That's it, you've arrives at the "Pont des Arts". Go to the center of the bridge and stand there. Admire the wonderful perspective from the "Pont Neuf", (the New Bridge), and the "Ile de la Cité".Napoleon the 1st decided to build a bridge linking the Louvre to the College of the Four Nations, which today is called "l'Institut". Its name comes from the Palace of Arts, the name of the Louvre under the Second Empire. This construction marks the introduction in France of a new building material, iron. So this is the first iron bridge in France. But it is not the original one, because, after many river accidents, it was decided to rebuild it in the 1980s with the same look, but this time in steel and with seven arches instead of nine, in order to ease navigation by providing a bit more space.The fad for "love padlocks" hung by couples here, serve to unite them forever. Tradition has it that after having closed the padlock, they throw the key into the water. These locks will gradually disappear to make room for wood panels because some grids have given way under the weight of padlocks, creating holes that jeopardize the safety of passers-by.Now look at the other end of the Institut de France, the building with its beautiful dome. This building was born from the will and fortune of a single man: Cardinal Jules MAZARIN who pursued, along with the young Louis XIV, the establishment of royal absolutism. At the end of his life, anxious to perpetuate the glory of his name, Mazarin decided to build a building as prestigious as those left by his predecessor and his model, Richelieu, who had built the chapel of the Sorbonne and the Royal Palace. So it was that he bequeathed, by will to the young King Louis XIV, a significant sum for the building of a school, destined to receive sixty young nobles from the Four provinces conquered under the ministry of Mazarin. The school would use the name of "Collège des Quatre-Nations" (college of the Four Nations). Mazarin's tomb was to rest in the chapel of the building.It was Napoleon who had the Institute of France move into this building, resulting from the merger of the five academies (the "Académie Française", the academy of inscriptions and beautiful letters, Science, Fine Arts and Moral Sciences). The overall institution took on the name that it retained to this day, the "Palais de l'Institut". It is now the seat of the prestigious "Académie Française". The academics are nicknamed the "immortals" because of their moral authority and their famous mission, which is to define the French language.Now retrace your steps by returning to the "Quai' (dock). Cross the quai François Mitterrand using the pedestrian crossing across the road and enter the Louvre by the "cour carrée" (square yard) under the portico. You will see at the top a beautiful wrought iron balcony with medallions that represent the sun, Louis XIV's emblem. Go ahead and place yourself in the center of the plaza where there is water basin