Pont Neuf is the French name for the ‘New Bridge’ which is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. The name which originally distinguished it from other old bridges, just stuck and it is still called the New Bridge despite its age. Pont Neuf is also the name of a station of the Paris Metro. Pont Neuf, the bridge, stands by the western point of the Ile de Cite, the island in the middle of the river, and was the heart of medieval Paris. It connects the left bank , Rive Gauche of Paris with Rive Droite, the right bank.

The bridge is composed of two spans, one of the five arches joining the left bank to the Ile de la Cite, another of seven joining the island to the right bank. Old maps of Paris show how and when the bridge was built. Though it was King Henri II who was supposed to build the bridge in 1550 as the existing Pont Notre Dame was overloaded, it was actually King Henri III who laid the first stone a year later. The major design was made in 1579 and the bridge was completed in 1607 when King Henri IV inaugurated it.

Pont Neuf is constructed as a series of short arch bridges, It was the first stone bridge and had pavements for the pedestrians to walk. Right from the beginning, the traffic on Pont Neuf was heavy and it was the widest bridge in Paris. Several changes took place and it was repaired many times. A bronze statue of King Henri IV stands at the point where the bridge crosses the Ile de la Cite. Under the wide arches, the destitute of Paris have always huddled. A major restoration of the Pont Neuf which was begun in 1994 was completed in 2007, the 400th anniversary of the bridge.

Paris has many attractions and sites, which enthrall visitors. Among these, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower are the most famous. To enjoy Paris to its’ utmost potential, several days are required. Therefore tourists and visitors to the city are encouraged to stay in a Paris hotel in the city centre, so that they have easy access to the many sites in the area. Furthermore, staying at a luxury hotel in Paris provides its guests with an opportunity to indulge in the finest Parisian comfort the city has to offer.