“Too Much Love” – Paris’ Pont des Arts Love Locks Weigh Over a Ton and Are at Risk of Collapse

▲ Countless locks on the Pont des Arts in Paris symbolize the love of every couple. (Photo/CFP)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Pont des Arts in Paris, known as the “Bridge of Love,” has recently been found to be under immense strain due to the excessive number of love locks hung by couples. The bridge is now bearing several tons of weight and is nearing its limit, facing a potential collapse.

Many popular tourist attractions around the world have the tradition of hanging “love locks.” In addition to the Pont des Arts in France, Seoul’s N Seoul Tower in South Korea is another spot where numerous couples hang their love locks, wishing for everlasting love.

The Pont des Arts was built between 1981 and 1984, spanning the Seine River. It was inspired by British bridge designs and conceived by engineers Louis-Alexandre de Cessart and Jacques Dillon. Originally designed with nine arches, it was later changed to seven. As Paris’ first metal bridge, its scenic location near the Louvre’s central square and the Institut de France made it a popular open-air studio for artists and a favorite picnic spot for locals in the summer.

% Family members and friends often place locks on the railings of this scenic bridge. (Image / Wikipedia))

The tradition of “love locks” originated from the 2006 Italian novel *Ho voglia di te* (translated as *I Want You*) by author Federico Moccia. In the story, a couple carves their names on a lock, hangs it on a street lamp on Rome’s Milvian Bridge, and throws the key into the Tiber River. Starting in 2008 in France, it’s unclear who initiated the trend, but couples began hanging locks engraved with their names on both sides of the Pont des Arts and throwing the keys into the river, praying for eternal love. It soon became a must-do activity for visitors from around the world, and the bridge gradually earned the nickname “Bridge of Love.” (There’s also a belief that if you want to hide a secret, hanging a lock on the bridge and throwing the key into the river will bury the secret beneath the water.)

However, over time, the accumulated weight of these locks has reached several tons, putting the bridge at risk of structural failure. While Paris officials cannot stop tourists from attaching locks, they have decided to remove all love locks every six months to reduce the burden on the Pont des Arts.

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