Pont de l’Archevêché, one of the narrowest bridges in Paris
The Pont de l’Archevêché (Archbishop’s Bridge) is located at the eastern tip of the Ile de la Cité.
It connects the Quai de l’Archevêché, the Square Jean XXIII and the Memorial to the Martyrs of the Deportation on the island to the Quai de Montebello and Quai de la Tournelle on the Rive Gauche – Left Bank.
The bridge thus offers one of the best views of Notre-Dame Cathedral, especially at sunrise, when the soft light highlights the building’s ancient stones (as in this first photo!)
It owes its name to the palace of the Archbishop of Paris, which once stood on the south side of Notre-Dame Cathedral but was looted and destroyed during the riots of February 14 and 15,1831.
The engineer Plouard built the Pont de l’Archevêché in 1828.
This 68-metre-long and 11-metre-wide masonry bridge is the narrowest in Paris.
Indeed, its three arches have spans of 15, 17, and 15 metres, and are therefore slightly too narrow, thus limiting river navigation to certain vessels.
Numerous unsuccessful discussions took place in 1910 regarding its reconstruction.
Despite its unassuming appearance, the bridge’s parapets have, in recent years, become covered with a profusion of love locks, which unfortunately contribute to its deterioration.
Metro: Maubert-Mutualité on Line 10
Coordinates: Lat 48.851606 – Long 2.351602
