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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Marie Bridge is a masonry work crossing the Seine in Paris, connecting the Île Saint-Louis to the Quai de l'Hôtel-de-Ville in the 4th arrondissement. Built mainly in the seventeenth century, it is one of the oldest bridges in the capital. Its five arches, with varying openings between 14 and 18 metres, are based on wooden piles, with dihedral forewings surmounted by empty niches. Ranked a historic monument since 1887, it marks the 0 kilometer point for the Seine downstream.

The original project dates back to 1577, led by Christophe Marie, an engineer-entrepreneur, to connect the Îles Notre-Dame and the Vaches (future Île Saint-Louis). In 1614, a contract was signed to build a stone bridge, but the works, slowed down by financial conflicts with the chapter of Notre-Dame, only ended in 1635. In 1643, houses were erected on the bridge, a common practice at the time, but abandoned after partial collapses during the floods of 1658 and 1740.

In the 18th century, houses were gradually demolished for security reasons, especially after the royal decree of 1786 prohibiting construction on bridges. The Marie Bridge underwent several restorations, notably in 1850 and 1969, to preserve its original structure. Today, it preserves its historical aspect, without the houses that were previously burdened, and remains a testimony of Parisian urbanism of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The name of the bridge pays tribute to Christophe Marie, its designer, while its history reflects the technical and urban challenges of Paris in the modern era. The archives, like the contracts of 1614 and 1623, specify the use of Cliquard and Verselay stones for its construction. Its ranking in 1887 underlines its heritage importance, reinforced by regular restorations until the 20th century.

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