Pont des Arts bridge in Paris

The Pont des Arts (Bridge of the Arts), a footbridge linking the Louvre Museum and the Institut de France, is an absolute must on any walking tour of Paris. The bridge with its cast iron arches and azobé timber decking affords a breathtaking panorama of Paris from the vantage point of the Seine.

The Pont des Arts has inspired artists and poets with Georges Brassens famously celebrating it in his song Le Vent (the wind) with words of warning to young ladies whose skirts may be blown up by a cheeky gust of wind while crossing the Pont des Arts. Then, there's Emile Zola who marvelled: "High up on its iron girders, with a lightness of black lace, animated by the constant comings and goings of pedestrians, march a cavalcade of ants on the fine line of her apron" (L’Œuvre, 1885).

The above passage testifies to the fragility of the bridge. Indeed, a part of the bridge collapsed in 1979. After much debate, it was decided to rebuild the Pont des Arts on the model of the original bridge built between 1802 and 1804 by Jacques de Lacroix Dillon. Louis Arretche began work on the Pont des Arts we know today. It was inaugurated in 1984 by Jacques Chirac, then mayor of Paris.
Since 2015, lovers have no longer been allowed to attach padlocks (a symbol of their love) to the bridge, and the city hall, for safety reasons, replaced the railings with panels.

Pont des Arts bridge in Parisspecial selection of our hotels


  • From 137 Timhotel Le Louvre

    3-star hotel in the centre of Paris

    Stay at our 3-star hotel in the centre of Paris, offering an unrivalled experience. Less than 5 minutes from the renowned Louvre Museum, our privileged location opens the door to a magical moment in the City of Light. Surrounded by iconic...

    300 metres from the Louvre Museum

  • From 121 Timhotel Palais Royal

    Hotel in the heart of Paris

    Welcome to our 3-star hotel, nestled in the heart of Paris's 2nd arrondissement, offering an exceptional experience in the City of Light. Just metres from the Palais-Royal gardens and its iconic Colonnes de Buren, our hotel is also less than...

    Just a stone's throw from the Palais Royal and the Louvre Museum

  • From 200 La Lanterne & Spa by Timhotel

    4* hotel with spa and swimming pool in the centre of Paris

    Discover our 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Paris, in the 5th arrondissement, a veritable oasis of elegance and relaxation. Just 5 minutes from the majestic Notre Dame de Paris, our hotel is ideally located in the Latin Quarter. You can...

    Exceptional location