巴黎艺术桥不堪爱情锁重负被压垮

Paris is said to be one of the most romantic places on earth. But apparently there is too much love for one Parisian bridge to handle.

On Sunday evening, a section of the Pont des Arts footbridge over the Seine in central Paris, known as a bridge fettered with 'love locks' by couples expressing their undying love for each other, collapsed under the weight of all the locks - not the best omen for those couples.

Lovers were still flowing to the Pont des Arts footbridge on Monday to "lock their love" with padlocks, even after a metal grill part of the parapet laden with padlocks left by amorous couples collapsed onto the walkway on Sunday.

Nobody was hurt by the "love lock" incident, but the collapse forced Paris' authorities to close the bridge for a few hours on Sunday. On Monday, the bridge was open again and a wooden panel was replacing the collapsed grill.

Tourists say they would not have thought the weight of the padlocks could have serious consequences.

"I had never thought that it would weigh that much so as to turn it down, to bring down the whole thing. But now that I see it from very close, I can imagine it is very heavy," Greek tourist Konstantinos Kontogiannis said.

Padlocks began appearing on bridges in Paris and other European cities more than five years ago. They were left by people seeking to symbolise their enduring love, often inscribed with couples' names.

Lovers typically throw the keys into the river. Many say the symbol of the padlock is important.

"It's forever. We have thrown the keys in the water so it's forever," Armenian tourist Inesa said.

Paris authorities have faced calls to clamp down on the practice on aesthetic grounds. But they have been reluctant to take stiffer measures for fear of hurting the city's tourist industry and its world-wide reputation as a city of love.