| A pleasant approach to the Île de la Cité is via the Pont-Neuf, a rather misleading name given that it's the city's oldest surviving bridge, built in 1607 by Henri IV. One of the city's first great town planners, Henri would sometimes come to inspect the bridge's progress, delighting the workmen on one occasion by taking a flying leap over a half-built arch. On completion the Pont-Neuf became a popular spot with street entertainers and actors, who played to the crowds milling around the stalls and booths installed in the bridge's bays, these days occupied by stone seats. A stone construction with twelve arches, the bridge links the western tip of the island with both banks of the river, and was the first in Paris not to have houses built on it and to have a proper pavement – usually pedestrians were expected to share the mud-filled road with horse traffic. Henri is commemorated with an equestrian statue halfway across and also lends his nickname to the square du Vert-Galant, enclosed within the triangular stern of the island, reached via steps leading down behind the statue. "Vert-Galant", meaning a "green" or "lusty" gentleman, is a reference to Henri's legendary amorous exploits, and he would no doubt have approved of this tranquil, tree-lined garden, a popular haunt of lovers – the prime spot to occupy is the knoll dotted with trees at the extreme point of the island. If being this close to the river gives you the urge to get out onto it, you could hop onto one of the river boats, the Bateaux-Vedettes du Pont-Neuf, that dock here on the north side of the square.
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