Page 92 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

90  P ARIS AREA B Y AREA

No. 14 is one of the few
buildings to have avoided any
subsequent restoration. This
haven of 17th-century charm is
popular with pétanque (boules)
players and employees of the
adjoining Palais de Justice.

w Pont Neuf
Quai de la Mégisserie and Quai des
Grands Augustins 75001. Map 12 F3.
q Pont Neuf, Cité.
Despite its name (New Bridge),
this is the oldest of the
A sculpted relief on the Palais de Justice existing bridges in Paris and
has been immortalized by
0 Palais de Justice the Première Chambre, but this major literary and artistic
court eventually degenerated figures since it was built. The
4–10 Blvd du Palais (entrance by the into Robespierre’s Reign of first stone was laid by Henri III
Cour de Mai, 10 Blvd du Palais) 75001.
Map 13 A3. Tel 01 44 32 52 52. Terror. Here visitors can see in 1578, but it was Henri IV
q Cité. Open 9am–6pm Mon–Fri. Napoleon’s great legacy – who inaugurated it and gave
^ ∑ ca-paris.justice.fr the French judicial system – it its name in 1607. His statue
at work in the 21st century. stands in the central section.
The monumental block of The bridge, which was the
buildings making up the law widest of its kind in Paris, has
courts stretches the entire q Place Dauphine 12 arches and spans 275 m
width of the Ile de la Cité. It is 75001 (enter by Rue Henri-Robert). (912 ft). The first stone bridge
a splendid sight with its old Map 12 F3. q Pont Neuf, Cité. to be built without houses
towers lining the quays. The and with pavements for
site has been occupied since East of Pont Neuf is this ancient pedestrians, it heralded a
Roman times and was the seat square, laid out in 1607 by new era in the relationship
of royal power until Charles V Henri IV and named after the between the Cité and the river.
moved the court to the Hôtel Dauphin, the future Louis XIII. From its very beginning,
St-Paul in the Marais during It is actually triangular in shape the Pont Neuf has had heavy
the 14th century. In April 1793, and lined with cafés, wine bars traffic. It has undergone many
the Revolutionary Tribunal and restaurants. In the middle is renovations and repairs over
began dispensing justice from a park with trees and benches. the centuries.

The Pont Neuf, extending to the north and south of the Ile de la Cité

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