Pont de la Puce

From a flea-infested café to a symbol of division, the Pont de la Puce has seen quite a transformation. The Pont de la Puce, or “Flea Bridge,” isn’t named for the tiny pests you might find on a dog. The name actually comes from the old French word “Poussine.” This bridge, spanning the Paris-Saint-Lazare to Le Havre railway line, connects Colombes and La Garenne-Colombes. It links Avenue du Général-de-Gaulle in La Garenne-Colombes to Avenue Henri-Barbusse in Colombes, near Les Vallées station. The Pont de la Puce stands as a boundary between these two communes, a separation formalized in 1910. But before the divide, there was the Chalet du Pont de la Puce. This quaint pavilion, once a popular drinking spot, stood near the bridge. The Colombes side has since undergone extensive renovations, leaving behind the charm of the old photos. The construction of the railway line in 1837 called for a safe way to cross the tracks. This crossing, originally the departmental road number 6 and now the RD 106, became the site of the Pont de la Puce. A station was briefly erected in 1844 but met its demise in the fires of the 1848 revolution. The Compagnie des chemins de fer de l’Ouest constructed the bridge itself in 1861. The Seine General Council later widened it in 1899. Today, the Pont de la Puce stands as a testament to the area’s evolving history, a quiet observer of the changes that have shaped the landscape and communities around it.