Love locks: Millions are heartbroken today

lovelocks3-300x200.jpg?width=300The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian bridge in Paris which crosses la Seine. It links the Institut de France and the central square (cour carrée) of the Palais du Louvre, (called “Palais des Arts” under the First French Empire).

You’d think that the bridge was very old, but the present structure is only 31 years of age – rebuilt in 1984, using the same plans of the original bridge (1804). Since 2008, tourists started to attach padlocks (love locks) with their first names written or engraved on them to the side of the bridge, then throwing the key into the Seine river below, as a romantic gesture.

 

love locks

 

“Catastrophic” and “destructive” locks were removed from the bridge today to save the crumbling structure from some hundreds of thousands of love locks (some estimated around 1 million). The organization “No Love Locks” thrives, the hashtag #nolovelocks is used by small and big organizations and companies all over the Internet.

“I love this bridge. It is a huge part of my personal memories of my first visit to Paris, and my first Valentine’s day with my husband. That’s why I co-founded No Love Locks to SAVE this beautiful and historic bridge, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for Paris, from the vandalism of “love locks” and tourism run amok. We have a Facebook page and a petition against the locks in French and English. If you REALLY love Paris and the Pont des Arts, then join us in the fight to save and restore the architectural heritage of Paris!”

Lisa Taylor Huff, discovered Paris and did what she does best: fight for what she loves.

 

I read comments from the more neutral « Une page se tourne sur le célèbre PONT DES ARTS à PARIS avec l’enlèvement des cadenas… » to the more eloquent: “To the lady who STILL thinks her disappointment and sneaky little lock trump history, SAFETY, the environment and massive costs to Paris, I say get a grip and think about more than just yourself!!!”

There is also a #lovelocks hashtag, and those using it call this operation « un massacre ».

 

Nolovelocks.com received a comment this April, that I wanted to share with you:

“im 14 and some people say im too young to know anything but i have to honset the locks are a little to much but the locks dont only represent the love for couples it also is for the love of someone who has died or has had a big inpact on their lives and im not saying your coldhearted but the feeling of someone taking off the symbol for they love for someone dont you feel a little pain or gulit – Kayla”

 

If you thought you had mixed feelings about it, watch this video to see how many Parisians think that the locks were a symbol of Paris and why they are sad:

 


Dernier adieu aux cadenas d'amour sur le Pont… by leparisien

 

Not everybody knows that the locks were being removed on a regular basis, only to be replaced by other lovers with their own. So if you think that your lock may still be there – think again.

 

love locks

 

What is Paris going to do about it? Will his heart stay unmoved by the tears and disappointment of so many lovers, now married with children, left without romantic stories to tell and places to show? Will his business sense stay unmoved by the potential loss of tourists from around the world, now that they can’t plan their honeymoon in Paris just so that they can put their lock on the bridge? Will he create an alternative place for this global display of love? Or will he, with his "typical" French cynicism, comment “How many of these couples are still married anyway?”

 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pont-des-Arts/112845095394616
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_des_Arts

Now it is your turn!

Tell us in the comments below, are you sad or happy about this operation?

Don’t ever give up on your dream to become bilingual – the world needs your enthusiasm when you go to Paris and fully enjoy it!

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_______________
Llyane Stanfield is a Parisian French language coach, and founder of the J’Ouellette® French Method – an organic method using techniques that are employed by the world’s finest linguists. She travels between Toronto, New York and Paris, while teaching French via Skype in more than 15 countries. She is French language coach for busy traveling professionals, and has produced an unprecedented Intensive Program and French Pronunciation Master Class, as well as other visual and teaching materials. She now spends a large portion of her time in Paris, where she also organizes an annual Immersion Retreat. Her unique methods produce a quantum leap in confidence and pronunciation, and a short session with her is the perfect start to brush up your French (whatever your level!) at the start of your Paris trip.

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