Though the decorations of the Alexander III bridge in Paris may seem ostentatious, they correspond to the fashionable style of the Belle Époque, straddling classicism and modernity. In line with the Grand Palais, the bridge has no less than 22 sculptures and 32 cast-iron candelabras as well as dozens of allegories scattered throughout. It seals Franco-Russian friendship in a spectacular architectural display from the beginning of the 20th century.