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The first, a wooden bridge, was built during le moyen Âges. This bridge connected the Eastern bank of la Seine (le quai Saint-Bernard) to l'île Saint-Louis. It was subsequently washed away by a flood on 21 January 1651. A stone bridge was erected in its place in 1658. It was demolished in 1918 and replaced by the current bridge in 1928, after it suffered several natural disasters, especially the flood of 1910.
The Pont de la Tournelle was intentionally built lacking symmetry, in order to emphasize the shapeless landscape in the part of the Seine that it bestrides. Consisting of a grand central arch that links the riverbanks via two smaller arches, one on each side, it's decorated on the Eastern bank with a pylon built on the left pier's cutwater, and a statue of St. Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, atop of the pylon, designed by Polish-French monumental sculptor Paul Landowski.
The term "Tournelle" traces its origin to a square turret (tourelle in French) constructed at the end of the 12th Century on the nearby fortress of Phillipe Auguste.
15 comments:
Love your asymmetric bridge - hope your knee is recovering well - saw the surgeon who removed my gall stone the other day and he says he doesn't want to see me again.
Ah gay Paree.
Gorgeous bridge and what a terrific capture for the day! I do love Paris!!
Sylvia
I like the asymmetry of the bridge. And the 1920s was a wonderful time to b e designing bridges!
hope your knee is feeling great!
Bridge over the years, from wood to fiber-optics!
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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Now, that's a great bridge and the information is really interesting.
Thanks for the history, it's fascinating! I hope you're mending quickly!
This bridge has had quite a history!
Beautifully captured M. la Vache, that's quite a history this bridge has, thankfully through all it's woes it is now standing proud and looking splendid.
I know I should have a try, but do you think you could link me up to your theme again Louis, I will try myself next time I promise....!!
She is a beauty, this bridge.
Take care of that knee, you've got more bridges to cross!!
Thank you for hosting this linky. I LOVE pretty bridges. :)
Be dancing soon! Kive akk tghe bridges. Traveling as we do, The older bridges 'said something'. The newer ones 'Serve the purpose', but then I imagine governments feel messages can be sent another way.
You and I are both thinking of Ste. Geneviève today... Lovely scene and I did not know the history. Mercy, mon ami!
Bises,
Genie
Fabulous shot!
Thanks for sharing, Louis;o)
I'm going to close 'Sky my camera...'
But you can visit me here: http://www.blogger.com/profile/12309485701972118992
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Have a fabulous week****
La Tour d'Argent has a big picture window that overlooks this bridge and a grand view of Notre Dame. The one and only time I ever dined there, I managed to draw out the dinner until the night lights of Notre Dame and the bridge came on. A treasured memory.
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