Pont des Amours
Pont des Amours features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Annecy. Give it roughly ~20 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type bridge
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Annecy Annecy guide
About Pont des Amours
An early-20th-century iron footbridge over the Vassé canal, linking the Jardins de l'Europe with the Pâquier, and famous for a kissing legend it does not promise to keep.
The Pont des Amours is an iron footbridge over the mouth of the Vassé canal at the northern tip of Lake Annecy, linking the Jardins de l'Europe with the Pâquier esplanade. Its official name is the passerelle du Jardin public; Pont des Amours, the Lovers' Bridge, is the popular one. The first crossing here was a wooden footbridge built in 1845 for a visit by King Charles-Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia, so spectators could watch the canal illuminations.
A cast-iron bridge of three arches, built by the locksmith Claude Grandchamp, replaced it in 1859. In 1906 the municipality decided to replace that in turn, and the current iron bridge, designed by the architect Gaspard Fruaüf, was inaugurated on 8 November 1907. It crosses the tree-lined Vassé canal, framing a view down the water toward the lake, and ranks among Annecy's most popular romantic photo spots.
Did you know? A popular urban legend holds that two lovers who kiss in the middle of the bridge will stay united for life. It is folklore, not fact, but couples line up to test it anyway.
How long is a visit to Pont des Amours?
Set aside roughly ~20 min for Pont des Amours. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Pont des Amours worth your time?
Pont des Amours is among the 12 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Annecy, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Annecy
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Pont des Amours and read more:
Day 1 of the Annecy in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Pont des Amours
Preview the Annecy tour free in the Gingerguide app.