when did they start putting locks on the bridge in paris
Love lock
In France , in May 2010 the city of Paris expressed concern over the growing number of love - locks on the Pont des Arts , Passerelle Léopold - Sédar - Senghor , and the Pont de l'Archevêché bridges , stating : `` they raise problems for the preservation of our architectural heritage '' . The lovelocks of the Pont des Arts disappeared during the night of 11 May 2010 ; they had been removed by a student of the nearby École des Beaux - Arts to make a sculpture . Love locks immediately began appearing on the Pont de l'Archevêché and have since spread to at least 11 Seine bridges , the Canal Saint Martin footbridges , and to parks and monuments all over the city . Many tourists mistakenly believe this is a longstanding Parisian tradition , not realizing the practice only migrated into Paris in late 2008 after affecting cities in Italy and Asia . In January 2014 , a campaign and petition , No Love Locks TM , was founded by two Americans living in Paris in an effort to save the city 's historic bridges and monuments from the overwhelming number of locks . The international media attention the campaign received has been credited with the actions begun in the summer and fall of 2014 , when the city began seeking alternatives to love locks and asking the public to stop placing locks on Parisian bridges and monuments . On 9 May 2014 , the weight of the padlocks on the Pont Des Arts bridge was blamed for the collapse of part of the parapet . The city began an experiment in September 2014 on the Pont des Arts , replacing three panels with a special type of glass that would prevent locks from being attached . On 1 June 2015 , the locks were taken down due to the collapsing of the bridge . A website called Passion Locks exists , a tribute to Pont des Arts , where users can send others a virtual love lock . In Bamberg , Germany , after inviting the public to attach love locks on the Kettenbrücke in 2011 , officials threatened to remove them during the same year due to rust . After public outrage and several township meetings , the locks remain . In Berlin , applying a lock to a bridge is a misdemeanor and can generate cautionary fines up to 35 euros . Historical bridges are especially affected , as it disturbs the visual impression , and can even cause an electrolytic corrosion of noble brass of the locks against the baser iron bridges , leading to rust damage . Rust damage was noted in Lübeck at the Obertrave bridge . In addition , damage in removing the locks is seen by municipalities as a problem . Deutsche Bahn , the bridge 's operator , threatened to have the locks removed from the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne , but in the end relented in the face of public opposition . Lovelocks are now embraced on the bridge , and visitors are directed to them on the city tourism site . In Hamburg this ritual was also spread among bridges and lighthouses . In Florence , Italy , 5,500 love padlocks affixed to the Ponte Vecchio bridge were removed by the city council . According to the council the padlocks both pose an aesthetic problem in addition to scratching and denting the metal of the bridge . Venice is among cities where affixing padlocks to bridges is strictly prohibited . This is enforced particularly earnestly for Venice 's Rialto Bridge , which led to violent controversy in September 2011 . Locks were removed , and adding new ones can result in up to a 3,000 euros fine . In Dublin , Ireland , padlocks on the Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey were removed by the Dublin City Council in early 2012 . The padlocks could damage the protected structure , the Council has said . `` This seems to have only started happening in the last few months and we 're asking people not to do it , '' said a spokesperson for Dublin City Council . Some locks have also been removed from the Millennium Bridge , close to the Ha'penny Bridge in the city centre , the Council said . The padlocks have been criticised for being an eyesore on public structures . They can also cause further damage when they have to be removed , the Council said . The spokesperson confirmed that the Council will continue to remove the locks from any bridges they appear on in the city centre . In Scotland , a `` Mark your Spot '' campaign was launched by the Edinburgh City Council on the Forth Road Bridge . 4 sets of panels on the bridge itself were dedicated to Lovelocks , with both locals and tourists buying and affixing locks to them . This was a charity initiative that raised £ 10,300 for the Queensferry RNLI , a local lifeboat service . Also in Scotland , Lovelocks can also be found at the Courtship Maze at Gretna Green . Couples are welcome to affix padlocks to the bridge there . To celebrate their meeting in Japan , Jonathan Montagu and Nathalie Daoust commissioned artist Clare Grotefeld to design and create a giant bonsai love lock tree for their wedding on 4 October 2014 . The tree is located at Beaulieu Palace House , UK , where couples are invited to help the tree flourish by adding their own love locks . The 125 - year - old delicate cast - iron Listed Ferry Bridge , Burton - on - Trent was refurbished ( 2015 - 2016 ) at considerable expense . Within days a love lock was affixed to the bridge , but it was quickly removed , as such items are unsightly , a hazard , add to the load on the structure , and are not allowed under the Listing Regulations . Any that do get affixed are removed at once . Love
In France , in May 2010 the city of Paris expressed concern over the growing number of love - locks on the Pont des Arts , Passerelle Léopold - Sédar - Senghor , and the Pont de l'Archevêché bridges , stating : `` they raise problems for the preservation of our architectural heritage '' . The lovelocks of the Pont des Arts disappeared during the night of 11 May 2010 ; they had been removed by a student of the nearby École des Beaux - Arts to make a sculpture . Love locks immediately began appearing on the Pont de l'Archevêché and have since spread to at least 11 Seine bridges , the Canal Saint Martin footbridges , and to parks and monuments all over the city . Many tourists mistakenly believe this is a longstanding Parisian tradition , not realizing the practice only migrated into Paris in late 2008 after affecting cities in Italy and Asia . In January 2014 , a campaign and petition , No Love Locks TM , was founded by two Americans living in Paris in an effort to save the city 's historic bridges and monuments from the overwhelming number of locks . The international media attention the campaign received has been credited with the actions begun in the summer and fall of 2014 , when the city began seeking alternatives to love locks and asking the public to stop placing locks on Parisian bridges and monuments . On 9 May 2014 , the weight of the padlocks on the Pont Des Arts bridge was blamed for the collapse of part of the parapet . The city began an experiment in September 2014 on the Pont des Arts , replacing three panels with a special type of glass that would prevent locks from being attached . On 1 June 2015 , the locks were taken down due to the collapsing of the bridge . A website called Passion Locks exists , a tribute to Pont des Arts , where users can send others a virtual love lock . In Bamberg , Germany , after inviting the public to attach love locks on the Kettenbrücke in 2011 , officials threatened to remove them during the same year due to rust . After public outrage and several township meetings , the locks remain . In Berlin , applying a lock to a bridge is a misdemeanor and can generate cautionary fines up to 35 euros . Historical bridges are especially affected , as it disturbs the visual impression , and can even cause an electrolytic corrosion of noble brass of the locks against the baser iron bridges , leading to rust damage . Rust damage was noted in Lübeck at the Obertrave bridge . In addition , damage in removing the locks is seen by municipalities as a problem . Deutsche Bahn , the bridge 's operator , threatened to have the locks removed from the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne , but in the end relented in the face of public opposition . Lovelocks are now embraced on the bridge , and visitors are directed to them on the city tourism site . In Hamburg this ritual was also spread among bridges and lighthouses . In Florence , Italy , 5,500 love padlocks affixed to the Ponte Vecchio bridge were removed by the city council . According to the council the padlocks both pose an aesthetic problem in addition to scratching and denting the metal of the bridge . Venice is among cities where affixing padlocks to bridges is strictly prohibited . This is enforced particularly earnestly for Venice 's Rialto Bridge , which led to violent controversy in September 2011 . Locks were removed , and adding new ones can result in up to a 3,000 euros fine . In Dublin , Ireland , padlocks on the Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey were removed by the Dublin City Council in early 2012 . The padlocks could damage the protected structure , the Council has said . `` This seems to have only started happening in the last few months and we 're asking people not to do it , '' said a spokesperson for Dublin City Council . Some locks have also been removed from the Millennium Bridge , close to the Ha'penny Bridge in the city centre , the Council said . The padlocks have been criticised for being an eyesore on public structures . They can also cause further damage when they have to be removed , the Council said . The spokesperson confirmed that the Council will continue to remove the locks from any bridges they appear on in the city centre . In Scotland , a `` Mark your Spot '' campaign was launched by the Edinburgh City Council on the Forth Road Bridge . 4 sets of panels on the bridge itself were dedicated to Lovelocks , with both locals and tourists buying and affixing locks to them . This was a charity initiative that raised £ 10,300 for the Queensferry RNLI , a local lifeboat service . Also in Scotland , Lovelocks can also be found at the Courtship Maze at Gretna Green . Couples are welcome to affix padlocks to the bridge there . To celebrate their meeting in Japan , Jonathan Montagu and Nathalie Daoust commissioned artist Clare Grotefeld to design and create a giant bonsai love lock tree for their wedding on 4 October 2014 . The tree is located at Beaulieu Palace House , UK , where couples are invited to help the tree flourish by adding their own love locks . The 125 - year - old delicate cast - iron Listed Ferry Bridge , Burton - on - Trent was refurbished ( 2015 - 2016 ) at considerable expense . Within days a love lock was affixed to the bridge , but it was quickly removed , as such items are unsightly , a hazard , add to the load on the structure , and are not allowed under the Listing Regulations . Any that do get affixed are removed at once . Love