Whew. I still can’t believe that just last month, 700,000 ‘Love Locks’ were removed from Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris.
Allegedly, the ‘Love Locks’ had an estimated weight of as much as 20 elephants! Last summer, one of the metal grilles crashed into the river Seine after breaking down as a result of the additional weight of the locks. I was lucky enough to have caught a last glimpse of it while I was in Paris in the spring.
It appears that the removal was the city’s counter to a “No Love Locks” campaign by Parisians and ex-pats weary of the custom believed to be a token of love by tourists, which they looked upon as an eyesore.
Truthfully, I’ve seen many ‘Love Locks’ throughout Europe. The most famous is obviously this one at Pont des Arts. In many ways, Paris can be paradoxical just like these ‘Love Locks’. As much as it is magical and fascinating, its chaos can also be off-putting. Thankfully, I was able to have a few moments of its placid calm and take pleasure in basking in the allure of the most photographed ‘Lock Bridge’ of our time.
Style Details
Top | FROM A LITTLE BOUTIQUE IN JAKARTA
Skirt | TOPSHOP
Purse | CHANEL
Sunglasses | CÉLINE
I am kind of looking forward to seeing the Pont des Arts Bridge light, airy and graffiti-free. Personally, I find that cities are more impressionable when it’s modest and austere. Not that I could call Paris modest because its beauty is certainly grand. But in this glorious and magnificent city, one may need a change of pace. These bridges unquestionably provide that unexpected serenity. Especially when I know they can be used safely.
From Paris with love, cheers to eternal love, love locks or not!
Pont des Arts, 75006 Paris, France