In this second episode of The Glow of Paris Podcast, Gary Zuercher explores the remarkable history of one of the most storied crossings of the Seine — the Pont Saint Michel.
First built in 1378, this bridge has witnessed centuries of Parisian life — medieval merchants, houses suspended above the river, royal ceremonies, and sweeping redesign during the modernization of Paris under Georges Eugène Haussmann and Napoleon III.
But the Pont Saint-Michel carries more than architectural history. It also holds the memory of one of the most tragic and long-silenced events in modern French history — the violence that followed the peaceful Algerian demonstration of October 17, 1961 during the Algerian War.
Standing beside the lively Place Saint Michel and within sight of Notre Dame Cathedral, this bridge embodies what Paris so often reveals: beauty and sorrow intertwined.
In this atmospheric historical journey, discover how the Pont Saint-Michel evolved from a crowded medieval street above the water into an enduring symbol of memory in the heart of Paris.
The Glow of Paris – Pont d’Austerlitz