LBY4705151: The Louvre since the Pont des Arts (1801-1984), Paris 75001. Reconstruction by Louis Arretche. The Passerelle des Arts, the first iron bridge in Paris, had the mission of joining the Institut de France and the Louvre - which was then called the Palais des Arts. Reserved for pawns, it was built from 1801 to 1804. It initially consisted of nine arches. Following numerous river accidents, its reconstruction was decided in 1981 but two arches were removed to line them up on the Pont Neuf., Boegly, Luc / Bridgeman Images