Paris love lock sale raises $274,000 for refugees

A sale of love locks from Paris’ Pont des Arts on May 13 realised $274,122 for refugee charities.

Paris love locks

The locks were cut from Paris' Pont des Arts

Buyers had the chance to purchase small bunches of locks, mounted on displays, as well as complete sections of the barriers.

The former sold for several hundred dollars, while the barriers realised tens of thousands apiece.

Bruno Juiliard, who organised the sale at the Credit Municipal de Paris, told Connexion France: “I expected three times less.

“It is beautiful…that declarations of love can be transformed into an act of kindness and humanity towards refugees.”

People have been attaching padlocks to bridges as a romantic gesture for around 100 years.

The practice is said to have originated in a small town in Serbia in the early 1900s.

It took a while to spread beyond the country’s borders, with the craze really taking off in the early 2000s.

Having long held the title of the world’s most romantic city, Paris was a particular hotspot.

Most tourists gravitated to the Pont des Arts, one of the main pedestrian bridges spanning the Seinne, covering the bridge’s barriers with locks.  

Officials were forced to take action after part of the bridge collapsed under the weight in 2014. They removed the railings and replaced them with Perspex.

Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about unique item auctions.

Register to receive more in-depth articles from our dedicated team.

Register Here

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock