Quietly and very romantically carries its waters the Seine, dividing Paris into two halves. In the center of the French capital, near the famous Eiffel Tower, on the river is an artificial Swan Island. This interesting and unusually picturesque place attracts hundreds of tourists every day. We will also make a virtual trip to Swan Island in Paris!
Seine river - a symbol of the French capital
The Seine is a river in Paris that has a sacred meaning for a true Frenchman. It was on its shores in the III century BC that the Parisians settled - one of the Gallic tribes that founded the future metropolis. The very name of the river, according to one version, is of Latin origin and translates as “sacred stream”.
The Seine originates in Burgundy and flows into the English Channel, collecting water from an area equal to almost 80 thousand square kilometers. This is a full-flowing river with a fairly calm course. Its total length is 776 kilometers. The river is the most important navigable artery for France. A large number of large and small ports were built on its shores.
Main Attractions on the Seine
The river in Paris flows, curving sufficiently steep arc. At the same time, she divides the city into two parts. Historically, the left bank of the Seine is considered bohemian, and the right - the business center of the capital. The historical center of Paris with its most important sights is also tied to the banks of this river.
Taking a boat trip along the Seine, the tourist will definitely see the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Bourbon Palace, the Louvre Museum, and, of course, the world famous Eiffel Tower. No less popular are numerous Parisian bridges. A total of 37 are thrown across the Seine within the city. The most beautiful of them are the Louis Philippe and Notre Dame bridges.
Swan Island is one of the most beloved and most visited places in Paris by travelers. We will talk about it later.
Swan island: description and location
The object is located in the 15th and 16th districts of Paris. It offers great views of the nearby metropolitan skyscrapers and the Eiffel Tower.
Swan (or Swan) is an artificial island on the Seine, which divides its channel almost in half. An elongated bulk dam was built back in 1825. Today it also serves as a support for the Paris metro bridge. The total length of the island is 890 meters, but the width is only 20 m.
Visit this Parisian island should certainly! After all, here you can stroll leisurely in a relaxed atmosphere, admiring the beautiful views of the river. This place in Paris will undoubtedly appeal to professional photographers. Here they will find many organic and very successful camera angles for themselves.
Swan Island Attractions: Bridges and Alley
Swan island is not only walks and the opportunity to take beautiful photographs of Paris. There is also something to see here.
So, three Paris bridges cross the island at once: Bir-Hakem, Ruel and Grenelle. The most important and largest of them is Bir-Hakem. This is a two-tier bridge along which the sixth line of the city metro passes. Its lower floor is designed for traffic and pedestrians.
In the western part, the island crosses the Grenelle Bridge, and in the center - Rouel. The latter is one of the most unusual and original bridges in Paris. Its construction was built for the 1900 World's Fair. The highlight of the bridge is that it consists of three completely different parts: two stone and one metal. Moreover, the element on the left bank of the Seine is made in the form of a smooth bend on two supports.
Another attraction of the island permeates it along its entire length. This is the so-called Swan Alley. You can walk it in leisurely steps in about 10 minutes. The alley is planted with 322 trees. Moreover, these trees are not the same, here you can count more than 60 of their species! Under their branches there are benches where you can relax and hide from the summer heat.
Paris Statue of Liberty
Swan Alley leads tourists to the island’s main attraction. This is a small copy of the American Statue of Liberty. The story of her appearance here is very interesting.
As you know, in 1876, the French presented their overseas friends with an impressive gift - the 46-meter Statue of Liberty. It was dedicated to the centennial of the American Revolution. A giant sculpture was installed in New York and soon became one of the main symbols of the United States.
Thirteen years passed, and the Americans decided to thank the French, giving them an exact but small copy of the statue with a height of 11.5 meters. The return gift was hoisted on the western edge of Swan Island so that the sculpture "looked" in the direction of the United States.
The Paris Statue of Liberty holds a sign in its left stone hand with two historical dates: US Independence Day and Bastille Day.
Here he is - Swan Island of Paris! It is especially beautiful in the evening, when in the Seine the multi-colored lights of the most romantic capital of Europe are reflected.