Life around the world

Monday, 1 June, 2015 - 12:20

The disappearance of the love locks of Paris

by ChloeF

As Audrey Hepburn once said “Paris is always a good idea”, and from having lived just outside this city the past year I must say I completely agree. Paris is a city of wealth and sophistication and is well known as being the most romantic city in the world. Tourists flock to the city to take photos in front of the Eiffel tower, picnic along the Seine, and shop on the Champs Elysees, amongst many other things.

Another thing that is hugely popular amongst tourists is to visit Le Pont des Arts and put a padlock on the bridge with their and their partners initials on, then throw the key into the Seine, which is meant to represent eternal love. How romantic! Well apparently not, as the bridge is struggling to cope with the weight of the locks, and so officials from the city have decided to remove them.

This decision has annoyed a lot of people, undoubtedly many tourists who come to Paris to put locks on the bridge. There are however several other bridges throughout the city which have started acquiring padlocks over the past few years, but it’s believed that these ‘lovelocks’ are to be removed as well; so it looks like the tourists won’t have much luck with the padlocks in the coming future!

According to locals, the padlocks are ugly and an eyesore to the city, but personally I don’t see it. I understand the need for the city to look after and protect the bridges, especially if they’re starting to collapse under the weight of the ‘lovelocks’, but how can anyone see them as anything but beautiful? For me, it’s what the padlocks symbolise; eternal love, and how they represent Paris as being one of the most romantic cities in the world.

A visit to Le Pont des Arts Bridge has become one of the most frequently visited attractions in the city. For me, the ‘lovelock’ bridge is like the Eiffel tower; you can’t imagine Paris without it. I just hope they keep the padlocks and do something with them, instead of just destroying them. 

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Discussion

What do you think about the love locks being removed from the bridge in Paris? Do people put love locks onto bridges where you live? What do you think Paris should do with all the love locks that they have removed? 

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