The Crimée vertical-lift bridge

The Crimée vertical-lift bridge is the oldest lift bridge in Paris. It was brought into service in 1885 and is the last remaining vertical-lift bridge in the capital. It is still raised almost 9,000 times per year.

The Crimée lift bridge on the canal de l'Ourcq

The raising of the bridge

The Crimée bridge is raised twice per hour, at both quarter past and quarter to, so 3:15 pm and 3:45 pm for example.

The bridge may sometimes be raised five minutes before or after the set time, so you need to be ready and waiting there a little in advance. The bridge only stays raised for one minute, so make sure you’re on time!

The bridge is controlled remotely by the city of Paris lock keepers, who operate it with the help of a camera. There is nobody stationed at the bridge!

For this reason, you are not allowed to leave the Bassin de la Villette when hiring a boat for a single hour.

Sunset above the Crimée vertical lift bridge and the Ourcq Canal

Safety rules

  1. You must stay 50 metres from the Crimée bridge when waiting for it to be raised (do not wait close to the bridge as it is dangerous and the cameras will not be able to see you):
    1. When leaving the base (entering the Canal de l’Ourcq): keep to the right of the canal and to the left of the yellow buoys
    2. When returning to the base (leaving the Canal de l’Ourcq): keep to the right of the canal, level with the old fire station.
  2. Comply with the lights:
    1. red lights Red: Do not proceed! (€80 fine)
    2. red and green-lights Red and Green: The bridge is about to be raised. Do not proceed! (€80 fine)
    3. green lights Green: You can go under the bridge if there are no boats with priority in front or behind you (that is all boats except those of Marin D’Eau Douce in other words)
  3. It is prohibited to stop or disembark in proximity to the bridge.