The Seine is crossed by many old and beautiful bridges. The oldest one, the Pont-Neuf near the Notre-Dame cathedral, inaugurated in 1607 is quite noticeable. The exuberant Alexandre III bridge near the Invalides military hospital was inaugurated in 1900 during the Paris world exhibition. Many of the most famous Paris monuments are on the river banks. The list includes Notre-Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel tower.

The Seine River, that flows through Paris has well-tamed channel that crosses the city roughly from east to west along a curved path that looks like an inverted ‘U’ on a map. The average flow of the river is between one and ten cubic meters per second, and the depth averages six to eight meters. It’s a very pretty river, of appropriate size for this densely-populated city. The river is navigable for freight all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and for a significant distance above Paris, and barges are a common sight on the river at Paris. Two thousand years ago, this river was famous for the purity of its water and the abundance of fish that it contained; it is still quite clean today, and there are still fish in the river. The greenish color of the slow-moving water comes from silt and plant growth, not pollution.

The division in Paris by Seine gives the city distinct, geographic division, with monuments and quarters being designated in relation to the Seine River. The Eiffel Tour, Hotel des Invalides, and the Musee d’Orsay are on the south bank. While the Louvre, Grand Palais, and Concorde can be found on the north bank. Notre Dame Cathedral, the place du Parvis Notre Dame, and the Ste-Chapelle are found in the center of Paris on the Ile de la in the middle of the Seine River.

Paris, the capital of France, ranks consistently as one of the most liked cities in the world. The Cradle of Paris is Ile de la Cite, a small island in the middle of the Seine River. Paris then first developed along the river, and from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower or the Place de la Concorde to Notre-Dame, its progression and its history can be seen from the river. The central portion of the banks forms a very homogeneous ensemble and makes for a fine walk. The banks of the Seine are UNESCO World Heritage Site. The right bank of the Seine is dominated by the large perspectives due to the avenues designed by Haussman in the 19th century. The most prominent of them is the one extending from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe, through the Champs Elysees, France most famous avenue. By contrast, the Montmartre quarter, perched on a steep hill, with its narrow streets, staircases, gardens, and even a vineyard, has retained some traits of a village. Paris truly deserves her nickname of the City of Light. Many of the monuments are even more beautiful illuminated at night than during the day. Have a great time viewing them.