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| The Pont des Arts in 2011 | |
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| Pont des Arts 2014 | |
Let's get this straight. I love Paris and I love the lovers in Paris that you see on every corner expressing that. What I DON'T love is the destruction of some of Paris' most beautiful bridges with the onslaught of "love locks" over the past few years. Ironically they call them "love", but they are causing immense weight and deterioration on these structures, not to mention the eyesore they have become. I've seen numerous articles, blog posts and posts on Facebook about this and what the city of Paris should do, but last November I was shocked that the practice continues! As I walked up to the
Pont des Arts, I saw that now the locks extend down the sidewalk. The entire bridge is a disgrace. Parts have collapsed due to the weight and been patched with plywood, which of course has been tagged. Locks were being sold right there and seemingly sane tourists were buying them and writing their names with markers, so kindly provided by the "salesmen". At this point it would take city workers days (weeks?) to cut them all off. What a waste of time and money. This is a mini series of sorts as I will post a few photos for the next few days of what this lovely bridge looked like a few years ago and what's happening even today. I have a bright photo to share for the end.
19 comments:
Gosh that's shocking Virginia.. How can anyone think this is a 'unique' way to express their love anymore :(
I just don't understand why people do this. I even saw these awful locks attached to the Eiffel Tower last summer. There is nothing to "love" about them at all!
Disgraceful to say the least!
Yes it's a real mess now. And since there is no room left on the wire mesh, people are attaching locks to the street lamps and other more permanent parts of the bridge. It's going to take a lot of time and expense to remove them. I too am astounded they the authorities continue to allow locks to be sold right there on the bridge. And of course now the concept is metastasizing to the other bridges as well.
Impressive and shocking, Virginia !
I've never seen so many padlocks all together !
Anywhere else people would be charged with vandalism. Paris must stop this practice and restore the bridges, otherwise it will spread throughout the city and people will begin to attach to historical landmarks.
The city really does need to get serious about solving this problem. More police presence on the bridges, fines levied, providing a place where it would be okay to attach the stupid locks—there are lots of solutions.
Paris has to stop this. Not next year, now. Put huge fines up, have police on the bridges, get rid of those "salemen". It's beyond an eye sore, it's damaging beautiful property that doesn't belong to the individual.
Needs to stop now. A disgrace.
Seems like heavy bridge with all that "love locks"...
xoxo, Juliana | PJ’ Happies :) | PJ’ Ecoproject
More police presence until people get the message! I would think that all of that weight is a hazard to the structural integrity of the bridge.
Just viewed your before photo, beautifully captured black and white, minus lovelocks. Such a timeless, classic, classy image and place. But the after image, shock took by breathe away, for all the wrong reasons. Hideous. Totally agree with you, these "loveocks" (oxymoron from morons) should be banned. Desist from lcoking your love and plant a tree. They at least will benefit us all and be a darned sight prettier and certainly less hazardous.
I agree with you 100% V. It really is a type of vandalism. I noticed that the council has placed boards against the rails of some of the bridges to prevent them from attack. Unfortunately the boards are also an eyesore.
I share your dismay and disgust!
I completely agree with you, Virginia. Paris needs to get tough with the lock sellers and announce that there will be big fines for people caught putting locks on public property. Rudy Giuliani and Bill Bratten turned crime in New York City around by being tough on the small stuff, and once the place looked decent, citizens started being proud of the place. It would work in Paris.
I hope they can find a good solution. It's a lovely concept -- until you look at the damage. Then lovely becomes pretty horrible.
Horrible indeed!!!
They are finally being removed!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32960470
They are finally being removed today!
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