Pont des Arts in Paris

You may know the Pont des Arts (also known as Passerelle des Arts) for its international reputation as the bridge of romance, but you may not know it was the first metal bridge built in Paris. Modern for its time, it spanned the Seine in central Paris, joining Quai de Conti with Quai des Tuileries.

Also known as the ‘Love Lock Bridge’, Pont des Arts has been through several transformations but has now been restored to its original state. Although bereft of ‘love-locks’, the bridge remains a romantic icon for tourists all over.

Where is the Pont des Arts bridge?

The pedestrian bridge connecting the 1st and the 6th arrondissements is located near the Institut de France. The bridge is near Pont Neuf and the Île de la Cité. The closest metro station is Metro Line 7, at Pont Neuf.

If you're coming from the Louvre, it's an easy stroll along the Seine, about 5 minutes on foot. The Saint-Germain-des-Prés metro stop on line 4 and the Musée d'Orsay station on the RER C also both put you within a short walk of the bridge.

A brief history of Pont des Arts

The Pont des Arts bridge was originally built during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte I, somewhere between 1802 and 1804. It was inspired by the bridge across the River Severn in England, the world’s first cast-iron bridge.

Bonaparte asked his engineers, Louis-Alexandre de Cessart and Jacques Lacroix-Dillion, to design a similar bridge adorned with flowers and embellishments, resembling a garden suspended over the Seine where pedestrians could stroll, sit on benches, and enjoy the exquisite views on either side.

The Pont des Arts was named after the Palais du Louvre (now the Louvre Museum), which was called Palais des Arts, or the Arts Palace, during the First Empire. Despite charging a penny toll, pedestrians adored the bridge and loved strolling from the Tuileries Garden and the Louvre triangle to the Collège des Quatre-Nations (renamed Institut de France).

Reconstruction of Pont des Arts

With its 9 arches and hanging flower baskets, the bridge soon became a hassle for river traffic and was rebuilt during the Second Empire. Later on, the bridge suffered tremendous damage from the air bombings of the World Wars. Combined with boat collisions, the bridge was deemed unsafe and was closed to pedestrians in 1977.

In 1979, a barge collision caused a 60-meter section of the bridge to partially collapse.

Ten years later, Louis Arretche led a project to rebuild the bridge using steel instead of cast iron. The project faced opposition not only from the river services but also from locals, who believed it would spoil the views of the Louvre Museum.

The original Pont des Arts was completely demolished soon after, and the new bridge was rebuilt between 1981 and 1984, designed by the architect Louis Arretche. It officially reopened in June 1984.

The new bridge retained its name as Pont des Arts, but had 7 arches instead of the original 9 and was supported by steel instead of cast iron.

The wooden deck has needed ongoing care since. A full renovation in 2023 replaced the flooring with a more durable exotic hardwood, and Paris closed the bridge again for about four weeks in May and June 2026 to repair fasteners that had come loose. That work is complete, and the bridge has been open and in good condition since.

The Love Lock Bridge

Paris, the city of love, has multiple romantic spots scattered across its length and breadth, but perhaps the most romantic is the Pont des Arts. Close to the Louvre, it is a popular tourist spot, and with its perfect light and beautiful setting, it is the go-to spot for most romantics.

Years ago, young couples and lovers started engraving their names on padlocks and attaching them to the bridge railing. Soon enough, it came to be known as the Love Lock Bridge or the Lover’s Bridge. Although the tradition didn't begin in Paris, the Pont des Arts became the most famous bridge for love locks.

Pont des Arts Love Locks

The love-lock bridge concept, though first seen in a tragic Serbian poem, was popularized by the Italian film Ho Voglia di Te in 2007. In one scene, the protagonists attached a padlock to a lamppost on the Ponte Milvio in Rome, symbolizing the locking and safeguarding of their love. They then threw the key into the Tiber River to ensure the lock was never opened.

Soon, young lovers across Europe began to mimic this scene. In 2008, the first padlocks of love were seen on Pont des Arts. Thanks to its romantic location and steel frame, it became the love-lock bridge. It was tradition for lovers and travelers alike to engrave their names, attach them to a lock on the bridge, and then throw the key into the River Seine. Selling padlocks became a business for many sellers.

What happened to the love locks on Pont des Arts?

In 2014, the Pont des Arts began feeling the weight of the love locks on its structure, with more than 700,000 locks weighing almost as much as 45 tons. The thought of more locks being added with each passing year, and a section of the bridge collapsing under their weight, set the Mayor’s office on high alert.

In August 2014, the Paris Mairie started a campaign, “Love without Locks,” and asked travelers and tourists to find a different way to declare their love without locks. When that didn't work well, the authorities had no choice but to remove the locks and railings and replace them with glass panels to prevent further damage to the iconic bridge.

While most of the love locks were recycled and repurposed, the Paris authorities auctioned off a chunk of them, both the padlocks and the grilles they were attached to, to donate the proceeds to charities that help refugees. The minimum prices ranged from €150 to €10,000, and bidders around the world jumped in to own a piece of the iconic bridge.

Can you still put locks on Pont des Arts?

You cannot put locks on the grills of Pont des Arts, but while walking around, you might come across some padlocks being attached to the lampposts. The bridge is mostly lock-free and offers absolutely gorgeous views of the Seine, the Louvre, and the Institut de France.

Creativity on the Pont des Arts

No matter how many transformations and reconstructions it has undergone, the Pont des Arts has retained its long tradition of inspiring creatives of all kinds. The wooden slabs give it an old-world charm where you can find jugglers, musicians, artists, and painters lost in their creative worlds, with some of the city's best backdrops.

The bridge feels like a stage where you can perform whatever you like, and you always leave with applause and a sense of happiness.

The Pont des Arts is a wonderful people-watching spot. It is a popular filming location and has been seen in Emily in Paris, Gossip Girl, Lupin, and the finale of Sex and the City (And Just Like That as well!), as well as the French film Amélie.

The bridge's fastenings needed emergency repairs in the summer of 2026, but they've since been fixed, so the wooden slabs are back in solid shape underfoot.)

If nothing else, it is one of the perfect spots to bask in the golden hour and watch the Seine glittering and the city lighting up for another fun night around town.

What can you take a photo of from the Pont des Arts bridge?

The views from the bridge are mesmerizing throughout the day. In the summer, when the days are longer, the entire bridge fills with people enjoying mini-picnics with wine and cheese, bathed in the dusky light of the evening sun.

During sunrise and sunset, the light hits the Seine in just the right way to form those shimmering waves. With the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop and the bridge's spacious yet intimate feel, it's easy to see why itis called the bridge of romance.

You can admire the postcard-perfect views of the Louvre Palace and a bit of the central courtyard, as well as the proud building of the Institut de France, which houses the headquarters of the Académie Française.

FAQ

Now that you know a little bit of its history, you can stroll across or sit and appreciate this romantic spot a little more!

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