Pont au Double, Cast iron bridge near Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, France.
Pont au Double is a single-arch cast-iron bridge over the Seine, linking the parvis of Notre-Dame on Île de la Cité to the quai de Montebello in the 5th arrondissement. Its 31-metre arch is made of 11 cast-iron segments bolted together, with copper-clad faces and cornices. The bridge carries pedestrians and cyclists on a level deck.
A stone bridge with three arches was built here between 1626 and 1632 for the Hôtel-Dieu, whose wards were later placed above it; pedestrians paid a double denier toll, which gave the bridge its name. It collapsed on 31 December 1709 and was rebuilt, then demolished in 1847 for a single 31-metre masonry span. The present cast-iron arch, designed by engineer Jules Lax, dates from 1883 and was restored in 2002.
The bridge connects the student quarter with the cathedral district, serving as a natural gathering point where these two worlds meet daily. Locals and visitors cross here constantly, making it a working part of the city rather than just a landmark.
The bridge is simple to cross from either side, with easy access points for walkers and cyclists on both banks. The nearest metro stations are just a short walk away, making it convenient to reach from anywhere in the city.
The name comes from a medieval toll of two small coins that pedestrians once paid to cross here. This makes it unusual among Paris bridges, as most are named after different sources.
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