History of Pont Des Arts
In the 19th century Napoleon Bonaparte asked his architects and engineers to design and construct a bridge in similar lines as that of the world's first cast iron bridge in England. His vision was to resemble a garden through the creation of the bridge over the river Seine, ornate with beautiful flowers and benches. Pont des Arts is the first lightweight metal bridge in Paris and is one of the architectural marvels in the country.
During the World Wars in the 20th century, the bridge faced several bomb attacks which made it unsafe for the pedestrians. The bridge was finally closed for pedestrians. Further in 1979, the bridge further collapsed and then a decision was taken to dismantle the bridge completely.
Between the years 1981 and 1984, a new bridge was constructed at the same place over the River Seine. The metal used for the new construction was steel, and the design was exactly similar to that of the original Pont des Arts. A small difference however was made, the original nine arches were reduced to seven. This was intentionally done to align the bridge with the neighbouring bridge of Pont Neuf.
Love Locks at Pont Des Arts
Love Locks or PadLocks are one of the famous customs or traditions followed by any romantic couples in Pont des Arts. The couples engrave their names on the locks and attach them to the bridge railings. The keys are then thrown into the River waters to permanently lock their love for each other. It is a belief that love stays immortal forever between couples. The tradition has been followed in Paris in Pont des Arts since 2008.
By February 2014 there has been an estimated 700,000 locks attached to the bridge which turned out to be a safety concern for pedestrians and tourists visiting the bridge. Later in the year it was observed the parapet of the bridge was damaged with the weight of the padlocks. The Mayor's office in Paris is now encouraging people to click selfies instead of tying lovelocks as part of the "Love without locks" campaign.
Their website and social media campaigns are trying their level best to motivate people in expressing their love without the lovelocks. From June 2015 city council workers started cutting down the locks so as to prevent the Historical heritage structure from collapsing which was posing danger to the locals and the tourists. Alternate materials like glass are also being used to replace the metal panels of the bridge so as to prevent the couples from tying the lovelocks.
Places to Eat near Pont des Arts
1. Calife: Calife restaurant is located in 3 Quai Malaquais in Paris, at a 2 min walking distance from Pont des Arts. It has French cuisine serving starters, appetizers, main course and gourmet food for lunch and dinner. The restaurant is hosted inside a replica of a cruise offering a spectacular view of the river Seine.
2. Relais du Pont Neuf: The restaurant has French cuisine and special vegetarian dishes. It is situated in 18 Quai du Louvre in Paris. It serves 4 meal courses - lunch, brunch, breakfast, and dinner. The dishes are delicious with good quality and taste. The prices of the delicacies are reasonable and the staff is also quite friendly and helpful.
3. Guy Savoy: Guy Savoy is located in Monnaie de Paris, 11 Quai de Conti in Paris at a 3 min walking distance from the bridge. It has French, European and special Vegetarian and Vegan cuisines. It is one of the best restaurants offering incredible views of the river Seine, Louvre museum, Pont Neuf bridge, and the Institut de France.
The ambience of the restaurant is excellent and the food quality is incredible.
4. Ze Kitchen Galerie: Ze Kitchen Galerie is situated in 4 Rue des Grands Augustins in Paris, a 3 min walking distance from the bridge. It has French, European, Contemporary, Vegetarian and Vegan cuisines, serving lunch and dinner. The food is amazing with good quality and taste.
The kitchen has large windows from where you can watch the chefs preparing the creative and innovative delicacies for the guests.
Places to Stay near Pont des Arts
1. HÙtel d'Aubusson: It is a boutique hotel, housed inside an authentic historical mansion. Situated at 33 Rue Dauphine, it is one of the prominent luxurious hotels in Paris. It offers a buffet breakfast from 7:00 AM till 11:30 AM at its wonderful patio. The rooms are extremely cozy and comfortable and the staff is extremely friendly and professional.
2. HÙtel Bel Ami: It is a 5-star hotel with all the modern amenities. Situated at 7 rue Saint Benoit 6th Arr in Paris, you will witness an artistically designed Parisian apartment. The rooms and suites possess elegant designs and décor. The staff is friendly and professional and speaks almost 13 languages.
3. Citadines Saint-Germain-des-PrÉs Paris: The hotel is located in 53 ter Quai des Grands Augustins in Paris, a 3 min walking distance from the bridge. The rooms are designed with classic furnishings and all basic amenities. There are studios with kitchenettes, rooms with river views and one-bedroom apartment inside the hotel.
4. Best Western Premier Ducs de Bourgogne: It is a 4-star hotel, situated in 19 rue du Pont Neuf 1st Arr in Paris. The staff is extremely friendly and professional and speaks English, French, and Spanish. All the rooms are non-smoking and soundproof. The hotel also hosts a nightclub and a DJ for entertaining the guests.
Interesting Facts about Pont des Arts
1. Pont des Arts was the first metal bridge in Paris designed by engineers Louis-Alexandre de Cessart and Jacques Dillon. It was the brainchild of Napoleon Bonaparte who wanted to construct a bridge that resembled a suspended garden over the river Seine with beautiful flowers and benches to sit and relax.
2. The bridge was designated as a historic monument by the Cultural Ministry of the French government in 1975.
3. Due to its structural beauty and historical significance, the bridge has been featured in many television shows and films.
4. The original bridge, made out of cast iron, was dismantled due to damages and was rebuilt with steel. To align with its neighbouring bridge Pont Neuf, the nine arches of the Pont des Arts were reduced to seven.
5. You can enter Pont des Arts anytime in the day with no entry fee.
6. The bridge is famous for the sidewalk cafes selling croissants, bread, pastries, and many other bakery products.
Tips To Visit
- The Lock Bridge Paris or Pont des Arts connects two fundamental buildings in the city center of Paris, namely the Institut de France and the Louvre Museum.
- The bridge was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 19th century.
- It was the first metal bridge in the City of Love with 9 arches, which were later reduced to 7 arches to align with the Pont Neuf.
- The reconstruction of the bridge was nearly completed in the early 1980s after severe damage from the World Wars and boats crashing into the piers.
- The attachment of lovelocks was permitted only until 2015. Later, it was prohibited as the weight of the locks was causing destruction to the foundation of the bridge.
- Even though the bridge looks relatively simple, it was not the ideal plan of the architects as they wanted to feature landscaped gardens, countless flower beds, and lines of trees on the bridge.
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