Seine - Pont Neuf

A favorite catch question on the history of Paris is "Which is the city's oldest bridge?" The answer is the "New Bridge" - the Pont Neuf, which was built between 1578 and 1607 (restored in the 19th century). It is one of the handsomest of the Seine bridges and also the longest (330m/360yds), spanning both arms of the river at the western tip of the Ile de la Cité. (The Square du Vert-Galant was built up later).

The Pont Neuf was equipped from the outset with the attributes of a modern bridge, a carriageway for traffic and pavements for pedestrians.

In 1985 the "packaging" artist Christo shrouded the 12 arches of the bridge for two weeks in 40,000sq.m/48,000sq.yd of champagne- colored material, converting it into a work of