This decoration on the side of the Viaduc d’Austerlitz reminds us with the origin of Paris.
The first parisians, the parisii, were known as boatmen and traders. Since middle age, the motto of the city is a latin sentence “Fluctuat nec mergitur”, which means “I float and I don’t sink” and the logo of Paris is a sailing boat over white lily flowers (the symbol of french kings). The logo is crown by a wall which represents the wall of Philippe Auguste, built in 1280 around Paris. Every municipal equipment bears it.

The boat here is surrounded by fishes, ropes and two marine anchors.

The decoration of the Austerlitz bridge was made by Jean-Camille Formigé who was the architext of the superstructures of the metro of Paris.