The western side of the Ile de le Cité is mainly dedicated to justice. On the front, you can see the Tribunal de commerce, a court of trade specialized in business and companies rights. Behind, the court of justice, hold the criminal and civils cases.

In the middle, the tower of the conciergerie is famous because of the oldest clockwork still working on its side. This clock saw Marie Antoinette left this court on her last travel.

On the right bank, just behind the Hôtel de ville, Saint Gervais’s church comes to light between the surrounding medieval buildings.
The church accomodates since 1653, a great dynasty of french musicians : the Couperin. The huge organ of Louis and François Couperin still remain inside. This family played on this instrument for nearly two hundred years.

Pont Alexandre III is an arch bridge that spans the Seine, connecting the Champs-Élysées quarter and the Invalides and Eiffel Tower Quarter, regarded by many as one of the prettiest in Paris.

The bridge, with its exuberant Art Nouveau lamps, cherubs, nymphs and winged horses at either end, was built between 1896 and 1900. It was named after Tsar Alexander III (father of Nicholas II) of Russia. It was Nicholas II who laid the foundation stone in October 1896. The style of the bridge reflects that of the Grand Palais, to which it leads on the right bank.

(wikipedia)

Unconsciously inspired by this one from Michael Kenna.

Let me introduce to you the bridge Simone de Beauvoir.
She was a writer (the second sex) and a philosopher, married to She shared the life of Jean Paul Sartre (thank you Sarah).

This bridge looks like a roller coaster on the photo, but it is only an optical illusion. The architect, Dietmar Feichtinger, wanted to give this bridge the curves of a women. A tribute to femimity depicted so well by Simone de Beauvoir.

RFR, a Paris based team of engineers worked on the sketch design of this bridge.

And guess where this bridge is leading to ? To the French National Library (Tres Grande Bibliotheque).

Sometime a photo can be inspired by a music or a song. This is it. It’s typically french, we call this kind of music “musette”.

There is an old song, from the early fifties called “Sous le ciel de Paris” (under the sky of Paris). When I saw this view from the Pont de la Tournelle, over the Seine, I thought about it.

Here are the lyrics :

Paroles: Jean Dréjac. Musique: Hubert Giraud 1951 ? 1951 Editions Chaudens

Sous le ciel de Paris
S’envole une chanson
Hum Hum
Elle est née d’aujourd’hui
Dans le cœur d’un garçon
Sous le ciel de Paris
Marchent des amoureux
Hum Hum
Leur bonheur se construit
Sur un air fait pour eux

Sous le pont de Bercy
Un philosophe assis
Deux musiciens quelques badauds
Puis les gens par milliers
Sous le ciel de Paris
Jusqu’au soir vont chanter
Hum Hum
L’hymne d’un peuple épris
De sa vieille cité

Près de Notre Dame
Parfois couve un drame
Oui mais à Paname
Tout peut s’arranger
Quelques rayons
Du ciel d’été
L’accordéon
D’un marinier
L’espoir fleurit
Au ciel de Paris

Sous le ciel de Paris
Coule un fleuve joyeux
Hum Hum
Il endort dans la nuit
Les clochards et les gueux
Sous le ciel de Paris
Les oiseaux du Bon Dieu
Hum Hum
Viennent du monde entier
Pour bavarder entre eux

Et le ciel de Paris
A son secret pour lui
Depuis vingt siècles il est épris
De notre Ile Saint Louis
Quand elle lui sourit
Il met son habit bleu
Hum Hum
Quand il pleut sur Paris
C’est qu’il est malheureux
Quand il est trop jaloux
De ses millions d’amants
Hum Hum
Il fait gronder sur nous
Son tonnerr’ éclatant
Mais le ciel de Paris
N’est pas longtemps cruel
Hum Hum
Pour se fair’ pardonner
Il offre un arc en ciel