Pont des Arts

The wooden footbridge between the Louvre and the Institut de France

Area Île de la Cité
Type Landmark
Time needed 20m

The Pont des Arts is the footbridge linking the Louvre's south wing to the dome of the Institut de France on the Left Bank. The first iron bridge in Paris stood here from 1804; the present steel structure with its wooden deck dates from 1984, after barge collisions damaged the original. It is a twenty-minute stop: you cross it, look both ways along the Seine, and move on.

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Getting there

Louvre-Rivoli on Métro line 1 and Pont Neuf on line 7 are each about five minutes from the Right Bank end. On the Left Bank, Saint-Germain-des-Prés on line 4 and Mabillon on line 10 are both within ten minutes. From Châtelet it is a fifteen-minute walk straight down the quais, which is pleasanter than the Métro for one stop. The deck is reached by a few steps at either end, with a ramp on the Right Bank side.

What you see

The view east is the reason to stand here: the Île de la Cité ends in the trees of the Square du Vert-Galant, with the Pont Neuf in front and the spire of the Sainte-Chapelle behind. Look west and you get the Louvre colonnade, the Pont du Carrousel and, on a clear evening, the Eiffel Tower on the skyline. The wooden planking and the benches make it a sitting bridge rather than a crossing, and buskers and sketchers work it in good weather. The love padlocks are gone: the weight collapsed a section of parapet in 2014, the panels were cut away in 2015, and the railings are now glass, so do not come expecting walls of locks. Occasional small locks reappear on the lamp posts and are removed.

What to pair it with

The Louvre is at the Right Bank end and the Institut de France at the other. The Square du Vert-Galant and the Pont Neuf are five minutes east, and the Musée d'Orsay a quarter of an hour west along the river.

When to go

Sunset and the hour after it are the best light, with the bridge facing straight down the river both ways. That is also when it is fullest, particularly in summer, when people bring bottles and sit on the deck late. Early morning gives you the same view almost alone. Winter weekdays are empty and the planking is slippery when wet.

What is hard about it

There is nothing to do here beyond look, and visitors who travel specifically for the padlocks are disappointed, because they were removed a decade ago. The glass panels are often scratched or covered in marker. Evening crowds bring noise, broken glass and occasional pickpocketing, and sellers work the deck persistently. The bridge is also closed from time to time for works on the deck or the quais.

Common questions

How long do you need at the Pont des Arts?

Twenty minutes is enough to cross, stop at the middle and take in both views. It is a stop on a walk rather than a destination.

Can you still put a love lock on the bridge?

No. The panels were removed in 2015 after a parapet section gave way under the weight, and the railings are glass now. Locks attached elsewhere are taken off.

Is it free to walk across?

Yes, it is a public footbridge, open at all hours except during works, with no charge and no ticket.