Au revoir "love locks"
The famous "love locks," attached to the Pont des Arts in Paris, are now being removed, due to concerns about the bridge's weight.
Started by tourists in 2008, the love locks ritual, which also spread in the early 2000s to other cities -- including New York, Seoul and London -- has resulted in the transformation of several bridges; every inch of their railings covered with clunky brass padlocks.
Love locks
A couple kiss at sunset on the Pont des Arts in Paris, July 2013.
City officials, in recent years, became increasingly concerned about the weight of the locks on the bridges of Paris, the Pont des Arts in particular. One three meter panel (9.8 foot) is estimated to have 500 kgs (1,1100 lbs) of locks and posed a risk to the bridge as wells as boats passing underneath.
Love locks
A worker begins the removal of love locks from the railings of the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris, June 1, 2015.
Part of the railings of the bridge collapsed due to the weight of the locks.
Love locks
Love locks are getting removed from the Pont des Arts in Paris, June 1, 2015.
Love locks
A worker lifts hundreds of love locks off the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris, June 1, 2015.
Love locks
A section of the Pont des Arts railing is now padlock free after all the locks were removed, June 1, 2015.
City officials plan to ultimately replace the rails with glass panels to prevent the locks from reappearing.
Love locks
City municipal employees lower iron grills from the 1800s covered with "love locks" into a truck after they were removed from the Pont des Arts in Paris, June 1, 2015.
The bridge is closed from June 1 to June 8 while the padlocks which hang on the bridge are removed by city workers. A City Hall campaign to save the bridges of Paris from the weight of hundreds of thousands of "love locks" has not checked the ardor of droves of tourists, who continue to view the City of Light as the City of Love.
Love locks
A woman looks at the love padlocks attached to the railings of the Pont Des Arts in Paris, August 19, 2013. The railings date from 1804.
Love locks
A mass of hundreds of love padlocks are attached to a railing on the Pont de l'Archeveché (Arch bridge) behind Notre Dame in Paris, September 13, 2011. The city plans to remove the locks from the Pont de l'Archeveché as well.
Love locks
A man plays saxophone on the historic Pont des Arts bridge, where people hang "love locks" in Paris, October 22, 2012.
The bridge is also a meeting place for artists who draw inspiration from the surrounding views of the city.
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Padlocks bearing messages of love are seen fixed to a street lamp on a bridge in Paris.
Love locks
A couple takes pictures on the Pont des Arts with padlocks attached to the railing in Paris, August 30, 2013.
Lovers started attaching the padlocks in 2008. Couples would scratch their names onto a padlock, attach them to the bridge and often symbolically throw the keys into the Seine below to symbolize their unbreakable love.
Love locks
Padlocks adorn the Pont des Arts in Paris, January 4, 2013.
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A woman walks by stickers urging tourists to stop setting locks on the railings of the Pont de l'Archeveche (Arch bridge) in Paris, August 13, 2014. Attempts to stop people from placing locks on the city's bridges proved futile.
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A padlock addressed, "To my love Camille," adorns the Pont des Arts in Paris, January 4, 2013
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Love locks attached to the railings of the Pont des Arts in Paris, August 14, 2014.
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And more love locks on the Pont des Arts including a heart-shaped one.
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Even more love locks on the Pont des Arts in Paris.
Love locks
A soon to be bride, right, celebrates her bachelorette party on the Pont des Arts in Paris, July 2013.
The bridge is considered one of the most romantic spots in the city with the locks adding to the allure for those pursuing love.
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A couple places a padlock on the Pont des Arts in Paris. May 29, 2015. The city municipality decided to remove the locks, put there by tourists to ensure everlasting love, from the bridge's fences due to the danger posed by their increasing weight.
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Love padlocks attached to the Pont des Arts in Paris, February 26, 2014.
Love locks
A person is about to throw the key of a padlock into the Seine as hundreds of padlocks (love locks) rest on the railing of the the Pont de L'Archeveche (Arch bridge) in Paris, July 17, 2011.
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Musicians on the Pont des Arts in Paris, July 2013.
The pedestrian bridges of Paris attracts tourists and locals alike for their beauty and the pure romance of the views over the Seine.
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A man walks along the Pont des Arts, past love padlocks in Paris.
"On the Pont des Arts alone, 15 grills have had to be removed for safety reasons. Each of these panels were carrying nearly 500 kgs, more than four times the maximum weight," City Hall said.
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Love padlocks on the Léopold-Sédar-Senghor in Paris, July 16, 2011. The symbolic tradition rapidly spread to other bridges in Paris.
The phenomenon has gained followers in recent years as couples seek to publicly mark weddings, engagements, and anniversaries in a permanent way.
Love locks
Tourists stand on the Pont des Arts with its railings covered by padlocks in Paris, September 23, 2014.
Paris officials put up long panels on the city's iconic Pont des Arts in an attempt to stop lovers sealing their passion with padlocks attached to the bridge. Just over the busy summer period, tourists to the world's most visited city attached more than 700,000 love locks on several Paris bridges, said City Hall authorities.
Love locks
A woman looks at the love padlocks on the Pont Des Arts in Paris, August 19, 2013.
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A newly married couple hold hands on the Pont des Arts in Paris. In part because of the locks and their symbolism, the Pont des Arts became a popular spot for couples to have photos taken.
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A heart-shaped padlock rests on the Pont des Arts as boats move along the Seine at night in central Paris, February 5, 2014.
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A man attaches one more lock to the lock-adorned Le Pont de L'Archeveche (Arch bridge) in behind Notre Dame in Paris, March 5, 2014.
Love locks
A young American couple get engaged at the same spot they placed a lock on Léopold-Sédar-Senghor, formerly known as passerelle Solférino, one of 3 pedestrian bridges across the Seine in the city of Paris.
Love locks
A love lock is seen here on the Brooklyn Bridge, one of thousands that have been placed along the bridge in New York City, February 13, 2013.
So, it may no longer be possible to symbolize your love with a lock on a bridge in the City of Lights, but there are still the monuments and bridges of New York, Venice, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Rome, and Baghdad, amongst other cities.
For more: CBS News video