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Origin and history

The Alexandre-III Bridge is an iconic metal work crossing the Seine between the 7th and 8th arrondissements of Paris. Inaugurated on 14 April 1900 during the Universal Exhibition, it symbolizes the Franco-Russian alliance sealed in 1891 between Tsar Alexander III and President Sadi Carnot. Its construction, entrusted to the engineers Jean Résal, Amédée Alby and Joseph Grison, as well as to the architects Cassien-Bernard and Gaston Cousin, aimed to extend the axis of the Invalides towards the Palaces built for the Exhibition.

The bridge, with a single arch of 107 meters cast steel, rests on massive abutments to resist its horizontal thrust. Its exuberant decoration includes gold bronze equestrian groups (the Renommes) and allegorical sculptures celebrating France at different times. The foundations, dug under pressurized box by the Triger process, caused 29 decompression accidents, but only one death. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1975, it is also labeled 20th Century Heritage.

Designed to be both functional and aesthetic, the bridge had to offer an unobstructed view of the Invalides from the Champs Elysées, without hampering river navigation. Its 32 bronze candelabras, made by Lacrière, and its sculptures (including those of Georges Récipon and Emmanuel Frémiet) make it an architectural gem. The first stone was laid in 1896 by Tsar Nicholas II and President Felix Faure, marking its anchor in the diplomatic relations of the time.

The bridge experienced several cultural uses: the right abutment housed the Showcase nightclub (2006–2017), then the ephemeral cultural center Le Génie d'Alex (since 2017), while the left abutment was occupied by an artistic squat (The Bridge Guardians, 1999–2012). Renovated in 1998 to regain its original colours, it remains a symbol of Paris, present in many films and music clips.

Its innovative architecture, combining a bold metal structure and a sumptuous decor, makes it a major testimony of engineering and art of the Belle Époque. The bridge is also integrated into the 2024 Olympic Games as a starting point for the triathlon, highlighting its lasting role in Parisian life.

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