Gypset Travel ~ Pont des Arts, Paris

Paris has long been synonymous with romance. Maybe it’s the countless number of quaint cafes, breathtaking architecture, or endless paths that are perfect for moonlit walks. This past trip to Paris led me on a journey to discover more about the city I love so dearly. While out strolling  along the banks of the Seine, I came across the Pont des Arts bridge.

The Pont des Arts bridge is known to many as “The Love Lock” bridge. Since 2002, couples from all over the world have written their names on locks and attached them to the bridge. The keys are then tossed into the banks of the Seine as a token of their never-ending love.

There are a couple of theories as to how “padlock mania” might have came to be. Many believe it is life imitating a scene from Fernando Moccia’s book, I Want You. Other believe that it is a tradition taken from Chinese culture, which says that lovers lock their souls together and throw the key into the valley of the mist.

ThePont des Arts is not the only bridge in Paris with these infamous “love locks.” The Pont de l’Archeveche is also packed with locks. The unspoken rule is that locks placed at the Pont des Arts are for your committed love, whereas  the Pont de l’Archeveche is for your lover. Maybe this is why the Pont de l’Archeveche is overflowing with locks, while the other bridge has room to spare!

Last year these locks were cut off by the government. But yet again, the bridges are filled with locks; proving that you can’t sever the ties of true love. It was so heartwarming to see all the names of loved ones written on the hundreds of locks that are placed on the bars of the bridge. I took a minute to cherish that moment and think fondly of the love I have in my own life. And now I leave you with this question: if you found yourself on the banks of the Seine and stumbled upon this bridge, would you buy a lock or two? Which bridge would you choose?