Tourists flock to Parisian bridges to photograph the “love locks” that are becoming a tradition in several European cities.
On our recent trip to Paris with kids, we saw famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, viewed masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, walked the Champs Élysée and cruised the Seine but one of the sights that made the biggest impression on my kids was seeing bridges covered with padlocks.
Paris is one of several European cities where these so-called “love locks” have become a tradition in the last few years. Lovers inscribe their names on a padlock, attach the padlock to a bridge and then toss the key into the river as a symbol of their eternal love. It seems like no one is quite certain how this tradition got started or spread but it isn’t a particularly popular practice with city officials who generally see the locks as vandalism of an historic landmark rather than a romantic gesture. From time to time the padlocks have been removed only to start reappearing again a short time later.
photo courtesy of KP
Regardless of what the city’s administrators think of them, there is no denying the popularity of the locks either with the couples who are affixing them or the crowds of tourists who wander by to observe and photograph. Our first evening in Paris, we walked to Notre Dame Cathedral and saw these locks as we crossed the Pont Archeveche. The kids were transfixed by the sight of the locks but even more so by this interesting character who happened to also be out walking and having a look at the love locks. It was quite the interesting start to our Parisian vacation!
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Sonja
I’ve seen the love locks on the bridges and I don’t quite know what to think. On the one hand, it’s a cute, romantic idea, but on the other, it’s really kind of littering the look of the bridges!
Nancie
Great post, and I love your “friends” costume. These love locks are very popular in Prague as well.
Lisa Goodmurphy
She is quite the interesting character, isn’t she? Emma was fascinated by her and Katie thought that she was completely freaky and wanted to get as far away as possible. This was our first experience seeing a bridge with love locks – I expect we’ll come across them again.
D.J. - The World of Deej
How have I not seen this in Paris? As if I didn’t have enough reasons to want to return! Guess I’ll have to pack a padlock next time…
jan
These have started appearing in Oz as well.
Jackie Smith
They are a most curious site aren’t they? We have a gum wall in Seattle that seems to be real popular with tourists – yes, used gum, stuck on the wall. I’ve never paid it a visit, but it does get talked about a lot!
jenny@atasteoftravel
There seems to be a few bridges in Paris with these locks. I have taken photos of locks on the Pont des Arts before but none have had onlookers dressed quite like your friend. I wonder if this was a practice run for Carnivale in Venice!
Steve
I suggest that we start this tradition at TBEX next year. We can all go to Lisa’s house and lock padlocks on her fence. I have no idea where we’re going to throw the keys though.
Sophie
Something discordant about ‘love’ and ‘padlock’, I think. Also, the sheer weight of all these locks sometimes put ancient, fragile monuments at risk.
On the other hand, it’s an interesting phenomenon, colourful and photogenic.
Laurel
I would love to know this tradition got started since I agree with Sophie’s comment above. I was surprised to see that Munich also has its own Love Lock Bridge near the zoo, although nowhere nearly as big as the ones in your photos.
Muza-chan
Interesting, I like “love locks” too… I discovered the same custom in Japan.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista
I saw these Locks of Love while walking the Brooklyn Bridge recently. I’m with other commenters, I don’t know how I really feel about them. They do seem to take away from the beauty of some bridges and I wouldn’t want them harming any. Never thought about Sophie’s thoughts, do padlock and love really go together?
Cathy Sweeney
The romance of Paris! How did I manage to miss the locks? I’ll make sure that I’m looking for them on the Pont Archeveche next time in Paris.
Lisa Goodmurphy
There’s always a good reason to go back to Paris!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Wow – it’s really spreading, isn’t it?!?
Lisa Goodmurphy
I’ve heard about the gum wall and it really doesn’t seem all that appealing to me to chew up some gum and stick it on a wall.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I hadn’t thought of the possible Carnivale connection but this was just a bit later as it was in March. It does look like one of those costumes though.
Lisa Goodmurphy
HA – I only have a wooden fence and gate, I think you’d have a hard time attaching a padlock!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is an interesting phenomenon but I think you’re right that there is something discordant about the pairing of love and padlocks. It would be really interesting to know where the practice originated and why.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I googled it but there doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer on where the practice started although it seems to have been in the past 10 years or so. One theory is that it started in Italy because of a novel where the main characters pledge their love and attach a padlock to a bridge and toss the key.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I didn’t know that this practice existed in Japan now too – very interesting! I must try and find out if there are any here in Canada.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Brooklyn too?!? I guess they are every where now. They are an interesting phenomenon but they can be quite unattractive. I think if they are damaging the structure of historic monuments then city officials are certainly within their rights to remove them – I guess I’m not much of a romantic!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I think you’ll find them in a couple of different places, Cathy. We also saw them on at least one other bridge as we were cruising on the Seine.
Andi at The Particular Traveler
So what happens if the lovers break up? 😉
It’s kind of a cute tradition, but I do agree that it can mar the look of the bridges and other landmarks. Thanks for the fun read, Lisa!
Sabrina
Nice pics! I never saw them in Paris… I noticed these first in Florence and did some digging around to see how it all started. You can see my post if you’re interested in the details, but basically it started in Rome after a couple in a famous movie placed a lock on a bridge in Rome and kind of spread to bridges around Europe from there. I want to place my own somewhere every since I saw the ones in Florence 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
Interesting question, Andi! Maybe go back with a Sharpie and change the inscription?!? 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
It’s incredible how fast this tradition seems to be spreading around the world!
Jenna
I’m glad you explained this because I have heard so much about these bridges but don’t think I’ve ever actually seen one or maybe I passed by without noticing.
Shanna Schultz
I loved the locks on the bridges in Paris! It was fun to look at the initials on each one and wonder abut the people who wrote them…Paris is such a romantic city.
Mary @ The World Is A Book
I think we were too mesmerized and overwhelmed with all the Paris attractions we missed these locks during two visits. What an interesting story. We found some recently on one of the bridges in Copenhagen by Nyhavn. I think we need to go back to Paris soon for the food, Disneyland and these 🙂
Sensibletraveler
Huh. I really feel dumb now. My wife and I put a love lock on one of the trails in the Cinque Terre, Italy. We kind of thought it was unique to that trail. I think I’m going to go with the theme and post it as my photo of the week next week.
Vera Marie Badertscher
I’m amazed at how many different countries this has turned up in. Somebody should write a book. Your Venetian Carnival character certainly adds to that photo!
By the way, I think I prefer the lovers names painted on rocks overlooking the Santorini caldera in Oia. Don’t know why painted rocks hasn’t spread.
And of course, first, there were hearts carved in trees.
Becca@RWTYM?
Interesting…I hadn’t hear of this but I do agree that it does take away from the history of the bridge….
Lisa Goodmurphy
I’d also heard of them before but had never seen them. We didn’t go looking for the locks but just happened across this bridge as we were heading back to our apartment – glad we stopped and had a look.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Hopefully they all have happy endings! 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
I don’t remember seeing any in Copenhagen but that was three years ago so maybe there weren’t any then. I think we could make quite a long list of reasons to go back to Paris – but who really needs a reason anyway!
Lisa Goodmurphy
You’re now officially the only person that I know who has ever affixed a love lock some place. Can’t wait to see the photo!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It amazes me as well, Vera. I think couples have always had a need to declare there love in a public way like this. It puts me in mind of the initials in trees as well and also where I grew up in Northern Ontario as you drive through the Canadian Shield the road goes through rock cuts where couples have always painted their names.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Opinion does seem to be divided on whether it’s hopelessly romantic or an abomination! 🙂
Amy
Where have I been? I haven’t ever come across these. Maybe I’m too busy trying to keep my kids from running across streets and crossing bridges to actually pay attention. I gotta pay more attention!
That’s the great thing about reading good blogs. Even if you’ve visited somewhere a lot, it’s fun to see it through a friend’s eyes. You always get a different perspective. I’ll be on the look-out for these in other cities!
Lisa Wood
Oh wow – the locks look incredible, and so does the person on the bridge! Was the person on there way to a fancy dress, coming home from one or was the person in a play? Very interesting!
I so would love to do say that I added a paddlock to the bridges, with our names, and then placed the key into the water. So romantic ~ I guess that it is so fitting for paris.
Tonya
I’ve never heard of love locks. I have to admit that the romantic in me thinks the locks are wonderful. To throw the key into the water to proclaim your unending love. *sigh* On the other hand, the locks do pose a bit of an eyesore.
Leigh
Interesting how these things catch on. I can see both points of view but am inclined towards accepting the romantic view – keys or no keys. There are probably worse things in the Seine. Great photos!
Crystal @ Little Sightseers
In Guam, Two Lovers Point is the popular location for the Love Locks. They actually sell the locks at the gift shop. It makes a bit more sense here, because this is the location where 2 young lovers, one a Spanish solider and the other a local Chamorro daughter jumped to their death in the ocean below, rather than be seperated.
I alwasy thought it was sweet, but if people are just putting them up anywhere they want, that’s not so great. Your daughter is right, they shouldn’t be throwing them in the river!
We are heading to Paris next month, I’m sure we’ll see them!
femmefrugality
Oh, my gosh, I love this! It seems like a form of vandalism to me, but what a beautiful sentiment!
Margaretsmiscellany
Wow. I saw several bridges in London with these, but nothing like this. I actually like this new tradition quite a bit. I think it shows how people connect with their cities and each other.
Liam
I saw these locks all over Italy, but didn’t realize it had made its way across the rest of Europe! I love the sentiment but know that it causes damage to the structures on which they are attached. Still, they are very charming!
Juliann
I saw this in Paris and loved the romance of it. I took several pictures and thought it made a seemingly plain bridge more unique.
As I recall, we saw one that was a combination lock instead of a padlock. Commitment phobes?? 🙂
Lindsay
I love this tradition, I think they do it somewhere else also…Croatia maybe? I think it’s great that you travel so extensively with your family. There is so much to learn and experience from traveling, my biggest hope is to be able to give the same gift to my own children someday.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Amy! I don’t think I noticed much when my kids were little but once they are a bit bigger you will actually be able to look around a bit more – they’ll even start pointing out interesting things to you that might have been otherwise missed!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I have no idea who or what she was – but she was definitely interesting!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is definitely a romantic idea that in practice becomes a bit of an eyesore. It’s not really the locks that are the ugly part though, it’s all the various ribbons and bits that are attached to the locks and become tattered and nasty looking from being exposed to the weather. Perhaps if people refrained from attaching anything but the lock then it wouldn’t looks quite so disheveled.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Yeah, I don’t even want to think about what could be in the Seine but my budding environmentalist was aghast at the thought that people were throwing keys in the river!
Lisa Goodmurphy
What a sad story – I had no idea that the tradition existed in Guam as well.
Colleen Lanin
Wow! I had never even heard about love locks before. Where have I been?!
Laurent
This “tradition” has become just a destructive form of vandalism to us Parisians. Please consider the damage, both aesthetic and physical that the locks are causing to two of the most beautiful bridges in the world.
http://tinyurl.com/6arz9p8
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you for your perspective, Laurent. I was quite interested in knowing what Parisians think of these locks. I’m not surprised to learn that the residents of Paris think that it’s a form of vandalism. I expect it’s primarily visitors to the city that are affixing the locks to bridges.
AdamSky
A decent structural engineer will confirm that the total weight of a bridge comprises 90% its own dead weight, 9.99% the weight of traffic it carries and 0.01% padlocks…so we can leave our hearts locked without fear of overload.