Pont Mirabeau
Encyclopedia
The pont
Mirabeau was built between 1895 and 1897. It was listed a historical monument in 1975.
from the 15th arrondissement (left bank), to the 16th arrondissement. It links rue de la Convention and place Mirabeau, on the left bank, to rue de Rémusat. On the left side, upstream, is the gare de Javel
of the RER, line C. The bridge is served by the Paris Metro
stations Mirabeau
and Javel - André Citroën
.
on 12 January 1893. The bridge was designed by the engineer Paul Rabel, responsible for the bridges of Paris, assisted by the engineers Jean Résal and Amédée d'Alby, and built by Daydé & Pillé.
The two piles represent boats. The one closest to the right bank shows the Seine flowing downstream, while the one on the left shore shows her going upstream. These boats are decorated with four allegorical statues by Jean Antoine Injalbert
(named an officer of the Légion d'honneur
on the day of the bridge's inauguration) : "The City of Paris" (prow of the boat on the right bank), "Navigation" (stern), "Abundance" (prow of the boat of the left bank) and "Commerce" (stern). The two allegories on the prow ("Paris" and "Abundance") face the Seine, while the two stern allegories ("Navigation" and "Commerce") face the bridge.
The four statues are surmounted, at the level of the parapet, by the coat of arms of the City of Paris.
At its end on the Rive Droite
, one can descend towards the road on bank by two stairways (one downstream, one upstream), while on the left bank one can descend towards the Port autonome de Paris by two ramps (one downstream, one upstream).
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
Mirabeau was built between 1895 and 1897. It was listed a historical monument in 1975.
Geography
The bridge spans the SeineSeine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
from the 15th arrondissement (left bank), to the 16th arrondissement. It links rue de la Convention and place Mirabeau, on the left bank, to rue de Rémusat. On the left side, upstream, is the gare de Javel
Gare de Javel
Gare de Javel is a train station in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, by the Pont Mirabeau.The station is built on a bridge over the railway situated in a cutting, it was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle. The building is a metal structure filled in with plain bricks on the lower part and...
of the RER, line C. The bridge is served by the Paris Metro
Paris Métro
The Paris Métro or Métropolitain is the rapid transit metro system in Paris, France. It has become a symbol of the city, noted for its density within the city limits and its uniform architecture influenced by Art Nouveau. The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run to 214 km ...
stations Mirabeau
Mirabeau (Paris Metro)
Mirabeau is a rapid transit station on Line 10 of the Paris Métro system. Located in the 16th arrondissement of the city, it is served solely by eastbound trains to Gare d'Austerlitz...
and Javel - André Citroën
Javel - André Citroën (Paris Metro)
Javel - André Citroën is a station of the Paris Métro, serving Line 10 and offering transfer to the RER C via Javel RER station in the 15th arrondissement....
.
History
The decision to create a new bridge to the right of the junction created by avenue de Versailles and rue Mirabeau, was taken by the French President Sadi CarnotSadi Carnot
Sadi Carnot may refer to:*Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot , French physicist*Marie François Sadi Carnot , president of the third French Republic, and nephew of Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot...
on 12 January 1893. The bridge was designed by the engineer Paul Rabel, responsible for the bridges of Paris, assisted by the engineers Jean Résal and Amédée d'Alby, and built by Daydé & Pillé.
Architecture
The principal arch has a span of 93 meters, and the two lateral arches 32,4 m. The one on the right bank spans the road, while the one of the left bank spans the quay and extends the link over the RER railway. At the time of its construction, this was the longest and highest bridge in Paris. The bridge is 173 meters long, 20 m. wide (the roadway measures 12 m., and the two pavements 4 m. each).The two piles represent boats. The one closest to the right bank shows the Seine flowing downstream, while the one on the left shore shows her going upstream. These boats are decorated with four allegorical statues by Jean Antoine Injalbert
Jean Antoine Injalbert
Jean Antoine Injalbert was a much-decorated French sculptor, born at Béziers.- Life :The son of a stonemason, Injalbert was a pupil of Augustin-Alexandre Dumont and won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1874. At the Exposition Universelle of 1889 he won the Grand Prix, and in 1900 was a member of...
(named an officer of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
on the day of the bridge's inauguration) : "The City of Paris" (prow of the boat on the right bank), "Navigation" (stern), "Abundance" (prow of the boat of the left bank) and "Commerce" (stern). The two allegories on the prow ("Paris" and "Abundance") face the Seine, while the two stern allegories ("Navigation" and "Commerce") face the bridge.
The four statues are surmounted, at the level of the parapet, by the coat of arms of the City of Paris.
At its end on the Rive Droite
Rive Droite
La Rive Droite is most associated with the river Seine in central Paris. Here the river flows roughly westwards, cutting the city into two: looking downstream, the northern bank is to the right, and the southern bank is to the left....
, one can descend towards the road on bank by two stairways (one downstream, one upstream), while on the left bank one can descend towards the Port autonome de Paris by two ramps (one downstream, one upstream).
In the arts
- Le Pont Mirabeau is a poem by Guillaume ApollinaireGuillaume ApollinaireWilhelm Albert Włodzimierz Apolinary Kostrowicki, known as Guillaume Apollinaire was a French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic born in Italy to a Polish mother....
, in the anthology AlcoolsAlcoolsAlcools is a collection of poems by the French author Guillaume Apollinaire.- External links :* Alcools * Alcools...
. To hear a 1913 reading by the author, click here. - This poem was later set to music by Lionel DaunaisLionel DaunaisNoël Ferdinand Lionel Daunais, was a French Canadian baritone and composer.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Daunais studied singing with Céline Marier and harmony and composition with Oscar O'Brien. In 1923 he won first prize at the Montreal Musical Festival...
. - BrassensGeorges BrassensGeorges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier...
refers to it in his song Les Ricochets. - Sam Larkin's song "Mirabeau Bridge" (1974) inspired by Apollinaire's poem, has been covered by James KeelaghanJames KeelaghanJames Keelaghan is a Juno award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter. Born in Calgary, Alberta and now based in Winnipeg, many of his songs, such as "Kiri's Piano", about the internment of Japanese Canadians, and "October 70", about the FLQ crisis, are inspired by events and figures in Canadian...
on his CD "Roads". - Jem FinerJem FinerJem Finer is an English musician, artist and composer. He was one of the founding members of The Pogues.-Life and career:...
composed music for an English translation of the poem. It appears on The PoguesThe PoguesThe Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
' album Pogue Mahone (19961996 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
). - Le Pont Mirabeau is a song by Marc LavoineMarc LavoineMarc Lucien Lavoine is a French singer and actor. In 1985, his hit single "Elle a les yeux revolver" allowed him to reach the top of the French chart and marked the beginning of his successful singing career....
that came out in 20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
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