What are the love locks ?

Love padlocks, also known as "love locks" or "eternal love padlocks," are padlocks engraved with names or initials that couples hang on a bridge, gate or other public place as a token of their undying love. This tradition began in Italy in the 2000s, but quickly spread around the world, becoming especially popular in tourist cities like Paris, Vienna, Rome and Prague.

Couples come to a bridge or other public place, hang a padlock engraved with their names or initials, then throw the key into the water as a token of their undying love. This has become a romantic ritual for couples, who wish to mark their love in a lasting way.

However, this tradition has also caused problems for the authorities of the cities where it is popular. The locks have been accused of causing problems with overloading bridges and detracting from the aesthetics of some historic structures. There are also safety concerns, as some padlocks can damage the structures on which they are hung.

In response to these issues, some cities have taken steps to limit or ban love locks. For example, in 2015, Paris officials decided to remove padlocks from the Pont des Arts for safety reasons. Other cities have also put up signs to encourage couples not to hang padlocks or have created alternatives for couples to show their love in a more environmentally friendly way.

Despite these issues, the love padlock tradition continues to be popular with couples around the world. Couples continue to come to bridges and railings to hang their padlocks and mark their love in a lasting way. Ultimately, it is important to balance this romantic tradition with preserving the city's environment and history.