Lock Bridge Paris: A History & How to Visit

Last Updated on 27th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Some equate it to being just about as romantic as proposing while searching for Pokémon. Others simply can’t wait to head to Paris and lock their love down with a romantic gesture. Because nothing says romantic like a piece of iron. With ‘love locks from Paris’ sold in almost every tourist souvenir shop, it’s clear that the craze is here to stay. But where did the tradition of love locks in Paris begin?

What? What Love locks? I don’t know what the e** you’re talking about!

As France is regularly considered one of the most romantic cities in the World (hey, even I’m dating a Frenchman!), it’s not surprising that some questionable practices and traditions come with this somewhat coveted title.

Love locks in Paris are a pretty modern tradition of people taking padlocks (yeah, the very same ones that you used on your locker at school) and affixing them to bridges and monuments around the city. The idea is that you ‘lock your love’ in Paris, and theoretically make it forever. 

Now, here’s the interesting part. The practice goes is that in order for your love to survive, you have to throw the key into the Seine! This means that not only do the locks themselves cause structural damage to monuments and bridges around the city, but lots of unneccesary polution in the Seine.

Over time, as the tradition has expanded, people have started purchasing specifically engraved locks and the like. Climbing up the Eiffel Tower, there are even signs saying ‘do not affix padlocks here!’ Love locks in Paris have become almost as prolific as selfie sticks!

The ‘act of love’ is spreading like wildfire throughout Europe, with cities such as Amsterdam and Venice becoming inundated with copycat lovers looking to ‘lock their love’ in Place. The craze has even spread to across the Atlantic where love locks have become prolific across Brooklyn Bridge.

The price of love locks in Paris!

Last year, the city of Paris had to take the decision to remove the padlocks from the iconic love lock bridge, i.e. Pont des Arts. The move came as a result of part of the bridge actually collapsing from the sheer weight of the padlocks. The 1 million padlocks that were estimated to be affixed to the bridge weighed up to 45 tonnes. That’s 6 African Elephants!

How to visit the Love Lock Bridge Paris

What happened to the love locks in Paris?

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