# Pont Neuf, Paris > The Pont Neuf, the 'New Bridge', is despite its name the oldest surviving bridge across the Seine in Paris. Work began in 1578 and finished in 1607, and it crosses the western tip of the Île de la Cité, linking both banks. It was the city's first stone bridge without houses on it, with pavements and half-round bays offering views of the Louvre and the quays. Its cornices carry 381 stone masks, and an equestrian statue of Henry IV stands at the centre. The bridge is always open and free. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/paris/pont-neuf - City: [Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris), France - YesGo score: 52/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 25 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Hours: Open 24 hours - Built: 1578–1607 - Arches: 12: seven and five - Duration: ≈ 20–30 minutes with a stroll - Location: Île de la Cité, metro Pont Neuf or Cité - Coordinates: 48.85750, 2.34167 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1607** — the bridge was completed (source: English Wikipedia) - **381** — stone masks on the cornices (source: English Wikipedia) - **12** — arches in two spans (source: English Wikipedia) - **1614** — Henry IV's statue was erected (source: English Wikipedia) ## About the Pont Neuf The Pont Neuf crosses the Seine at the western tip of the **Île de la Cité**, where Paris was born. It has two parts: five arches lead to the Left Bank and seven to the Right, with the bridge crossing the point of the island in between. King Henry III laid the first stone on **31 May 1578**, and it was completed in **1607**, under Henry IV. It was called 'New' to set it apart from the old bridges lined with houses. Those have long been replaced, but the Pont Neuf remains, making it the **oldest** surviving bridge across the Seine in Paris. It has been a French historic monument since 1889. ## What to see - **The mascarons** — 381 stone masks under the cornice, all different. - **Half-round bays** — 'balconies' over the piers with river views. - **Henry IV's statue** — the equestrian monument mid-bridge. - **Square du Vert-Galant** — the green tip of the Île de la Cité. - **Place Dauphine** — a quiet triangle of 17th-century houses. - **La Samaritaine** — the department store by the bridge on the Right Bank. ## The first bridge without houses The Pont Neuf was the first stone bridge in Paris **without houses** on it: people simply walked and rode across, admiring the river. It had **pavements** to protect pedestrians from mud and horses, and half-round bays above each pier where you could step aside for a carriage. Today those 'balconies' have benches and offer the best views of the Seine. The builders set the two parts of the bridge at a slight angle to each other to better withstand the current. For a long time the Pont Neuf was also the city's **widest** bridge. In the 19th century its arches were flattened, and in **1994–2007** it was fully restored in time for its 400th anniversary. > **When to come** The bridge is loveliest at sunset, as the sun sinks over the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower, and in the evening when the lamps come on. Mornings are quiet, good for studying the masks under the cornice, best seen from the quay or a river boat. In summer people picnic by the water in the Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the island. ## The masks and Henry IV's statue The cornices carry **381 mascarons**, stone heads of forest and field deities, satyrs and sylvans. No two are alike: some laugh, others frown or pull faces. Those on the bridge now are copies; the originals are attributed to the Renaissance sculptor Germain Pilon. Where the bridge crosses the island stands a bronze **equestrian statue of Henry IV**, commissioned by his widow Marie de' Medici. It was erected in **1614** and later restored in the 19th century. Behind it, steps lead down to the **Square du Vert-Galant**, the green promontory at the very tip of the Île de la Cité, named after the king's nickname, the 'gallant old charmer'. ## A bridge that was a public square From its opening the Pont Neuf was a favourite haunt of Parisians. Stalls lined it, acrobats, conjurers and musicians performed, pamphlets and news were sold, and famous tooth-pullers plied their trade. It was said you could never cross the Pont Neuf without meeting a monk, a girl and a white horse, and any popular satirical song was simply called 'un pont-neuf'. Peter the Great, visiting Paris, declared he had seen nothing more curious than the Pont Neuf, and Benjamin Franklin wrote home that he only understood the Parisians after crossing it. In the 18th century the bridge carried the **Samaritaine** pump house with a carillon, which gave its name to the **La Samaritaine** department store, opened in 1869 on the nearby bank. ## What's nearby Behind Henry IV's statue opens **Place Dauphine**, a quiet triangle of old 17th-century houses with chestnut trees and cafés, one of the cosiest spots in Paris. Further along the island are the Palais de Justice, the [Sainte-Chapelle](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/sainte-chapelle) and [Notre-Dame](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/notre-dame-de-paris). On the Right Bank by the bridge stands the restored **Samaritaine** store with its Art Nouveau décor and glass roof, and beyond it the [Louvre](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/louvre). On the Left Bank are quays of booksellers and the streets of Saint-Germain. Seine sightseeing boats dock by the Square du Vert-Galant. ## How to get there 1. Metro line 7 to **Pont Neuf**, exiting by the bridge. 2. Metro line 4 to **Cité**, a 5-minute walk across the island. 3. From the Louvre, a 5-minute walk along the quay. 4. From Notre-Dame, a 10-minute walk across the Île de la Cité. ## Tips for your visit Fit the Pont Neuf into a walk round the Île de la Cité: Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Place Dauphine, Pont Neuf and the Square du Vert-Galant. Cross the whole bridge, sit in one of the bays and go down to the water in the square. The masks are best seen from the water: many sightseeing boats leave right from the Square du Vert-Galant. The Louvre quay gives the classic view of the whole arched bridge. The bridge is open public space with no tickets or opening hours. It's busy in the evening, so keep your belongings close. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Find the funniest mask - [ ] Sit in a half-round bay - [ ] See Henry IV's statue - [ ] Go down to the Square du Vert-Galant - [ ] Look into Place Dauphine ## Places in Paris: compare and choose Places in Paris rated by YesGo. - [Pont Neuf](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/pont-neuf) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 25 min · Free - [Pont Alexandre III](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/pont-alexandre-iii) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free - [Île de la Cité](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/ile-de-la-cite) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · Free, it's a city island - [Canal Saint-Martin](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/canal-saint-martin) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Free - [Seine river cruise](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/seine-cruise) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 1-hour cruise, dinner costs more ## Don't mix it up Despite its name, the Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris; the Pont Alexandre III is the ornate early-20th-century bridge near the Invalides with gilded statues. ## Tips - Sunset from the bridge. - Masks from the water. - The square at the tip. - Watch your belongings. ## Questions ### Why is the oldest bridge called 'New'? When it was built in 1607 it was new compared with the house-lined bridges. ### How many masks are on the Pont Neuf? 381 stone masks, all different. ### Is there a fee to cross? No, the bridge is open 24 hours and free. ### What's near the Pont Neuf? The Square du Vert-Galant, Place Dauphine, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Louvre. ### How do I get to the Pont Neuf? By metro line 7 to Pont Neuf station. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. The bridge is open public space with no tickets or opening hours. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Pont Neuf - City of Paris website, paris.fr --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.