Paris Top 30 Attractions - One-Two-Go Paris: The Quick Guide to Paris 2015 - page 116

Top 30 Attraction 10 Pont des Arts (Love Lock Bridge)
This famous enchanting and romantic pedestrian bridge crosses the River Seine and links
the Institut de France and the central square (cour carrée) of the Palais du Louvre You will
have a great view from the heart of Paris of many of Paris famous landmarks like the Eiffel
Tower.
The original bridge, constructed at the location of the present day Pont des Arts, was built
under the reign of Napoleon as a nine-arch metallic bridge for pedestrians between the year
1802 and 1804.
The present bridge was built between 1981 and 1984 after the original bridge had to be re-
moved due to several weaknesses, partly due to damage caused by two aerial bombardments
in World War I and World War II and to multiple collisions by boats.
You will find a lot of painters, artists, and photographers who are drawn to its unique point
of view. It is also a good place for picnics during the summer months.
But it is something else that gives this bridge its reputation as the Love Lock Bridge: Tourist
couples attach padlocks (love locks) with their names engraved or written on it on the side
of the bridge and then throw the keys into the Seine below. This romantic gesture is said to
represent a couple's committed love.
The bridge was physically damaged by the weight of the padlocks (93 metric tons of metal)
in June 2014 and part of the parapet collapsed. The locks are periodically removed by the
authorities, but spring up ever faster.