(NEXSTAR) – The Pont Alexandre III bridge was built for the 1900 World’s Fair in honor of the Russian Czar, Alexander III. For the 2024 Olympic Games, it will be used to connect the Invalides, a former military hospital now hosting competitions like archery, with the Grand Palais, an exhibition hall that will host events for taekwondo and fencing.
The bridge is ornately decorated with gilded bronze sculptures that sit atop four columns at either entrance.
“This is considered as one of the best, the most beautiful bridges in Paris,” Oleg Kobtzeff with the American University of Paris said.
The bridge was originally constructed as symbol of a global interconnected world.
“You advertise the diversity, the beauty, the fun of all of the cultures of the world,” Kobtzeff said. “You try to explain to people, plain folks, that there’s a great world out there.”
With its gorgeous views of the city including the Eiffel Tower, it’s considered a popular spot for a stroll and even wedding photos.
