[Silhouette of the bridge]
Pont au Change

The bridge connecting the right bank of the Seine with the island of Île de la Cité (one of the two islands in the center of the Seine) is named after the money changers and goldsmiths who opened their businesses on the bridge by order of King Louis VII.
The first bridge that was there was built back in the 9th century AD.
The current bridge was built between 1858-1860, during the reign of Napoleon III and therefore bears the letter N, a symbol of Napoleon’s empire.
The length of the bridge is 103 meters, its width is 30 meters and it is built of bricks

The bridge was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

The letter N symbolizing the reign of Napoleon III can be seen in the following picture Click for a larger image

At the level of the bridge there is a marble plaque with the name of the bridge, the years of its construction and the fact that this was done under the reign of Napoleon III Click for sign's details