Bridge of Arts

The Pedestrian Bridge of Arts connecting the banks of the Seine is the first iron bridge in Paris, built in the early XIX century. It is the link on the city map between the French Academy and the Louvre. The Arched Bridge of the Arts consists of seven spans 22 meters long each, which rest on six reinforced concrete supports lined with stone. The total length of the bridge is 155 meters, and the width is 11 meters.

Construction of the bridge began on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte. It got its name from the fact that at the beginning of the XIX century the Louvre with its collections of works of art was called the Palace of Arts - the name migrated to the bridge. After about 50 years of construction, in 1852, Emperor Napoleon III decided to rebuild the bridge. The main result of this work was the expansion of the bridge.

During the First and Second World Wars, the Arts Bridge was seriously damaged by bombing, and frequent collisions with barges caused the destruction of the stone cladding. A complete reconstruction of the bridge was carried out in 1981-1984, when it was returned to its original forms. Only the number of arches changed - seven instead of the original nine. Opened to pedestrians in 1984, the Bridge of Arts has gained immense popularity among Parisians, who picnic right on the bridge in the summer, and sometimes there are art exhibitions. In addition, many famous artists have captured it in their works.