I just discovered something new in Paris last evening. Something that has apparently been going on for several months already but that I was not aware of: love locks on the Pont des arts ! Principle: young (and less young!) couples come to the bridge with a lock, write - or engrave - their names on it and lock it to the Ponts des arts grid! Silly, maybe, but sooooooooo romantic. There are hundreds of them attached to the bridge already but there is still room. Hurry!
Awww! That's another example of community art in a new and different form. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI googled and found tons of info.
ReplyDeleteFlickr has a Lovelocks group!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1350700@N22/pool/
Love it! I took pics of these in Italy and was told that it started with a book for young people (the main characters "sealed their love" this way). Nice to see that the tradition has traveled.
ReplyDeleteHey, that is so cool - I am going to get a lock, engrave it and bring it with me on my trip ... a lock from Cindy and Mark ...
ReplyDeleteVery romantic. Hopefully, not against the law though. On second thought, I don't want to be arrested in Paris (or rather, maybe I do - and I will have to stay there longer!).
LOVE the pink lock. That would be mine...
It's a wonderful way for visitors to remain locked in the embrace of Paris, even after they return to their homes.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see the picture, it makes me wonder about all the people who put those locks there. Are they still together? What if they broke up but threw the key in the river?
ReplyDeleteI love this tradition. So romantic! So European! I wish it would catch on in America.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's different. And such colorful locks.. lol
ReplyDeleteVery nice blog since I don't know if I'll ever have time to visit Paris - so this is the next best thing!
Wonderful posted !!!
ReplyDeleteNow I know, I should prepare the lock when I visit Paris because this is lovely : )
We have ours all ready. We just want to make sure it stands out among the others.
ReplyDeleteGary, you amaze me.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the only bridge where you can find them! I often cross the bridge behind Notre Dame, the Pont de l'Archevêché, and they have them there too. I'm glad you captured it, it's another sweeter view of Paris.
ReplyDeleteAaaaah the love locks ...
ReplyDeleteI went to the Pont des Arts at the beginning of the month of May and there were many more love locks attached to the bridge. That was a touching sight as I did not expect seeing them at all! Plus, me neither, I did not know this tradition until that time.
But the pretty sad part is that a few day later, I read that some Parisian services (the Town Hall or who else?) removed most of these hundreds and hundreds love locks.
Hopefully, these ones will be, day after day, renewed by new comers and lovers on the bridge.
I really find it so romantic !
Here is a paper if you want to know more. In French.
http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualite/societe/20100512.OBS3875/qui-a-fracture-les-cadenas-d-amour-du-pont-des-arts.html
I went again to pont des Arts last Friday evening and saw the evidence of the difference... Sad!
A friend of mine did that only to have to cut off a month or so later. I don't think they want them on the bridge.
ReplyDelete... this idea was stolen from us in Cologne! ;) Here is a picture of how it looks now in Cologne:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mz-web.de/ks/images/mdsBild/1260693554771l.jpg
This fad is everywhere...
ReplyDeleteI took this photo in Neples (Italy)...
http://lh4.ggpht.com/__iwmCZyDQ3I/So3CZFmOOkI/AAAAAAAAFtY/rBuXmLy_XFM/s800/DSC07106.JPG
The view over the sea with all the love locks is great, Sameer! Something like a breathe inside me in front of the sea!... Love it.
ReplyDeleteVery cute new tradition.
ReplyDeleteNew kind of street arts.
I love this ~ I'll have to be on the lookout now that I know what it means!
ReplyDeleteI reckon the padlock manufacturer's association started the whole thing off to boost sales.
ReplyDeleteThen the city has to pay someone to cut them off. Then the metal is recycled.....
It's a job creation scheme.
This reminded me of one of your 'Mini Willy' pics. of a bicycle chained to a railing. You mentioned that it was forbidden to do so.
I saw several bikes near Bastille having their metal locks cut by a gang of city employees using a powerful angle grinder. Each bike had a number put in front of it and was photographed before being taken away. Like a mugshot for bikes!
We saw them last November.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fotolog.com/onmywaytowork/20652467
I gather that the couples throw the keys in the river so that the locks can't be unlocked.
We also saw a lot of "I found this gold ring, is it yours?" scam going on…
That is so sweet!! I would totally do this, and I might have to arm wrestle Cynthia for the pink one, it is gorgeous. But the idea behind it is so sweet and loving. I think it is something that my man and I would do in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteI love that!
ReplyDeleteAww...so romantic!
ReplyDeleteIt all started in Rome, on Ponte Milvio, because of the bestseller and later a movie by Federico Moccia titled "I want you". you can read more on my blog where a few months ago I posted a photo of love locks in Verona!
ReplyDeletehttp://veronadailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/10/locks-of-love.html
It's interesting to see how ideas spread...
I love it how all nationalities claim to have started it LOL!
ReplyDeleteTall Gary LOL!
And Drummond LOL too. Now we know how our governments could solve the unemployment issue!
Now that's cute!
ReplyDeleteTomate Farcie
Now that's cute!
ReplyDeleteTomate Farcie
That's an unusually sweet trend!
ReplyDeleteWe saw those when we were there last month. One couple had their names and the date engraved on the lock- 2007! I also saw this in Venice, and thought it was a beautiful sentiment in both cities:)
ReplyDeleteI had heard about it but someone told me recently that all the locks had been removed! Maybe what you saw is the regrowth?
ReplyDeleteEric your photos are being stolen again. After I posted my "Photos World News steals my photo - boycott their website" image over a few days, they removed my blog from their automated scraping. I'm free of it.
Eric, I was totally unaware of this charming romantic practice.
ReplyDeleteYour photo was picked up on someone's blog about the housing market in Paris at http://househuntinginparis.tumblr.com/post/700105036/love-locks-on-the-pont-des-arts-principle-young .
I understand the city has been snipping the locks off in the dark of night because they fear the weight will make the bridge collapse, for the second time in history. (I didn't make this up!)
Stef in sunny warm Chicago
My wife and I were in Paris about 2 weeks ago. Our lock is now hanging on this bridge. I don't know if anyone said this but the second part of the ritual after securing your lock is to throw the key into the Seine.
ReplyDeleteHi~!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Soo.
I'm live in Seoul Korea.
I like your website & Photo very much.
South Korea have a similar place.
That's Namsan Tower "Locks of Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45oLOgs9toY
check this Video.
Have Fun~ ^^
I've seen this in Ukraine and Russia as well, and no one as of yet seems inclined to remove the locks. Some railings had hundreds on them! When they exist en masse, it gives a fantastic effect.
ReplyDeleteI confirm that all the locks were removed from Pont des Arts a few days ago ...
ReplyDeleteThis strange thing came from the italian film "tre metri sopra il cielo" (I think). Infact in Italy we have bridge full of this locks, it's orrible, not romantic!
ReplyDeleteThey ruin bridges and streetlamps...
We're not so proud of this fad...
Love the blog! Here's an article about the Paris love locks on the Pont des Arts (and other cities) on Untapped Paris
ReplyDeletehttp://untappedparis.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/love-locks-are-back/
...and throw your keys into the Seine.
ReplyDelete