The Pont Morland bridge in Paris
This is a very little known bridge in Paris located between the Bastille and the River Seine and was constructed in the 1800s as a floodgate bridge for the Canal Saint-Martin.
About the Pont Morland
The Pont Morland floodgate and bridge is in fact one of the oldest parts of the Canal Saint-Martin, as the canal dates back to the early part of the 1800s, when it was first constructed under the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte.
However, it was not until 1879 that the floodgate and bridge you can see today was constructed at the entrance to the Port de l’Arsenal that has been turned from a commercial port into a leisure marina, which is also positioned at the outlet channel to the River Seine from the Canal Saint-Martin.
The bridge was actually named after a boulevard and dock that was located at the Bassin d’Arsenal, and these were originally named after Colonel Morland, who was a Colonel of the Napoleon Guard, yet lost his life during the Battle of Austerlitz.
You will find that this is still a fully working road bridge in Paris that is in use today going from the Boulevard Morland to the Quai de la Rapee, along with its old floodgates that now lead to the pleasure port and leisure marina.
And the Pont Morland is made of stone with one arch and is approximately 50 metres in length, with a width of approximately 14 metres.
Visiting the Pont Morland
You will find the Pont Morland bridge and its floodgate located by the Port de l’Arsenal in between the River Seine and the Place de la Bastille, which goes between the 4th Arrondissement and 12th Arrondissement of the city.
To get the best views of this historical bridge, you need to be looking towards the Pont Morland in the direction of the River Seine from the Passerelle Mornay footbridge, which goes over the Port de l’Arsenal at the end before the Canal Saint Martin goes into a tunnel under the Place de la Bastille square.
When it comes to using the public transport in Paris, you will find that the nearest Metro station is the Quai de la Rapee stop serving line 5 or a little further walk past the Bassin de l'Arsenal in the opposite direction, you have the Bastille stop at the Place de la Bastille via lines 1, 5 and 8.
Alternatively the Bus Lines 20, 29, 65, 87 and 91 along with the Noctilien Night Bus Service via lines N01, N02, N11 and N16 will all get you within easy walking distance of the leisure marina and this bridge in Paris.
