JUNE 2 (Reuters) — Workmen in Paris Monday (June 1) started pulling off hundreds of thousands of padlocks attached by lovers to the “Pont des Arts” bridge, afraid the sheer weight of the romantic tokens was putting the 19th century structure at risk.
The pedestrian bridge has become a shrine for amorous tourists and Parisians alike, who seek to immortalize their love by leaving an initialed padlock attached to its metallic grid railings.
Paris’ city hall considers it’s too dangerous to keep the locks, after a part of the bridge laden with padlocks collapsed onto the walkway last summer.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Paris mayor Bruno Julliard said the authorities wanted Paris to remain the capital of love despite the withdrawal of millions of padlocks.
“Paris want to remain the capital of love, Paris wants to remain the capital of romanticism. We hope that couples from all over the world continue to come to Paris and that they declare their love in Paris, that they propose to their loved ones in Paris, that they do it on the Pont des Arts bridge but please without padlocks,” Julliard said.
The padlocks spoil the aesthetics of the bridge and the phenomena were not admissible anymore partly for security reasons, Julliard added.
“When there were several dozens of padlocks or even hundreds of dozens, one could think it was pleasant. It was a little transgressive, it didn’t always respect the national heritage, but it was an initiative that was interesting, nice to look at and moving. But over the years it had reached such a proportion in terms of security and aesthetics that it’s not admissible anymore for those of us who defend the national heritage and care about security,” Julliard added.
Julliard said the existing railings would be initially replaced with panels covered in street art and later this year by Plexiglas. (Paris, France)