Thousand of padlocks clipped by lovers on the fence of the Pont des Arts over the River Seine. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

The sweethearts' names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolise unbreakable love. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Tourists make a “selfie” picture in front of padlocks clipped by lovers on the Pont des Arts over the River Seine in Paris. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Since the 2000s, love locks have proliferated at an increasing number of locations worldwide. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

For couples visiting Paris these locks are symbols of their everlasting love. In other cities the locks have also caught on as an expression of passion – in Seoul, Budapest, Rome and Tokyo. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Every year, couples from all over the world flock to the bridge to attach padlocks of all shapes and sizes to its metal railing as a symbol of their love. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Padlocks have all different shapes and sizes, some couples customised them with their own wedding photos. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Names “Alexey & Inna” are seen on one of the many padlocks on the Pont des Arts over the River Seine. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Most of the padlocks are heat shaped or have word “love” written on them. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Colourful, sparkly padlocks clipped by lovers are seen on the fence of the Pont des Arts over the River Seine. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

One night about two years ago, someone cut through the wires and removed all the locks but in just a few months, locks of all sizes and colors reappeared, more conspicuous than ever. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Some say the only way to break the seal of love brought on by this love lock act is to find the key and unlock the padlock. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

“There are two bridges in Paris with the locks, you must be very careful which bridge you put your lock on because Pont des Arts is for your committed love, while Pont de l'Archevêché is for your lover”. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

A view shows a street light covered with padlocks clipped by lovers on the Pont des Arts over the River Seine. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Padlocks with the Eiffel tower and mock Paris street signs models clipped by lovers are seen on the fence of the Pont des Arts over the River Seine. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

A general view shows the Pont des Arts with its fence covered with thousands of padlocks clipped by lovers over the River Seine. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

Pont des Arts is one of the top, most visited touristic attractions in Paris. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)

The love padlocks, called cadenas d’amour, multiplied until there were thousands of love tokens on the bridge, each engraved with a message of love. (Photo by Charles Platiau/Reuters)