SEINE, Third Part

Right in the middle of the river just after the Pont des Arts, you'll see the pointed, protruding tip of the  Ile de la Cité, the largest of the Parisian islands and the site of the city's oldest settlement. Here you can see a delightful little garden called the "Square du Vert-Galant", or the "square of the old gallant", as King Henry IV was nicknamed for having had many lovers, even when he was much older! The monument at the top of the stairs that descends into the garden depicts the king.

Immediately after passing under the Pont-Neuf, which despite its name meaning "New Bridge" is actually the oldest in Paris and from the early 1600s; Henry IV had it built to connect the palace of the Louvre with the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Immediately after Pont-Neuf, look to your left to see Place Dauphine, a pleasant clearing surrounded by libraries, art galleries, and small restaurants, where as readers of Simenon's novels know well, Commissioner Maigret goes to relax. Immediately afterwards, you can see the rising mass of the Palace of Justice.

After having passed under three bridges, one after the other, a very spectacular stretch approaches which includes an impressive view of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Don't miss this chance to admire the gardens, the cathedral's exterior, and especially its back with the beautiful Gothic arches....