Pont des Arts visitor guide

Visit Pont des Arts, Paris

The Pont des Arts is one of several bridges across the Seine in the centre of Paris: it is the first bridge to the west of the Ile de la Cité (the island with Notre-Dame Cathedral). The Pont des Arts is one of a small number of bridges in Paris where cars are not allowed to cross.

The name of the bridge comes from its proximity to the Louvre and the numerous works of art that it contains (it was originally called the Palace of the Arts).

Discover the Pont des Arts

France This Way review: although it is not the most impressive bridge in Paris to look at, the Pont des Arts has an interesting history, a romantic setting and lovely views in all directions, and you are sure to cross it during your visit to the city

View along the Seine from Pont des Arts

The bridge was built at the beginning of the 19th century. It is the oldest cast iron bridge in the city - older bridges are built in stone. This was in part because the French at the time were trying to promote their iron, so it was a condition of the contract to build the bridge that it was built in cast iron.

Despite being quite wide, around ten metres, the Pont des Arts was designed and built to be used as a pedestrian bridge only and does not have the strength to support heavy vehicles.

By the 1970s the bridge was in a poor state, and partly collapsed. In part this was because of the boats on the river that collided with the bridge from time to time at periods of high tide.

The bridge was then rebuilt in a style very similar to the original, although the new bridge, opened in 1984, has seven arches instead of the nine arches or the earlier bridge, and steel was used instead of cast iron. The Pont des Arts also underwent a substantial renovation at the end of 2023, which included replacing all the wooden planks of the boardwalk.

You can see famous landmarks in all directions from the centre of the Pont des Arts. To the south the view is dominated by the dome of the building of the Institute de France, and the Orsay Museum; to the north you can see the Louvre, and to the east you can see the Ile de la Cité, the Pont Neuf and the Cathedral Notre Dame.

Because it is a pedestrian bridge, it is also a popular place for buskers and street artists, which add to the overall appeal of the bridge. Especially in the evening, around sunset, this helps assure the reputation of the bridge as one of the most romantic places in Paris.

Note that the Pont des Arts has historically been one of the bridges where 'love locks' were attached by romantic visitors, but these have all been removed because they were spoiling the appearance of the bridge, and the weight of the locks was causing damage to the structure of the bridge.

There are still a few locks attached, but if you add one it will certainly be removed quite soon, so perhaps quite not the symbol of eternal love that you are looking for, and is now a legal offence so you might get a fine! The original metal grills of the bridge have all been replaced by glass screens, so attaching a lock is not so easy in any case.

View along the bridge

Attractions nearby

Among the popular highlights very close to the Pont des Arts are the Museum of the Louvre at one end of the bridge, and Notre-Dame cathedral on the Ile de la Cité to the east.

You can find more travel ideas in the Paris region guide.

To make travel arrangements to visit Pont des Arts see HERE