Across the Ill River stands the Pont John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Its name might surprise you. It wasn’t always associated with the famous American president.
Originally the bridge was known as the Black Forest Bridge Schwarzwaldbrücke. Later it was called Pont Brant. Only in 1965 did it gain its current name. This is because of the proximity to the United States Consulate. To the locals however it is still known as the Bridge of 4 Giants. This refers to the remarkable statues at its entrances.
Architect Fritz Beblo designed this elegant structure. It was built in 1906. A single low arch spans thirty meters. The bridge gracefully connects avenue de la Forêt-Noire to avenue d’Alsace.
Notice the solid pink cut stone parapet. It’s from Lutzelbourg. Look closely at the subtle designs. Wavy patterns decorate the roadway side. Sinuous fish adorn the riverside. But the real stars of the show are the four sculptures.
Sculptor Alfred Marzolff created these masterpieces. At one end stand a laborer and a hauler. They represent the hard work of the era. At the other end are two fishermen. They capture the spirit of the river. The laborer and hauler are based on Émilie Strum and his son Fritz from Robertsau. They served as models in 1907. One of these statues was sadly destroyed after World War II in an accident. A truck crashed into the bridge’s parapet.
Interestingly these statues of working-class people caused quite a stir. They were placed in a wealthy part of Strasbourg. The bourgeoisie of the Belle Époque were shocked. This was especially true given the cost of the bridge’s construction.
There’s a detail often overlooked. It’s a circular bench. It’s on the side facing Quai du Maire Dietrich. The backrest is decorated with a bas-relief. Its motifs are inspired by the Renaissance.
The laborer’s job. A gravel dredger. A profession largely forgotten today. This activity disappeared in the 1920s. The man used a bucket-like shovel on a pole. He’d be on a 10-meter-long 2-meter-wide boat called a Kiesnache. It could carry only 10 cubic meters or risk sinking. Getting it back to the surface was quite a task.
After loading the boat the hauler took over. He used a harness and rope. He pulled the boat to the unloading point. There were three such points in Strasbourg near the Antwerp bridge Quai Mullenheim and Rue de Molsheim. Later barges were pulled by horses. Tractors only appeared around 1930. Their tracks were still visible along the Marne au Rhin canal and Quai Pasteur.
The Pont John Fitzgerald Kennedy. A bridge with a history richer than its name suggests. It’s a testament to engineering artistry and the changing times of Strasbourg. It reflects the city’s past and present. A true hidden gem.