Pont Neuf, Pont Alexandre III, Pont des Arts or Pont de Bir-Hakeim - you could say that Paris is the city of bridges, so many of them spanning the Seine to enable passers-by to reach the other bank. American author and photographer Gary Zuercher has decided to showcase these jewels of urban architecture through some twenty black-and-white shots, exhibited from October 16 to November 30, 2023 on the gates of Paris City Hall, in the open air.
For five years, the man travelled the capital armed with his camera, at night, to capture the nocturnal life of the bridges and their intense light against the black of the river. They don't call Paris the City of Light for nothing! On film, the prints were made with silver gelatin and come out rich in detail, exposing architectural elements, nearby buildings, trees along the banks and the trail of street lamps on the water. All thirty-five of Paris's bridges have benefited from these shots, although not all are displayed on the railings.
11 bridges are listed as historic monuments in the capital, the first dating back to 1607, inaugurated by Henri IV in 1607. But from the very birth of the city, then called Lutetia, footbridges had to be built out of theÎle de la Cité, then the center of the city, to link the right and left banks. The island still has the most bridges in a single area, with eight of them. The most recent bridge, named after Simone de Beauvoir, dates from 2006 and is the only one to pay tribute to a female figure.
Open-air exhibitions, for an artistic stroll in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
Fancy an open-air exhibition in Paris? Here are the cultural nuggets waiting for you in the capital. The perfect way to get some fresh air and culture! [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From October 16, 2023 to November 30, 2023
Location
City Hall of the 4ᵉ arrondissement of Paris
2 Place Baudoyer
75004 Paris 4
Prices
Free
Open-air exhibitions, for an artistic stroll in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
