Locking your love in Paris

The Love-locks of Paris have become a bit of a phenomena. Actually, people seem to have gone quite barmy with these symboles of eternal love. It's not quite clear when this custom started but anecdotal evidence suggests that locks were being attached to bridges in cities around Europe back in 2000. Attaching padlocks onto bridges or fences is seen as a romantic gesture, carried out by couples as testimonies of love. 

Hundreds of locks together look rather lovely.

I can't remember exactly when I last crossed the Pont des Arts but it can't be that long ago. As I remember there were groups of Love-locks clustered quite densely around the middle of the bridge and then a few dotted around at the edges. Over the past couple of years, however, things have gone a little...ahem...crazy in the world of Parisian Love-locks!

It's fascinating to think that behind each of these locks is a story. I'm not sure what this grey sock has to do with eternal love but hey, I'm sure the couple in question had their reasons.


Some of the Love-locks have been 'tagged'.

The locks are not just found on the Pont des Arts. There are plenty on other bridges in Paris. Here is a photo I took on the Pont de l'Archevêché. I think they look amazing in the foreground of Notre Dame.

Here is a single Love-lock I found last year, attached to the fins of a giant fish on the Pont Alexandre III. 

I think I need to go back and visit this surfing cherub to see how many locks are on this fish now.

Paris rooftops from the Beaubourg

A few months back I wrote a post about our breakfast at Le Georges restaurant on the top floor of the Beaubourg. As well as taking pictures of the very photogenic restaurant I also took photos of the view you get from Le Georges.

I love looking out across Paris rooftops. You're in a whole other world up there in the sky, surrounded by chimneys, balconies and roof terraces. Not to mention the historical monuments that pop up over and above the mansard roofs. 

Like this.

Zooming in one can see traces of peoples lives.

Here's the Hôtel de Ville, with its' extravagant roof and chimneys.

Notre Dame.

La tour Saint-Jacques, with the dome of the Tribunal de Commerce over to the left.

We descended the long exterior escalator running down the side of the building.

As we came down  I took some photos of the buildings on the other side of the big square in front of the Pompidou centre. To me, this view captures the essence of Paris architecture.

Mondrian and Georges

The other morning my husband and I went for breakfast at Le Georges restaurant, yep that's the one, the fancy one on the top floor of the Beaubourg. He had won breakfast for two plus a private guided tour of the De Stijl exhibition at the Pompidou Centre (Eurostar frequent traveller competition). Let's just say, we don't get out much, certainly not to places like Georges, so this was quite a treat. It started off very well!

After filling up on viennoiseries and coffee we were guided round the exhibition, much of which revolves around Piet Mondrian, the Dutch artist born in 1872. Mondrian spent quite a number of years in Paris and the French have adopted him as one of theirs. Here in France Mondrian seems to be a mandatory part of l'Éducation Nationale curriculum for three to six year olds. Later when the exhibition was open to the public the place was swarming with very young school kids. Here are two Mondrian oeuvres produced by my kids in the École Maternelle, at the ages of three (left) and five (right). 

At the end of the guided tour the first photo I took was this. I was apparently influenced by all the squares!

I then took pictures of Le Georges restaurant, a frankly spectacular space designed by architects Dominique Jacob and Brendan McFarlane. What a venue, amazing interior and amazing views. Amazing prices as well, but that was of no concern for us!

The chefs are stylish too.

I was rather partial to the red 'room'.

And then of course there's the view.

For more of my photos of Le Georges Restaurant, please click here (thumbnails) and here (slideshow)