Pont Marie 2.86

The Pont Marie is a bridge which crosses the Seine in Paris, France.The bridge links the Île Saint-Louis to the quai de l'Hôtel de Ville and is one of three bridges designed to allow traffic flow between the Île Saint-Louis and the Left and Right banks of Paris. The Pont Marie links the Right Bank and is the counterpart of the Pont de la Tournelle which is built along the same line but serves to connect the Île Saint-Louis with the Left Bank.HistoryThe Pont Marie derives its name from the engineer Christophe Marie, who proposed its construction beginning in 1605 in order to augment and assist in the urbanisation of the île Saint-Louis. However the bridge was not actually approved for building by the king until 1614, at which point Louis XIII laid the first stone as part of a formal bridge building ceremony. Following approval, the Pont Marie's construction was spread out over 20 years, from 1614 to 1635. Thus, the bridge is one of the oldest bridges in Paris.In 1635 the bridge was opened to circulation. Following its construction, there were proposals to build houses along the bridge's span. These proposals were countered by Christophe Marie, however approximately fifty were built regardless by carpenter Claude Dublet.