One of the capital’s most unusual spots, the Pont Traversé is one of its most popular. Whether it’s for its storefront, its history or what you’ll find there today, local residents appreciate and share this unusual address. Nestling just off the Luxembourg Gardens, this former bookshop-turned-coffee-shop has it all. We present it to you!
From bookshop to coffee-shop, the story of Pont Traversé
Period frescoes, a dark blue shopfront and this giant sign: it’s impossible to miss the Pont Traversé if you’re wandering around the 6th arrondissement. And with good reason: it’s one of the district’s most recognizable addresses. On its shop front, a myriad of signs and clues relating to its past lives. Yes, before it became a coffee-shop and distiller of hot drinks, Pont Traversé was a bookshop, itself housed in a former butcher’s shop, as evidenced by the little sheep and bull heads that adorn its front.
The first mention of Pont Traversé dates back to 1949, when a certain Marcel Béalu founded a bookshop. Initially located on rue de Beaune, it moved to the Sorbonne district before the owner settled on a former butcher’s shop on the corner of rue Madame and rue de Vaugirard in 1973.
For almost half a century, the bookshop specialized in rare and second-hand books, with a particular penchant for surrealism and fine art, and welcomed regulars and literary enthusiasts alike. On Marcel Béalu’s death, his wife took over the running of the store until her retirement in 2019, synonymous with a metamorphosis for the Pont Traversé.
Yes, today, in place of the bookshop, we find a coffee-shop that has kept the same name and respected the tradition of the place. The same frontage, the same details and even the inscription “books” have been kept despite the change of vocation of the premises. Babkas, cookies and other sweet treats are on sale, along with a selection of snacks such as falafel pita or smoked salmon bagel. What’s more, you can buy a host of grocery items and a wide selection of hot drinks. It’s up to you to try them out!
Le Pont Traversé – 62, rue de Vaugirard, 75006