It is one of the pedestrian bridges over the river Rhone.
The Machine Bridge is, after the Mont-Blanc Bridge and the Bergues Bridge, the third bridge furthest upstream in the Rhône, after leaving Lake Geneva. This bridge, forbidden to automobile traffic, allows you to reach an industrial building originally used as a plant for pumping water from the Rhône (1843-1886).
It was in 1709 that the first hydraulic machine, which gave its name to the future bridge, was built at the entrance to the left arm of the Rhône to pump water from the river for the city’s fountains. It requires the construction of a dike consisting of a riprap surmounted by piles against which boards are placed.
I highly recommend coming here before sunrise – during summer, it’s the perfect place to have an excellent view of the city, and a clear day can help you have a good look at Mont Blanc. This picture was taken at 7 in the morning as we headed out of the rave party happening nearby.
