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Walking now towards the Pont-Neuf, we can make a small detour and admire the so restful SQUARE DU VERT GALANT at the extremity of the island. This name "Vert-Galant" ( means the hearty gallant) was the nickname of king Henri IV, a known woman chaser;-) A charming and agreeable square.

Square du Vert Galant	Pointe of Ile de la Cite with square

Behind the square, a stairway leads you to the PONT-NEUF (new bridge) but in fact it is the oldest bridge of Paris. The first stone was set by Henri III on May 1578, but the works were finished by Henri IV in 1604. The bridge became a trendy for the haute bourgeoisie. 

Pont Neuf

You had to be seen here like today in a trendy bar or restaurant. That's why it was the first bridge ever to receive heightened sidewalks. On top of it the king ordered not to allow any house to be built on the bridge (like it was customary, like the Pontevecchio in Florence), so the view of the Louvre and the old kings palace could stay in sight from the left bank. Street merchants, street performers, all kinds of artists like singers, dancers, acrobats and "dentists" we will better call tooth extractors ( without painkiller shots ;-)) populated the bridge day and night. When executions took place it was the favorite and ideal place to watch the "show". It soon gained a “sort of immunity for speakers as today in Hyde Park, London.  You could criticize and make fun out of everybody, king or clochard. The bridge is 278 meters long and rests on twelve round arches with in the middle an equestrian statue of Henri IV. In 1985 a big happening took place when the American-Bulgarian artist Christo wrapped it for a few weeks.
Cross the bridge, and turn left on the quai du Louvre until you reach the rue de l'Amiral de Coligny. 

St.Germain l'Auxerrois

 The church of SAINT-GERMAIN l'AUXERROIS , built in the 12th century, is said to be the departure of   the "Saint-Barthelemy massacre (1572)".  The order was given from this church and became the parish of the artists when the king lodged them at the Louvre. Moliere got married in this church , a masterwork of gothic architecture...The architecture is of a great variety and diversity.   Roman (clock), Renaissance  and gothic flamboyant. The nave is of a great sculptural richness. The Revolution turns it into a wad-loft, later on it was several times at the brink of destruction but finally the church was saved by Louis-Philippe and Chateaubriand and restored by Balthard and Lassus (1838-1855) The inside is very richly furnished.  Notice the richly sculpted pulpit and the beautiful organ buffet of the 17th coming from the Sainte Chapelle (Rousset 1726). Remarkable and beautiful Flemish retable of the 16th century, "Vie de le Vierge", really extraordinary.

Bibliography:  

--Vie et histoire des arrondissements de Paris, ed.Hervas (1985-1988) --Nouvelle Histoire de Paris, ed.Hachette --Le Pieton de Paris, by L.P.Fargue, ed.Gallimard 1997 --Histoire et dictionnaire de Paris, by A.Fierro, ed.Laffont, 1996 --Dictionnaire des monuments de Paris, by J.Colson and M.C.Lauroa, ed.Hervas 1992 --Guide du Routard 1998-1999 (Ed.Hachette) --Paris, 2000 d'histoire, by J.Favier, ed.Fayard 1997 --Naissance de Paris, by M.Fleury, ed.Imprimerie Nationale 1997 --Paris 19eme siecle, l'immeuble et la rue, by F.Loyer, ed.Hazan, 1994