Bridges adorned with padlocks, engraved with lovers’ initials, can be found scattered around capital cities across the world. These padlocks, known as love locks, are fastened to bridges, gates, and fences by star-crossed lovers as a symbol of their everlasting love. While there are different theories on how it all began, the true origins of this sweet tradition remain unknown. Some say that the tradition started in China while others attribute it to a tragic Serbian tale of a lady separated from her love during World War I. It’s not clear who the hopeless romantic who placed the first love lock on a bridge was, but we do know that the trend took off in the early 2000s. In Rome, one of the most romantic cities on earth, the Ponte Milvio bridge became embellished with love padlocks following the book-turned-movie “I Want You” by Frederico Moccia.
Pont Des Art: How Padlocks Nearly Destroyed The Most Romantic Bridge In Paris
No city has embraced this world-famous ancient expression of love and commitment more than the City of Love, Paris. The Pont Des Art bridge in Paris –originally constructed in 1804 and connecting the Institut de France with The Louvre– became the number one place for lovers wanting to solidify their everlasting love. Tourists flocked to the bridge from across the globe to place their engraved padlocks on the bridge and throw the key into the Seine. Unfortunately, in 2015 Paris locals began to notice that the bridge was struggling under the weight of the locks attached to its structure and asked the government to intervene. By this point, over a million love locks hung from the bridge, leading to the collapse of part of the parapets. This prompted a campaign to remove some of the love locks in an attempt to keep it from collapsing completely.
Since 2015, the French government has removed huge numbers of love locks from the Pont Des Art and pleaded with hopeless romantics to express their affection in other, less risky ways, such as with graffiti or a romantic selfie. Forty-five tonnes of metal padlocks were removed from the bridge, with Paris health officials declaring that “The romantic gestures cause long-term heritage degradation and danger to visitors” and forbidding, by law, the placement of new love locks on the bridge. Despite this decree from the government, it’s estimated that over a million new love locks (weighing around forty-five tonnes) have since been placed on the bridge.
In 1984, the current Pont Des Art bridge was rebuilt and is now, as part of the Seine Riverfront, considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With views of the Eiffel Tower from the bridge, it still remains a firm favorite for couples visiting the City of Love, even if they have to leave their padlocks at home.
What Happened To The Removed Love Locks From The Pont Des Arts?
There was much speculation as to what would happen to the love locks removed from the bridge. In the end, over 165 sets of love padlocks taken from the bridge were put up for auction, selling for up to 17,000 euros, with the proceeds going to refugee charities. Rumors circulated that others would be used as part of an art installation.
The removal of the locks caused a stir amongst some people, but local government officials were quick to point out that this tradition not only affects the structure and aesthetic of the bridges (costing a fortune to maintain), but the ritual of throwing metal padlock keys into rivers is also damaging to the environment. The rusty keys are harmful to wildlife, cause unnecessary pollution, and can even block drainage systems.
Padlocks of Love: A Dying Trend?
Paris isn’t the only city that has struggled to dissuade tourists from placing love locks on bridges. Venice and New York have both launched similar campaigns to remove the influx of symbolic padlocks attached to the Rialto Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge respectively. As it turns out, even the best-made bridges balk under the pressure of so many extra tonnes of weight, even if the reason behind it is a beautiful expression of humanity, hope, and love.
If you are a hopeless romantic who wants to take part in this ancient tradition, fear not. Some cities are offering up alternatives that keep the tradition alive without damage to landmarks and local ecosystems. These cities are installing other monuments with railings to create a safe place for people to hang their symbols of love and commitment. One city that has gone all out to keep the tradition alive is Moscow. The city has dedicated metal trees dotted around its streets where lovers can hang their locks and contribute to the creation of some beautiful, harm-free street art.
Moscow isn’t the only city offering up a safer way to hang your love padlocks. In Montevideo, Uruguay, a popular fountain has been installed with a plaque that reads “The legend of this young fountain tells us that if a lock with the initials of two people in love is placed in it, they will return together to the fountain and their love will be forever locked.” Fengyuan in Taiwan also has its own romantic connection to love locks. These padlocks, known as “wish locks” are attached to the train station overpass in pairs with local legend claiming that the magnetic field from passing trains passes through the locks, making wishes come true.
This more mindful approach is a great compromise for both the cities and the tourists flocking there. If you want to express your undying affection with a love lock without causing damage, look up installations like these in your chosen area. Once you’ve found your spot, buy yourself a few good-quality padlocks, write your names on your lock, and hang it on the structure as a symbol of your lasting love. But beware, legend has it that both members of “loves hand” must be present as the padlock locks. If not, the love will be jinxed forever.