Paris River Seine - Paris apartment for rent

While in Paris, be sure to make time for a walk or cruise along the banks of the river Seine. In addition to the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding architecture, the Seine is home to numerous bridges, each with a personality and history all its own.

A cruise along the Seine gives a whole different perspective on Paris and is often a much needed rest after a day of walking. Both day and night cruises are quite popular. Many buildings (including the Louvre) are beautifully illuminated at night. Of course, evening cruises are particularly suited as a romantic interlude. And no romantic trip to Paris is complete without a kiss on the banks of the Seine.
The Seine’s name is actually from a Celtic construction meaning “Sacred River,” and you may find it is also a wonderful place for a peaceful walk and quiet reflection by yourself. There is a touch of the ancient and spiritual here, as well. You may well find yourself in an apartment rentals in Paris that puts you within walking distance of this breathtaking zone.

Another popular option for seeing the Seine is the “hop-on hop-off” boat, offering eight stops along the river Seine. Hop on board at one point, and hop off at the next stop you wish to explore. You can buy a ticket for the day (or longer) and hop off and on as much as you please. After a scrumptious lunch in one of Paris' cafes or restaurants, you may find it’s a relaxing option leaving you plenty of energy for evening ahead.

Although the daytime cruises are quite popular for viewing monuments and bridges in detail, others believe there is nothing quite so breathtaking as Paris illuminated by night. Fortunately, there are various cruises to choose from, offering a wide assortment of options, from those offering the best of Parisian cuisine to very reasonably priced tours for those on a budget. Commentaries are offered in multiple languages, and cruises take visitors by some of Paris’ famous sights including the Eiffel Tower and around the two Islands Ile St.Louis and le de la Cité.
A cruise along on the Seine gives one an entirely different perspective on Paris and is a nice break from all the on-foot adventuring you may find yourself doing while in the city.
In a more recent development, over the past few summers Paris has transformed the banks of the Seine into "Paris Beach" ("Paris Beach" in French)! More than 2,000 tons of beach-quality sand, a 28-meter swimming pool, sun-loungers, deck chairs and colorful parasols make this a unique and fun way to spend the day from your Paris vacation apartments rent.
The history of the bridges (“ponts”) of Paris gives just a small sense of the history of Paris itself. The oldest bridge on the river Seine is, ironically, called the Pont Neuf (“New Bridge” in French). Commissioned by King Henry III in 1576, the original name for the bridge was the "Bridge of Tears,” as Henry III was grieving for two close friends killed in duels as he laid the foundation stone for the bridge. The bridge was renamed the “New Bridge” because it was a new approach, a bridge with no houses on it. (Previous Parisian bridges had houses on them.) Henry III was assassinated before completion of the bridge, and it was completed in by Henry IV.
When Henry IV was himself assassinated the Grand Duke of Tuscany presented his widow, Marie de Medici, with a bronze horse as a memorial. The boat that transported the horse to France sank off the coast of Sardinia in 1613, along with the statue. A year later it would be found and sent on to Paris. It would be placed on the Pont Neuf rider-less for twenty-one years. In 1635 Louis XIII had a statue made of his father Henry IV and placed his likeness on the horse. It would remain for the next 157 years until the third year of the French Revolution, when Paris mobs destroyed and melted down the horse and the riding king. The Pont Neuf would remain without a statue until the return of the monarchy in 1814. Louis XVIII then ordered a replica of the horse and Henry IV cast in bronze, using part of the melted down statue of Napoléon that had been on top of the Vendome column.

Another bridge, the Pont Alexandre III is famous for its Art Nouveau lamps, nymphs and cherubs. Built between 1896 and 1900 by the architects Résal and Alby, it was completed barely in time for the Universal Exposition of 1900. It was begun by Tsar Nicholas II and named after his father Tsar Alexander III. The Pont Alexandre III is located in between the Grand and Petit Palais on the right bank of the river Seine and the Hôtel des Invalides on the left bank of the Seine.
The Banks of the Seine in Paris were added to the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1991. It appears frequently in history and literature. From your apartment rental ile Saint Louis 4th area Paris, on river Seine, you may feel yourself at the center of this rich heritage. In Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables, Jean Valjean escapes from the sewers on the banks of the Seine. According to his will, Napoleon wished to be buried on the Banks.
You can walk along the Seine from your apartment rentals in Paris and see so much of the city, on the Right Bank from the Latin Quarter to the Eiffel Tower, on the Left Bank from the posh Pont de Alma area to the ultra-hip Marais. The Seine has something breathtaking to offer each visitor. Feel free to make it your own apartment rental on the river seine, Paris.