Five graceful arches span the Seine. This is the Pont Marie. Its story begins not with a grand inauguration but with a disagreement. The Pont Marie’s construction started in 1614. King Louis XIII himself laid the first stone. However the Canons of Notre Dame Cathedral opposed the project. Work progressed slowly.
The Pont Marie’s designer was Christophe Marie. He envisioned a bridge linking Ile Saint Louis to the right bank. It finally opened in 1635. Houses were built along the bridge. This proved disastrous.
In 1658 a devastating flood hit Paris. Two arches of the Pont Marie collapsed. Twenty houses were swept away. Around sixty people perished. A temporary wooden bridge replaced the damaged section. A toll was introduced to fund the proper reconstruction.
The Pont Marie was rebuilt between 1667 and 1670. The houses were never rebuilt. Fears of another flood led to their demolition in 1740. The Pont Marie has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.
Each of the five arches is unique. The niches on the abutments were never filled with statues as originally planned. The Pont Marie is a historical monument. It is one of the oldest bridges across the Seine. Unlike the Pont Neuf or the Pont Alexandre III it remains relatively unknown.
Today the Pont Marie is more than a crossing. It has become a place of romance. A legend says kissing under the bridge makes wishes come true. There is no historical evidence for this tradition. Yet the Pont Marie continues to enchant. Lovers gather beneath its arches. They exchange kisses and make wishes. The Pont Marie continues its silent vigil over the Seine a testament to resilience and Parisian charm. Its story is one of conflict cooperation and enduring beauty.