After telling you about the Parisian reclining chair, available in some of the most exclusive gardens of the capital, here is a spot to have a more relaxed nap, off the beaten track, but in a very accessible and original place.

The Passerelle (footbridge) Simone de Beauvoir is the 37th and most recent bridge in Paris (2006), and is dedicated to pedestrians (and rollerblades, and bicycles). It connects two modern (and green) urban areas, Bercy and Tolbiac.

Not only does it show original architecture (with undulating shapes and no pillar in the Seine), but its structure also makes it very comfortable for any kind of break. You’ll always find sunny areas next to shadowed ones (thanks to the above structure, see picture), especially at the warmest hours of the day; and its wooden floor is clean and quite comfortable to lie on for a nap.

One (slight) problem: traffic along the river can’t be completely ignored, but the noise is quite regular and you won’t smell smog.

And if the quiet murmur of the river incites you to dive into the Seine, you might even end up in the nearby Joséphine Baker swimming pool, the trendiest and most original Parisian swimming pool, but definitely not the best to swim in!!!

Bars, concert halls, and (in summer) open-air snacks/restaurants can be found just below, on the river banks, or on boats (‘El Alamein’ for example).