Bridge Bir Akeym connecting the Quai Branly and the way Georges Pompidou, looks unusual: it is a two-story. On the top floor of the subway trains, the lower moving cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

A bridge for the metro - it means more or less Modern? No, because the Paris Metro, one of the oldest in the world, was launched in 1900, to the World's Fair. A new kind of transport grew rapidly and required its own infrastructure. In 1902, we announced a competition for a new bridge to replace the pedestrian pass.

The bridge was built under the direction of Louis beats. Two metal structures, each in three-span, divided by the monumental stone arch, decorated with four allegorical statues - Science and Labour works of Jules Kutan, Electricity and Trade, Jean-Antoine Inzhalbera. The upper level, which forms the subway line is thin graceful columns, illuminated by lamps in the art deco style. On the pillars of the bridge - iron sculptural group Gustave Michel: sailors with a stylized emblem of Paris, and blacksmiths, riveted shield with a monogram «RF» («The Republic of France").

June 18, 1949, the anniversary of the proclamation of the Resistance, the bridge was renamed in honor of Defense Bir Akeyma. In May-June 1942, the French under General Koenig sixteen days in the hardest conditions small fort defended by troops of Rommel. The battle in the Libyan desert was the first for the forces fighting the French and the Allies showed that the French army could contribute to the fight against the Reich.

On one side of the arch in the middle of the bridge - the descent to a bulk Swan island on which the Parisian Statue of Liberty. On the other - a platform with the equestrian statue of "resurgent France," the Danish sculptor Holger Vederkincha. The expressive sculpture - the girl with a huge sword on horse racing - first portrayed Joan of Arc, and was donated by Denmark to Paris. The City Council found it that Jeanne too warlike, and refused the gift. Brewing international incident, but after the intervention of the Danish embassy was made a compromise - a sculpture called "A resurgent France." This option is the city council has approved, and in 1958 the statue set up on the bridge in the presence of the Ambassador of Denmark. On the site, where there is a sculpture, a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. Jeanne, that is France, though it points to the sword.