The Pont des Arts, also called the Passerelle des Arts, is a bridge for walking in Paris that crosses the River Seine. It connects the Institut de France to the central square, known as the cour carrée, of the Palais du Louvre. During the First French Empire, the Palais du Louvre was sometimes called the "Palais des Arts."

History

Between 1802 and 1804, during the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, a nine-arch metal bridge for walking was built at the location of today’s Pont des Arts. This was the first metal bridge in Paris. Engineers Louis-Alexandre de Cessart and Jacques Dillon first planned a bridge that would look like a suspended garden, with trees, flower beds, and benches. Crossing the bridge at that time cost one sou.

On 17 March 1975, the French Ministry of Culture added the Pont des Arts to the list of national historic monuments.

In 1976, the Inspector of Bridges and Causeways (Ponts et Chaussées) reported several problems with the bridge. Specifically, he noted damage caused by two bombing events during World War I and World War II, as well as harm from repeated collisions with boats. The bridge was closed to use in 1977 and collapsed 60 meters in length in 1979 after a barge struck it.

The current bridge was built between 1981 and 1984, following the plans of Louis Arretche. He reduced the number of arches from nine to seven, preserving the appearance of the old bridge while aligning the new structure with the Pont Neuf. On 27 June 1984, the newly rebuilt bridge was officially opened by Jacques Chirac, who was then mayor of Paris.

The bridge has sometimes been used for art exhibitions. Today, it serves as an outdoor studio for painters, artists, and photographers who enjoy its unique view. The Pont des Arts is also a popular spot for summer picnics.

The Argentine writer Julio Cortázar mentions this bridge in his 1963 book Rayuela. In the story, Horacio Oliveira visits the pythia, who tells him that the bridge for La Maga is the “Pont des Arts.”

In 1991, UNESCO added the entire Parisian riverfront, from the Eiffel Tower to the end of the Île Saint Louis, to the list of World Heritage Sites. Therefore, the Pont des Arts is now part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Love locks

Since late 2008, visitors to Paris have begun attaching small metal locks to the bridge’s railing or wire netting. These locks often have the names of the people who attached them written or engraved on them. After attaching the lock, visitors throw the key into the Seine River below as a symbol of love. This action is meant to show a couple’s strong love. However, this tradition is not French and began in Paris only after 2008. City workers have sometimes removed the locks. By 2012, the number of locks on the bridge had grown so much that they were stacked on top of each other. In February 2014, a newspaper called Le Monde reported that more than 700,000 locks were on the bridge. During the 2014 summer, thousands more were added, causing safety problems for city officials and making the bridge look unattractive to Parisians.

By 2014, city officials worried that the heavy weight of the locks might damage the bridge’s structure. In May 2014, the newly elected mayor, Anne Hidalgo, asked her First Deputy Mayor, Bruno Julliard, to find ways to stop the use of love locks in Paris. In June 2014, part of the bridge’s railing collapsed because of the weight of the locks.

In August 2014, the Paris Mayor’s Office encouraged tourists to take “selfies” instead of leaving locks on the bridge. They started a campaign called “Love Without Locks” and used the hashtag #lovewithoutlocks on social media. The campaign’s website said, “Our bridges can no longer withstand your gestures of love. Set them free by declaring your love with #lovewithoutlocks.” During the busy tourist season, more than 50% of the panels on the Pont des Arts bridge had to be covered with wooden boards because the locks (which the city estimated weighed 700 kilograms per panel) were risking more damage.

On September 18, 2014, the City Hall of Paris replaced three sections of the bridge with special glass as a test. They were trying to find materials for the bridge that would prevent locks from being attached.

Starting on June 1, 2015, city workers in Paris began removing all the locks after years of complaints from local residents. Officials said the locks caused long-term damage to the bridge and created dangers for visitors.

By 2015, more than 1 million locks had been placed on the bridge, weighing about 45 tons. City officials replaced the old railings with new panels painted by street artists, including Jace, El Seed, Brusk, and Pantonio.

Access

Walking from Quai François Mitterrand on the right bank of the Seine River, and from Quai Malaquais or Quai de Conti on the left bank.

Popular culture

The bridge is well known and has appeared in many movies and TV shows. Le Pont des Arts, directed by Eugène Green, is a film about a young man who falls in love with a woman who sings a baroque lament on record. He learns she died by suicide from the bridge, so he believes this is the only way to be with her. The film's events take place in Paris between 1979 and 1980, during the time the bridge was being dismantled. The movie was shown in 2004 at the 57th Locarno International Film Festival.

The bridge appeared in the final scene of the 1995 film Sabrina and in the 2004 finale of Sex and the City.

It also appeared in the 2013 movie Now You See Me, directed by Louis Leterrier. In the film, Alma Dray (played by Mélanie Laurent) receives a lock and key from Dylan Rhodes (played by Mark Ruffalo). Alma puts the lock on a chain fence and throws the key into the Seine River.

Art historian Kenneth Clark wrote about the Pont des Arts in his book Civilisation (1969):
— Kenneth Clark, Civilisation (1969)

St. Germain released a song titled "Pont Des Arts" on his 2000 album Tourist. Garden City Movement released a song with the same name in 2014.

The bridge was used for love lock-unlocking challenges on Amazing Race and HaMerotz LaMillion 3. It also served as the Pit Stop for the fifth leg of The Amazing Race 32.

Honoré de Balzac described the bridge in Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes (1838–1847):
— Honoré de Balzac, Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes (1838–1847).

The bridge was a key location for a performance by French singer Aya Nakamura during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The ceremony took place across Paris, with the Seine River as a central feature.