Being a real Frenchwoman, the Seine boasts an intricate bend of a winding channel, the unhurried flow of waters of which rushes to the English Channel, running on its way past the once-created architectural creations of man, which still amaze with their magnificence.
There are several versions of the origin of the name of the Seine River. However, according to the most popular of them, it is associated with the Latin word "sekuana", which means "sacred water". Presumably, this is how the first settlers called the trade waterway, the waters of which originate in the lands of Burgundy, namely in the southern part of the Langres plateau, and the appearance of the first tribes on its shores dates back to the 3rd century BC.
With a length of 776 km, the Seine crosses the cities of Le Havre, Paris, Poissy, Rouen, where the largest river ports are located, and ends its journey connecting with the waters of the English Channel. The river has right tributaries - Oise, Marne, Aub and several left - Yonne, Er. But the main source of food for the Seine is rainfall, which ensures regular replenishment of water resources.
It is interesting that the Seine, for the convenience of organizing navigation along the river, was divided into several parts. Namely, the section of the river from the source to the confluence with the left tributary of the Yonne is usually called the Small Seine. The next part to Paris is the Upper Seine, and then there is a section with the self-explanatory name of the Parisian Seine, which is replaced by the Lower Seine, part from Paris and up to Rouen. From Rouen to the English Channel runs the final section of the river - the Seine of the Sea. Each of these parts contributes to the formation of the overall image of the Seine, making it romantic, intricate and unique.
About a dozen large rivers with a length of more than 300 km and at least a hundred smaller rivers flow through the territory of France. However, none of them gained such popularity as the Seine River, which has become not just a symbol of Paris, but the whole of France. Perhaps, it could not be otherwise. After all, it was the Seine that divided the French capital into a free bohemian left bank and an important business right. The picturesque landscapes of its shores inspired Manet, Renoir, Picasso, Matisse …
The special charm of the Seine lies in the presence of many bridges, each of which is unique both in its history and in performance. For example, the Pont Neuf bridge. Its construction was started in 1578 by Henry III of Valois and for several centuries it has served the Parisians, bearing the proud title of the oldest bridge in Paris. And the "youngest" bridge, named after Charles de Gaulle, was opened to traffic in 1996 with the aim of relieving heavy traffic. In total, 32 bridges have been thrown across the Seine in Paris alone.
The Seine, dividing Paris into two banks, allowed each of them to become unique. The left bank, freer and more tolerant, has always been the center of bohemian and cultural life. Here are the Eiffel Tower and the Rodin Museum, the Paris Catacombs and the famous Odeon Theater, the churches of San Severin and Saint Sulpice. The right bank, once the territory of the "cream of society", has now retained the right to be called the business center of Paris. But it is interesting not only for financial transactions. It is here that the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Montmartre, the Picasso Museum, the Moulin Rouge and much more are located.
When visiting Paris, the question of which coast to choose is not worth visiting. After all, each of them, reflected in the serenely running waters of the Seine, is able to give special impressions that remain in the memory forever.
