Bridge of Bir-Hakeim is more than just a way to cross the Seine. It is a monument to courage. This bridge connects the 15th and 16th arrondissements of Paris. It replaced an earlier footbridge. That footbridge was built for the World Exhibition in 1878.
The Pont de Bir-Hakeim has two levels. The lower level accommodates car traffic and pedestrians. The upper level carries Metro Line 6. Taking the metro offers unique views. As Line 6 crosses the bridge, it gives a picture-perfect view of the Eiffel Tower.
Originally, the bridge was named Pont de Passy. It was renamed in 1948. The new name commemorated the Battle of Bir-Hakeim. Free French forces fought against the German Afrika Korps in this battle during World War II.
Look closely at the bridge’s structure. It is made of steel. It stretches 237 meters long and 24.7 meters wide. Metal colonnades support the railway viaduct. Art-deco street lights line its length.
Four high-relief statues decorate the central arch. Jules-Felix Coutan created the figures of Science and Labor. Jean Antoine Injalbert sculpted Electricity and Commerce.
On the \u00cele aux Cygnes stands an equestrian statue. It is called La France Renaissante. Holger Wederkinch sculpted it in 1930. The Danish community offered it to Paris.
The \u00cele aux Cygnes is also home to a smaller replica of the Statue of Liberty. The Bir Hakeim bridge was listed as a historic monument in 1986.
Many films have used the Pont de Bir-Hakeim as a location. These include Last Tango in Paris and Inception.
The Bir-Hakeim station is close to the bridge. It opened in 1906. It was initially named Grenelle. In 1949, it was renamed to honor the Battle of Bir Hakeim. A commemorative panel marks this event. It is located at the platform entrance for trains going toward Nation.
The station is elevated. It has two platforms. A glass roof covers the platforms. This roof is in the marquee style of the time. In 2008, Judy Ledgerwood created a work for the station. It is called Night and Day. It features a double stained-glass window. It is placed on the glass roof above the tracks.
Near the Bir-Hakeim station was the Vélodrome d’hiver. It was the site where thousands of Parisian Jews were detained in 1942. They were later deported to Nazi concentration camps. A commemorative monument stands near the station. It is above the tracks of the RER C.
So, as you stand here on Rue de Bir-Hakeim, remember its layers of history. From a simple footbridge to a monument of remembrance, it connects not only places, but also moments in time.