Alma Bridge

The Alma Bridge, located near the square of the same name, is an arched bridge with a length of 150 meters, one of the most famous sights of Paris. It got its name in honor of the victory of the French army over the Russian troops in the Battle of Almin, during the Crimean War. The bridge was opened in 1856 by Emperor Napoleon III. In 1900, during the preparation for the World Exhibition, its length was doubled - a small pedestrian bridge was added.

Each of the four pillars of the bridge, once, was decorated with a sculpture of a military - Zuawa (the so-called regiments of light infantry), grenadier, artilleryman and infantryman. They served not only as a decorative element, but also used from a practical point of view. From the statues it was convenient to determine the water level in the Seine. For example, if the water completely covered the feet of the Zuawa, the police blocked the approaches to the river, if the water rose to the thighs – navigation was closed on the river.

The modern appearance of the Alma bridge acquired in 1970-74 - the ancient bridge ceased to cope with the needs of the increased traffic flow. After reconstruction, the statues were removed from the bridge and taken away from Paris, only the figure of the Zuava remained in its original place.