The bridge itself is a work of art, which required a team of skilled craftsmen to construct it, using a technique similar to that used to build the Eiffel Tower. The rivets were skillfully handcrafted in workshops, using hot furnaces to melt the metal and implement the necessary joinery.
The name Pont de la Machine originates from its initial purpose as a water pumping station, named the ‘Machine Abeille’, it was installed to provide the luxury of running water to the elite members of society. It remained in service until 1843, which is when the bridge was first built in wood and then later transformed into a work of art in 1884 and 1887 with the addition of cast iron.
