Show love with selfies not locks, pleads Paris
Bridges can no longer withstand weight of padlocks, so couples are being urged to show #lovewithoutlocks

Parisian authorities are appealing to couples to help them save the city's bridges from 'love locks' by posting selfies of themselves.
Bridges across the city are adorned with hundreds of thousands of padlocks inscribed with lovers' initials, with couples often throwing the keys into the Seine as a symbol of eternal love.
But, "too much love can be a dangerous thing", reports AFP. Local residents and authorities say the cadenas d'amour constitute vandalism and are causing structural damage to the city's bridges. There are also fears that the keys are polluting the Seine.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
To counter the threat, City Hall has put notices up on bridges encouraging couples to take a selfie rather that adding another love lock. They are invited to post their snaps here or share them on social media using the hashtag #lovewithoutlocks.
The social media campaign tells couples that "Paris delights in its lovers, who come in numbers so great, but its bridges are more fragile than their passion, and thousands of padlocks are some weight!"
They said they would stop short of banning the locks or fining tourists and would not be removing any of the existing padlocks.
Earlier this year, part of the railing along the famous Pont Des Arts bridge collapsed under the weight of the locks, raising safety concerns.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 30, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - strawberry fields forever, secret files, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published