How a Paris bridge nearly collapsed under 45 tonnes of love
Paris, France, marked a historical moment in June 2015 by removing over one million love-locks from the infamous Pont des Arts footbridge, all together weighing about 45 tonnes. With that, the phenomenon secured a Guinness World Records title for most love-locks removed from a bridge. Eleven years later, disappointed couples still miss that spot – which was truly one of a kind.
Love-locks were a beloved tradition in Paris. Each visiting couple could buy a padlock, write their initials on it, and chain it to the bridge’s railing. To seal the deal, a key from the lock could be thrown into the river. In the early 2000s, love-locks attracted tourism to major cities such as Paris and Rome, turning into symbols of true, never-ending love. Perhaps, that is why Parisian proposals became such a hit!
Image credited to pierre75 from Pixabay
The reason for such a sudden change was the partial collapse of the bridge that happened a year prior, in 2014. On 8 June, a 2.4 metre section of the bridge’s railing completely collapsed under the weight of around a million metal locks – equivalent to approximately 20 adult elephants. Such an incident caused a critical dilemma for the City of Paris: whether to save a romantic tradition or protect a historical monument, and ensure public safety.
After a year of debate, the heavy decision was finally made – all love-locks were sentenced for removal and banned from all Parisian bridges altogether, to make sure their weight would never pose a danger again. Today, the law prohibiting locks on bridges in Paris remains strict, with fines up to €500.
Image credited to the_iop from Pixabay
Following this engineering disaster, many European activists began advocating for “No Love Locks” in other cities. People argue the biggest problem in France is tourism – while it brings major revenue to the country, it also makes it difficult for locals to preserve historical sights. Organizations even shamed fashion brands such as Channel for filming campaigns at Pont Des Arts, arguing that they directly promoted the trend.
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Lovebirds are the ultimate rebels, however – locking up their hearts despite strict Parisian laws! Even today, you'll still spot those cheesy padlocks dangling from fences in Montmartre and Jardins du Trocadero.