Monday, February 04, 2008

Line 5


There are two three(*) bridges that are used by the metro in Paris. The Bir Hakeim one (that I already showed here) that is used by line 6, and this one, called Passerelle d'Austerlitz, used by line 5. The reason why these two lines cross the Seine on a bridge is that they were built before 1910 when architects were still reluctant to build train tunnels underneath water! (*) Update: a dedicated visitor emailed me to let me know I forgot the Pont de Bercy! He is right, and I should have thought of it, because, of course, I already photographed it here and here!

30 comments:

  1. I have felt like I was on a Disneyland ride when I have taken these metros. I always get a thrill esp. on the Bir Hakeim one as it includes the Eiffel Tower. If you are into it, you can even see into people's apt's!

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  2. I have rode the Bir Hakeim line too on my first trip to Paris, heading to the Eiffel Tower.
    I remember the first time I used an underwater metro was going from the East Bay to San Francisco. It was sooo cool!

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  3. but look at the detail on that bridge. no modern bridge would be built with such an eye for beauty.

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  4. I respectfully disagree, Laurie.The beginnings of modern architecture seem to follow the dictum attributed to Mies van der Rohe that "Less is more".
    Some people would also say "Less is more is a bore".
    One man's meat is another man's poison, I guess.

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  5. I used to take the Bir Hakeim line frequently too, Eric. I love this photo - the greys and turquoise against a grey river and pale blue sky. This is one of your best - it could almost be a painting.

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  6. Perhaps no modern bridge would be built with such intricate detail. The presence of so much intricate detail is one of the things I love about Paris.

    A lovely bridge, lovely photo. I've been on both the Bir Hakeim and the Austerlitz! Yay! (I love seeing parts of Paris I know as well as those I don't.) We were there only for a week. We rented an apartment in the 16th, on the Seine, across from Parc Citroen. I think we got on the Bir Hakeim line and went the wrong way.

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  7. Great photo Eric - I love the ornate bridgework, and I also like how you framed it with the boat coming through the arch. I think I rode on one of these two lines while on the way to a Marche aux Puces.

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  8. Hee hee Eric, you are tres naughty! I just noticed that you made your trouser-snake (merci Lynn)-wrapped-around-a-martini- glass into a greeting card!! I will have to go shopping soon and stock up - Merci!

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  9. Eric, I haven't been here so am just checking, is the river really that high or is this bridge lower? If so, I never noticed.

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  10. Great picture Eric! Metro pictures are some of my favorites.

    And thanks for posting the link to your Bir Hakeim photo! Bir Hakeim is very close to my heart because we stayed at a hotel in the 16th the last time I was in Paris and always took line 6.

    Plus, our favorite restaurant ((Iolanda)) was just across the street from the Bir Hakeim stop. Best lasagna I've EVER had.

    Merci Eric!

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  11. Eric
    I'm not sure what I enjoy most in your blog if the excellent photos of the beautiful Paris; the usually very explanatory but not at all boring text you post witht he photos or the wonderful community that gathers here!

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  12. I've never been on it. Imagine what those architects would think if they could come back and see the channel tunnel now!

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  13. Great picture, Eric! Excellent timing--my French 2 classes have a lesson on vocabulary and navigating the Métro today and tomorrow! I have my old carte orange and some pictures--yours and mine!--to show them as well!

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  14. great one! the metro, the boat, mmm!

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  15. When I visited Paris and rode the metro, I was surprised to exit from underground; obviously to cross the Seine on a bridge. Lovely photo, Eric.

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  16. Michael: The Seine sometimes rises to the tops of the bridge arches.

    http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/france/paris/photos/flood/flood_1910_paris.html

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  17. Souvenirs, souvenirs... Merci Eric :-)
    Les architectes de l’époque ont eu une riche idée de ne pas plonger sous la Seine! Les détails de ce pont métallique à treillis sont superbes.

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  18. Fantastic! Love pictures of the Metro...especially when the train is outside and on a bridge over the Seine...even better!! Merci!!

    PS..Did you send the newlyweds a gift?? LOL!

    Cecilia said he was a "Cheapskate"...poor Carla..LOL!!

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  19. Line 1 also crosses the Seine on a bridge, although not in Paris.

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  20. This is a gorgeous photo, Eric! I love everything about it.

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  21. Jef, Line 1 doesn't cross the Seine. At all. :)

    Tonton flaneur,
    I'm not surprised! He looks like somebody who pays attention to...the republic money!! LOL.

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  22. One can appreciate Modern architecture, but it is not and cannot be lovely, as this bridge is lovely. An aesthetic bias, c'est vrai.

    (Michael: you asked when you returned from Davos 'how do I stand it', the cold? I'm not sure I do! Perhaps the wine sales help. And I'm still trying to figure out how to afford Europe this year, which is one way to endure a winter--by looking forward to Paris.)

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  23. Yes, Guille Line 1 crosses the Seine, but on the Pont de Neuilly. That's why Jef was saying "not in Paris".

    Thank you all for your nice comments, I'm glad you liked this photo because I almost died when I took it! I was on the next bridge, on my scooter and took advantage of a break in the traffic to take it. Of course It took me longer than expected...

    Don't know why but I am extremely tired these days (too much winter I suppose!) don't be mad if you sent me an email lately and I still did not answer it ;)

    Think I'm gonna post my pic 2 hours ahead and go to bed right now!

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  24. On your scooter?!
    :)
    Well, I made a mistake, it crosses the Seine, but as a real Parisian (I'm not real one but Shhhttt) I consider that everything farther than Champs Elysées Clemenceau is not Paris anymore. A kind of jingoism I think. LOL

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  25. Eric,if you are tired these days, it may be because you don't sleep enough ...or because you are worrying about something... or working too much. Who knows ?
    Take care. We all need and love you here, don't we?

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  26. And thanks for this wonderful photo. Love it !

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  27. Eric, me too! The tiredness, not the scooter. WHICH we still haven't seen, i will remind you!

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  28. Eric, you've captured my heart with this shot. You are gonna halfta put this one on Zazzle! There is just so much I LOVE about this shot. Thank you for risking your life!!! :-} And, as Lynn has been lobbying and Ham teased us some time back with a photo of a scooter he said a certain visitor from Paris had ridden to London (through the Chunnel?), we want to see your scooter. Maybe parked by a corner cafe, black and white shot. Hummm?
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

    PS, hope you'll get a medical check up if a good night's rest doesn't remedy your fatigue. Wishing you well! -K.

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