BANKS OF THE RIVER SEINE

There are infinite ways to experience Paris...the city is such...But if you want to witness the glory of Paris in an almost musical way, then just come to river Seine and spend your hours here...even days, if you have the time. 

The four kilometers stretch of the Seine from the Eiffel Tower at one end and the island of Ile de la Cite at the other is architecturally the most beautiful river stretch I have seen. This stretch, a UNESCO world heritage site houses most of the important monuments of Paris including the likes of Eiffel Tower with its garden Champ de Mars, Palais de Chaillot, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde, Jardin des Tuileres with the Ach de Triomphe du Carrousel, Musee du Louvre, Cathedrale Notre-Dame and Sainte  Chapelle in the island of Ile de le Cite, Bibliotheque Mazarine, Palais Bourbon and Musee de l'Armee with the Les Invalides. There are quite a few bridges across the river ensuring easy connectivity. Notable among them is the Pont Alexander III. The famous avenue Champs-Elysees starts from the Place de la Concorde and runs almost parallel to the Seine before it reaches the majestic Arc de Triomphe. A river cruise is a quick and beautiful way to have an experience of all the monuments and the bridges with some unique views and settings, which is otherwise impossible to get. 

There are two natural islands on the river Seine within Paris - Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint Louis. Ile de la Cite is considered the center of Paris where the city was founded. The most important monument located on this island is the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris). Built during the twelfth century AD, this is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture with twin towers and a spire. The Notre Dame is a powerful witness of the medieval French history and has hosted major events like the coronation of French kings as well as the funerals of notable French personalities. Unfortunately, the cathedral has suffered numerous damages  through out its history. The French Revolution almost destroyed it and the restoration took quite some time. Recently during April 2019, the spire was damaged by a fire and the Notre Dame was closed and is under refurbishment. The Ile de la Cite also houses the Sainte Chapelle which was the royal chapel of the medieval rulers, located as a part of the Palais de la Cite.

Moving ahead from the island, the famous museums Musee du Louvre and Portes de Lions lie on the right.  From here, one can see the Arc de Triomphe du Caroussel, walk through the gardens of Jardine des Tuileries and reach the largest square of Paris, Place de La Concorde. The Champ-Elysses starts from Place de La Concorde and continues for about two kilometres until Place Charles de Gaulle, which houses the famous Arch de Triomphe. 

Further ahead, from the Place de la Concorde, one bridge away are the two palaces turned art museums - Grand Palais and the Petit Palais. Another two bridges away from these museums is located the Palais de Chaillot with its gardens. Palais de Chaillot has hosted numerous dignitaries in the past and now houses different museums. From here, one can reach the Eiffel Tower, just by crossing the bridge across the Seine. The Eiffel Tower along with its squares and gardens Champ de Mars needs no introduction. Designed to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution, the tower remained the world's tallest structure of fourty years from late nineteenth till early twentieth century. Initially designed as a temporary structure for the World Fair, the popularity of the Eiffel tower ensured that it had to stay and it continues to do so proudly way beyond it's design life of twenty years.

Now, coming to the bridges on the Seine, they are really beautiful and  the most beautiful among them is the Pont Alexander III.  This ornate bridge connects the Grand and Petite Palais on Champ Elysees on one end to  the Les Invalides and the Army Museum (Musee de l'Armee)  on the other bank of Seine. Originally constructed to serve as a home for war veterans, the Les Invalides also hosts a complex of museums and monuments, mostly dedicated to war memorials. The Army Museum also houses Napoleon's gilded tomb. The tallest church of Paris Dome des Invalides is also within this complex. 

The Pont Alexander III is gorgeously decorated with nymph reliefs and the gilded Fames sculptors and is an absolute treat to the eyes. The Beaux-Arts style bridge looks like a decorated piece of huge jewelry with numerous sculptures and beautiful lampposts on it.

The banks of Seine can absorb you for days as you keep exploring the splendors of Paris. Beautiful monuments, churches and rich stories of war and peace..of love and hatred...of heroes and commoners...Paris is indeed a dream city and Seine is major host of this city. And there is music all around it's banks. 

This post is for alphabet ‘S' of the #BlogchatterA2Z 2020 challenge:

S for Seine