it is today
It has a single 107-meter wide arch with three points of articulation, making it possible to cross the river without an intermediate support point in the Seine. Total length: 160 meters. It is located between the Concorde Bridge and the Invalides Bridge.
Add a review