Pont de Flandre, a superb illustration of metal industrial architecture
The Pont de Flandre, also known as the Pont de la Rue de Crimée, is a metal lifting bridge spanning the Ourcq Canal at the intersection of Rue de Crimée and the Bassin de la Villette. Measuring 20 metres long and 8 metres wide, it connects the Quai de l’Oise to the Quai de la Marne.
The lower part of the bridge is open to motor vehicle traffic and includes a cycle path, while the upper part serves as a fixed footbridge for pedestrians.
It was commissioned in 1885 to replace an old swing bridge that hindered the passage of the barges.
The Pont de Flandre is thus a remarkable example of late 19th-century industrial metal architecture. It was also the first hydraulic lifting bridge in Paris; it has since become one of the city’s most picturesque bridges.
Renovation of the bridge
The Pont de Flanders was completely renovated in 2011 and its original mechanisms modernised.
The major problem was its connection to the city’s drinking water network, which, for each use, no fewer than 900 times a year, necessitated vast quantities of water! The installation of a modern hydraulic system thus solved this problem. This was also an opportunity to widen the sidewalks and transform the single cycle path into a two-way lane. The bridge, the only remaining lifting bridge in Paris, was listed as a historical monument in 1993.
It is in a revitalised area of the 19th arrondissement, which is now renowned for its vibrant nightlife, hotels, and restaurants along the Ourcq Canal.
The redesigned riverbanks offer pleasant walks, ideal for strolling or fishing, to outdoor enthusiasts. The banks also host a variety of events, exhibitions, and markets, contributing to a village-like atmosphere. A visit to the Pont de Flandre and its surroundings is a must for anyone exploring Paris.
Directions: 19th district – Rue de Crimée
Metro: Riquet, Stalingrad on Line 7 or Ourcq, Laumiere on Line 5
Coordinates: Lat 48.888360 – Long 2.379471
