Why is the most beautiful bridge in Paris named after the Russian emperor Alexander III

One of the most beautiful bridges in Paris, thrown across the Seine, is named after the Russian Emperor Alexander III. And he appeared there not at all by chance, like the Trinity Bridge in St. Petersburg, which was designed by French engineers.

The bridge of Alexander III was laid in 1896 as a sign of the union between the Russian Empire and France. The situation in Europe at the end of the 19th century was far from stability. France, barely recovering from military setbacks, was wary of Germany and Austria-Hungary gaining strength. The Russian Empire, in turn, was looking for an ally in the vastness of Europe, the role of which, in the opinion of Emperor Alexander III, was suitable for France. The Franco-Russian Union was concluded in 1891 and surprised many other European powers. It was a political and military alliance, which involved mutual assistance in the event of an attack on France or Russia by Austria-Hungary, Italy or Germany.

The bridge of Alexander III, which became a symbol of friendship between France and the Russian Empire, was inaugurated in 1900, already during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II. Experts unanimously recognize it as the most elegant bridge in the French capital. The 160-meter-long single-arch bridge was designed so as not to obscure a beautiful view of the Champs Elysees.

Created in the then popular Boz-ar style, the bridge is decorated with numerous decorative elements, figures of angels and Pegasus. The bridge of Alexander III is very popular among Parisians and tourists and is protected by the state as an object of great historical and architectural value.

In St. Petersburg there is a friendly response from the French - the Trinity bridge across the Neva. It was built according to the design of the French company Batignolles, and the French President Felix Faure took part in the celebrations on the occasion of the construction that began in 1987. The bridge was built on the site of an old structure that has been operating here since the beginning of the 19th century. The scale of the St. Petersburg bridge, opened in 1903, is much more solid - its length is 582 meters. Trinity Bridge is a drawbridge and consists of five spans. It is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in the northern capital, which is popular with tourists.