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.

Don’t you think it looks like a Jules Verne’s flagship waiting to take off to some mysterious places.

Now the Grand Palais is mainly used for painting exhibits or special events. If you have the opportunity to get in, don’t miss it. Look up and you will see, it’s a kind of magic, especially at sunset.

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).