A New Love Tradition in the City of Romance

by on April 8, 2010 in France, Make Me Smile, Show Me

A Romantic Tradition in Paris

“We’ll always have Paris,” as the immortal line goes. Now, it seems, Paris will always have something to remember as well.

A short while I ago, I blogged about a romantic tradition in Seville. Lovers fix padlocks to the side of the Puente Isabel II, write their names on the metal and cast the keys into the flowing Guadalquivir below.

As I paced across the Pont Des Arts this week, a telltale golden spark caught my eye.

Here, over the water of the Seine and under the watchful eye of Notre Dame, true love clings on.

According to the dates on the locks, the authorities are more forgiving here. Perhaps the legend extends beyond the tourist office blurb after all and Paris really is the city of romance.

Padlocks on the Pont des Arts, Paris

Tips on Paris

Read a series of tips on things to see and do in Paris on my sister site Cheap Weekend Breaks. It includes information on how to use the Paris Metro, Paris Sightseeing Essentials as well as some unusual tips on Paris.

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41 Responses to “A New Love Tradition in the City of Romance”

  1. Brady Stump April 16, 2011 at 5:37 am #

    Enjoyed the read.

    Reply
  2. Sabrina July 5, 2011 at 9:54 pm #

    So cute, right? I saw similar padlocks in Florence and found out that it actually all started in Rome when they filmed a movie (based on the novel “Ho Voglia Di Te”) there showing two teenagers leaving a padlock on a bridge. I so wanna leave my own padlock there :)

    Reply
  3. Yvonne July 16, 2011 at 3:34 am #

    ha, we also do have this tradition in Berlin! here it’s at the Oberbaumbrücke between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. :)

    Reply
  4. Abi July 16, 2011 at 5:59 pm #

    Cool! Send through some pics!

    Reply
  5. Jason July 19, 2011 at 10:18 am #

    Thers is also one in Firenze near the Vecchio Ponte (old Bridge) it is so full of pad locks that the chain will soon snap. I agree it becomes an eye sore

    Reply
  6. Henry Williams October 20, 2011 at 9:23 pm #

    thats a great idea i wonder who camp up wit that

    Reply
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  1. Tweets that mention Padlocks on the Pont des Arts, Paris, A Romantic Tradition | Inside the Travel Lab -- Topsy.com - April 8, 2010

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karen Bryan. Karen Bryan said: A New Love Tradition in the City of Romance: http://su.pr/2PAchz via @insidetravellab [...]

  2. Locks of Love | Thinksquad - October 13, 2010

    [...] might have Stumbleupon this story, or just hearing it for the first time, either way, many have blogged about Paris being the city of [...]

  3. The Joys of Canned Cassoulet | French Revolution - December 6, 2011

    [...] I went down there to buy a little padlock, to etch our initials in the metal and snap it onto the Pont des Arts, along with all the other couples whose locks dangle from the bridge over the Seine, into which we [...]

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