Paris has always been the “city of love,” and for good reason—everything about this beautiful French city screams romance. At the helm of the romance that surrounds the city has always been the Pont des Arts bridge, better known as the Love Lock Bridge. For years, sentimental lovers have clasped a lock, which usually bore their names or initials, onto the bridge's iron grillwork. Once the lock was fastened, the key would be tossed into the Seine, symbolizing that their love would last forever.
Unfortunately, just as many of those relationships have surely crumbled over the years, it appears that the bridge that was once home to their love locks faces the same fate.
City officials have been discussing the hundreds of thousands of locks covering the bridge for months. Not only do some consider the locks to be visually unappealing, but the sheer weight of the metal has been degrading the bridge at an incredibly rapid pace. In fact, CNN reports that the total additional weight added by the locks is approximately equivalent to the weight of 20 elephants. Clearly this kind of unanticipated weight posed some very valid safety problems to city officials.
Once the iron grillwork is removed, and the locks with it, panels painted by street artists will take its place. Eventually, the city will implement the historic grillwork once more, protected by plexiglass.
While some are saddened to hear the news about the lost Love Lock Bridge, others aren’t concerned. The Pont des Arts bridge may be symbolic of romance, but it is not the only Love Lock bridge out there. Locks have found their way all over the city of Paris, latched onto various grillwork that lines the many bridges in the city. In fact, they have even made their way to other major international cities. So although your next trip to Paris may not include a walk along the famous Pont des Arts, you can still expect to find love locks scattered around the city.
