Pont des Arts, Paris

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The bridges are excellent spots to observe and admire the nearly perfect architecture of Paris. Not only the famous monuments but also the houses with their homogeneous Hausmann style.
I like all bridges but have some preferences for the pedestrians bridges like the "Ponts des Arts" between the "Cour Carrée" (Sully wing) of Le Louvre and the "Institut de France" on the Rive gauche.
This was the first metal bridge in Paris built in 1804 under Napoleon I. After a number of collisions with barges the bridge had to be rebuild in 1984 and the number of arches was reduced from nine to seven. You can picnic on this passerelle.

The Institut de France, with its elegant cupola, houses five academies among with the famous Académie Francaise.
Centuries before the Institut de France was standing here a defence tower called La Tour de Nesle. This tower became famous in 1314 as it was the place of orgy by the daughters-in-law of King Philip IV le Bel. Alexandre Dumas wrote the celebrated romance "La Tour de Nesle".
It was here that it all happened like in the TV series "Les Rois Maudits" from the book by Maurice Druon.

This is what I call the pedestrian bridge, the Pont Des Arts. I decided to cross the River Seine here, and have a look at the hundreds of padlocks along the way.
It wasn't as crowded with padlocks as I had seen in photo's, and I wondered why.
I read the city of Paris isn't too happy about the padlocks and they have been wondering what to do..........Had they removed many................
OR
Was it because the Pont des Arts is for your committed love, while Pont de l'Archeveche is for your lover. You see, the Pont de l'Archeveche has many more locks than the Pont Des Arts.

This was something new for me. I read many tourist couples come to Paris with a padlock with their first names engraved on the padlock. They lock it to the railing of the Bridge and throw the key into the river below, signalling their eternal love.
I bet you can't move on the bridge on Valentines Day!

This is ok, until the couple parts company, then what to do? Bolt cutters or cheat and have a spare key to the padlock?
I don't know which happens or if it does, all I know, is the craze has really caught on in Europe!

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This "Bridge of the Arts" is one of only five (or six) bridges in Paris that are reserved for "circulations douces", a nice French expression meaning soft or mild traffic, i.e. non-motorized.

The others are the Passerelle Solférino, connecting the Tuilerie Gardens with the Musèe d'Orsay; the Passerelle Debilly which leads to the Musée du quai Branly; the Pont au Double, connecting the left bank with the Cathedral Notre-Dame; and the new Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, a footbridge that was built from 2004-2006 to connect the National Library François Mitterrand with the Parc du Bercy.

Also you might want to count the car-free Pont Saint Louis, which connects the Île Saint Louis with the Île de la Cité, but does not go all the way across the Seine.

The original Pont des Arts was built here from 1802 to 1804, and it lasted until 1979 when it collapsed after being hit by a barge. The present bridge, which is quite similar to the old one, was built between 1981 and 1984.

The building at the end of the bridge in this photo is the Institut de France.

Second photo: Looking up the Seine from the Pont des Arts towards Pont Neuf, with the Ile de la Cité (Square du Vert Galant) on the right and Paris Plages on the left.

Third photo: Paris Plages 2008 as seen from the Pont des Arts.

One of the great surprises we had when we visited Paris last summer was crossing over Pont des Artes in the early evening and seeing all of the students sitting on blankets, enjoying picnics and playing music. Its a must do if you visit Paris.

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If you become overloaded with Art, you can quickly escape from the Louvre to the banks of the Seine through the Guichets (wicket-gates) du Carroussel from the Cour Napoleon. or at the Sw end of the galleries at the Pavillion de Flore or through a passageway (porte Champollion) out of the Cour Carree. The last is the quickest way to the Pont des Arts, a walking bridge over the Seine. It was the first iron bridge, built in 1803. From this structure you have the finest views in Paris (according to the Guide Michelin- 3* !!): the Seine both up and down, the Ile de la Cite, the Louvre and more. When you have recovered all of the Left Bank is within easy reach- The Quarters Beaux Arts, St-Germaine, St.-Severin and Latin.

Close Up # 2 Art on "the Arts" footbridge.
Art is a most intense form of expression. It can be beautiful, frightening or anything in between.
It is a form of expression, most often intended to provoke some type of thought

Close Up # 1 Art on "the Arts" footbridge.
Art is a most intense form of expression. It can be beautiful, frightening or anything in between.
It is a form of expression, most often intended to provke some type of thought.

From 1/12/ 04 to 3/1/05 the Pont des Art was home to a magnificent display to pay honor to 1000 men and woman touched in some manner by the aids epidemic. Volunteers, loved ones and the aids victims on the 20th anniversary of the Aids Association.

Aides X 1000 une exposition de Pierre Marval
presents les portraits of mille personnes malades, volontaires, donateurs, chercheurs, medecins, artists, sportifs, femmes et hommes politques, a yant participe, chacun dans...leur domain, a la lutte contre le sida cette exposition leur rend homage a l'occasion des vingt ans de l'Association Aides"

(My french is very poor so any and all corrections are appreciated.)

Among the vast collection of wonderful bridges arching the Seine, few can dispute the ambience, the style or the setting of the Pont des Arts. The bridge itself is well-named, being a wooden promenade for pedestrians only, but also the magnet for local artists who from this simple setting can color their canvasses with the Louvre, the Institut de France, the Seine, the distant Eiffel Tower and the Ile de la Cite, all visible from this charming lovers' retreat.

From its origins, the Pont des Arts was a footbridge for the pedestrians who had to pay a toll until 1848. It was built between 1801 and 1803, and represents the first metallic bridge in Paris. Its name derives from the ancient name of the Louvre also called the Palais des Arts. This bridge is one of the pleasants parisians bridges to have a walk.