Pont des Arts
Encyclopedia
The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian bridge
in Paris
which crosses the Seine
River. It links the Institut de France
and the central square (cour carrée) of the palais du Louvre
, (which had been termed the "Palais des Arts" under the First Empire
).
, following a design of English
manufacture. The engineers Louis-Alexandre de Cessart
and Jacques Dillon initially conceived of a bridge which would resemble a suspended garden, with trees, banks of flowers, and benches.
In 1976, the Inspector of Bridges and Causeways (Ponts et Chaussées) reported several deficiencies on the bridge. More specifically, he noted the damage that had been caused by two aerial bombardments sustained during World War I
and World War II
and the harm done from the multiple collisions caused by boats. The bridge would be closed to circulation in 1977 and, in 1979, suffered a 60 meter collapse after a barge rammed into it.
The present bridge was built between 1981 and 1984 "identically" according to the plans of Louis Arretche, who had decided to reduce the number of arches from nine to seven, allowing the look of the old bridge to be preserved while realigning the new structure with the Pont Neuf
. On 27 June 1984, the newly reconstructed bridge was inaugurated by Jacques Chirac
– then the mayor of Paris.
The bridge has sometimes served as a place for art exhibitions, and is today a studio en plein air for painter
s, artist
s and photographers who are drawn to its unique point of view. The Pont des Arts is also frequently a spot for picnic
s during the summer.
The Argentinian writer, Julio Cortázar, talks about this bridge in his book "Rayuela". When Horacio Oliveira goes with the pythia and this tells him that the bridge for La Maga is the "Ponts des Arts".
Nowadays the bridge has become a hotspot for couples who attach a padlock to the railing and throw the key into the river below.
is credited with writing about the Ponts des Arts in his book Civilisation:
Kenneth Clark
, Civilisation (1969).
in the song Le Vent (The Wind) from the album Les Amoureux des bancs publics (Lovers on Public Benches) published in 1954 evokes the strong wind which blows across the bridge :
St. Germain (musician) released a song called 'Pont Des Arts' in 2002
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
which crosses the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
River. It links the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
and the central square (cour carrée) of the palais du Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
, (which had been termed the "Palais des Arts" under the First Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
).
History
Between 1802 and 1804, a nine-arch metallic bridge for pedestrians was constructed at the location of the present day Pont des Arts: this was the first metal bridge in Paris. This innovation was due to Napoléon INapoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, following a design of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
manufacture. The engineers Louis-Alexandre de Cessart
Louis-Alexandre de Cessart
Louis-Alexandre de Cessart was a French road and bridge engineer.He served in the "gendarmerie de la Maison du Roi", fighting at the battles of Fontenoy and Raucoux in 1745 and 1746. In 1747 he entered the school of Jean-Rodolphe Perronet, which later became the École nationale des ponts et...
and Jacques Dillon initially conceived of a bridge which would resemble a suspended garden, with trees, banks of flowers, and benches.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the harm done from the multiple collisions caused by boats. The bridge would be closed to circulation in 1977 and, in 1979, suffered a 60 meter collapse after a barge rammed into it.
The present bridge was built between 1981 and 1984 "identically" according to the plans of Louis Arretche, who had decided to reduce the number of arches from nine to seven, allowing the look of the old bridge to be preserved while realigning the new structure with the Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf
The Pont Neuf is, despite its name, the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. Its name, which was given to distinguish it from older bridges that were lined on both sides with houses, has remained....
. On 27 June 1984, the newly reconstructed bridge was inaugurated by Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
– then the mayor of Paris.
The bridge has sometimes served as a place for art exhibitions, and is today a studio en plein air for painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
s, artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s and photographers who are drawn to its unique point of view. The Pont des Arts is also frequently a spot for picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
s during the summer.
The Argentinian writer, Julio Cortázar, talks about this bridge in his book "Rayuela". When Horacio Oliveira goes with the pythia and this tells him that the bridge for La Maga is the "Ponts des Arts".
Nowadays the bridge has become a hotspot for couples who attach a padlock to the railing and throw the key into the river below.
Film and television appearances
Due to its recognizable nature, the bridge has been featured in numerous films and television shows:- Le Pont des Arts is a French filmFrench FilmFrench Film is a 2008 British comedy film directed by Jackie Oudney and starring Anne-Marie Duff, Hugh Bonneville, Victoria Hamilton, Douglas Henshall and Eric Cantona. The film was shot in Spring 2007 at various locations around London including Waterloo station and the BFI Southbank.-Plot:Two...
directed by Eugène Green, with Natacha RégnierNatacha RégnierNatacha Régnier is a Belgian actress.Born in the Ixelles section of Brussels, she was attracted to theatre from early adolescence. Her first screen role was in The Motorcycle Girl , a short film by Stéphan Carpiaux...
and Denis PodalydèsDenis PodalydèsDenis Podalydès is a French actor, director and scriptwriter of Greek descent. He is a Sociétaire of the Comédie-Française....
. The film is a love story which tells the impossible tale of two youths who have never before met. The action unrolls in Paris between 1979 and 1980, in other words it occurs during the collapsing of the bridge. The film was presented in 2004 at the 57th Locarno International Film FestivalLocarno International Film FestivalThe Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
. - It is featured in the last episode of Sex and the CitySex and the CitySex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
. - It is featured on the August 3, 2011 episode of The Late Late Show With Craig FergusonThe Late Late Show with Craig FergusonThe Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is a Peabody Award-winning American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish American comedian Craig Ferguson. Ferguson, the third regular host of the Late Late Show franchise, follows Late Show with David Letterman in the CBS late-night lineup...
. - In 2010 some Gossip Girl episodes took place at the bridge
- The commercial of 'Tresor" by Lancôme directed by Peter Lindbergh and starring Kate Winslet was filmed there.
- It is featured In 2010 in the American remake of the French movie "LOL : Laughing Out Loud" with Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore.
- It is featured in the 1932 French movie "Boudu Sauvé Des Eaux" with Michel Simon.
- It is mentioned in the upcoming 2011 computer animated feature A Monster in ParisA Monster in ParisA Monster in Paris is a French CGI and 3D animated feature directed by Bibo Bergeron.-Plot:The film is set in Paris, France, during the Seine flood of 1910...
.
Quotation
Art historian Kenneth ClarkKenneth Clark
Kenneth McKenzie Clark, Baron Clark, OM, CH, KCB, FBA was a British author, museum director, broadcaster, and one of the best-known art historians of his generation...
is credited with writing about the Ponts des Arts in his book Civilisation:
- "I am standing on the Pont des Arts in Paris. On the one side of the Seine is the harmonious, reasonable facade of the Institute of France, built as a college in about 1670. On the other bank is the Louvre, built continuously from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century: classical architecture at its most splendid and assured. Just visible upstream is the Cathedral of Notre Dame --not perhaps the most lovable of cathedrals, but the most rigorously intellectual façade in the whole of Gothic art. [...]
- What is civilisation? I do not know. I can't define it in abstract terms --yet. But I think I can recognise it when I see it: and I am looking at it now."
Kenneth Clark
Kenneth Clark
Kenneth McKenzie Clark, Baron Clark, OM, CH, KCB, FBA was a British author, museum director, broadcaster, and one of the best-known art historians of his generation...
, Civilisation (1969).
Songs
Georges BrassensGeorges Brassens
Georges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier...
in the song Le Vent (The Wind) from the album Les Amoureux des bancs publics (Lovers on Public Benches) published in 1954 evokes the strong wind which blows across the bridge :
- Si, par hasard, (If by accident,)
- Sur l'pont des Arts, (On the Pont des Arts,)
- Tu croises le vent, le vent fripon, (You meet the wind, the mischievous wind,)
- Prudence, prends garde à ton jupon ! (Prudence, guard your petticoat !)
- Si, par hasard (If by accident,)
- Sur l'pont des Arts (On the Pont des Arts,)
- Tu croises le vent, le vent maraud (You meet the wind, the marauding wind,)
- Prudent, prends garde à ton chapeau ! (Prudent, guard your hat !)
St. Germain (musician) released a song called 'Pont Des Arts' in 2002