Pont Royal

Welcome to the Pont Royal, or Pohn Rwa-yahl, a magnificent structure that spans the gentle curve of the River Seine. As you step onto the solid stone paving of this bridge, you are standing upon the third oldest bridge in all of…

Let us begin our detailed exploration on the northern end of the bridge, connecting to the Right Bank. As you stand here, look immediately to the east, toward the colossal, pale stone facades of the Louvre. …

As we walk toward the center of the Pont Royal, I want you to step back slightly and try to observe the architectural profile of the bridge. The Pont Royal is composed of five graceful arches. …

Let us continue slightly past the center of the bridge. I want to point out a fascinating historical detail that many hurried tourists completely miss. …

We are now approaching the Left Bank side of the bridge. Turn your gaze toward the south and west. …

As we reach the southern end of the bridge, stepping off the span and onto the solid ground of the Left Bank, we find ourselves at the top of the famous Rue du Bac. The name of this street, which translates to 'Street of the…

For our final stop on the bridge itself, let us walk back to a quiet spot near the middle, facing east, upstream toward the historic heart of Paris, the Île de la Cité. From here, you can see a succession of bridges stretching…

As we conclude our audio tour of the Pont Royal, take one final, sweeping look at the panorama surrounding you. We have journeyed from the royal ambitions of King Louis the Fourteenth, who demanded a structure capable of defying…