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Famous ‘Love Locks’ Have Been Removed From Pont des Arts Bridge In Paris
Paris breaks the hearts of locals and tourists as the ‘love locks’ have been removed from Pont des Arts bridge in Paris.
Paris, dubbed as the city of romance, is something you can find in everyone’s bucket list of must-see places. Dream travel destinations such as the famous Eiffel Tower, the legendary bookstore Shakespeare and Company and of course, who would want to miss the romantic Pont des Arts bridge? Each of these places are absolutely iconic.
Couples from different parts of the world come to visit Pont des Arts and leave padlocks or ‘love locks’ as a symbol of infinite love. It’s actually a tradition which began in 2008. Just recently though, authorities broke the hearts of many locals and tourists as these padlocks have been removed and now banned from the said bridge.
Armed with bolt cutters, city workmen began cutting the love locks open fearing that the sheer weight of the padlocks was putting the 19th century structure – and everyone’s safety – great at risk. Reports say that about 700,000 padlocks, with names of couples written on them and the keys tossed into the River Seine, have been there for years.
Pont des Arts bridge’s love locks symbolize everlasting love. Unfortunately though, they have been removed by Paris council workers.
City workmen arrived early on a Monday morning with cutters and power tools to remove an estimated 700, 000 padlocks.
The act broke the hearts of many locals and tourists as the padlocks have been removed and now permanently banned from Pont des Arts bridge.
‘We will remove nearly one million padlocks, or 45 tonnes,’ said city official Bruno Julliard.
Health and safety officials fear that these ‘love locks’ could damage the iconic structure and risk the safety of the visitors.
Last year, a section of the footbridge collapsed under the weight of the locks covering the 155-metre-(509-foot-)long bridge.
It is estimated that the truck full of locks weighed as much as 20 elephants.
Instead of metal grilles, the panels will be replaced by ‘padlock-proof’ plexiglass in an effort to prevent couples from leaving them again.
The bridge have completely become lock-free.
The history of love padlocks is thought to date back over a century ago to a Serbian tale of love in during World War I.
The bridge has become a tourist attraction for romantic couples and newly weds who wanted to leave a token of love.
From Rome, the tradition of attaching ‘love locks’ to bridges spread and started in Paris in 2008.
However, the tradition had begun causing problems as the bridge began to collapse due to the weight of nearly a million padlocks.
Campaign group No Love Locks told CNN that the locks attracted graffiti, pickpockets and other anti-social behaviour to the picturesque bridge.
This may seem like a sad news for many but it’s also better to preserve the enduring heritage of Paris. After all, there are many other ways to show your love to your significant other than putting a padlock on a public structure.
H/T: Daily Mail, Business Insider
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