Bry-sur-Marne bridge

Before the bridge of Bry-sur-Marne existed, crossing the Marne River was done by ferry. The current bridge stands where this simple crossing once took place. The first suspension bridge, built by the well-known Seguin brothers in the early 19th century, was a true technical marvel for its time - a bold innovation when river crossing were still few and far between.
Built in 1831, supported by two elegant stone pylons and metal cables, it represented a major engineering breakthrough. However, the structure proved fragile: it was swept away by a storm in 1844 and later destroyed by the French army during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.

A new metal bridge replaced it in 1873, but as traffic grew and vehicles became heavier, it too became outdated. In 1938, it was rebuilt in reinforced concrete — a symbol of modernity and resilience. Unfortunately, it was destroyed again just two years later, during World War II, before being reconstructed in the same style in the mid-20th century. The bridge was later reinforced in 1975 to meet contemporary standards.

Through its many transformations, the bridge of Bry-sur-Marne has witnessed the town’s evolution — from a small riverside community to a thriving suburb — mirroring both the technological progress and the growing dynamism of the region along the Marne.