Colmar – 19 July 2026: The city of Colmar in the Haut-Rhin department will henceforth prohibit the attachment of love locks to bridges and railings. With this measure, the municipality is responding to a growing number of metal padlocks that couples fasten to public structures as a sign of their bond. According to current reporting, the decision is primarily focused on protecting the built heritage and ensuring safety.
Love locks are common in many tourist-oriented cities. They are attached to railings, bridges or fences, and the key is often thrown away. In Colmar, the locks had reportedly accumulated heavily in certain locations. Residents and visitors described railings covered with locks over long stretches. The city wants to prevent such accumulations from spreading further.
According to the available information, the ban applies to both bridges and railings throughout the city. The municipality points out that the additional weight can affect the stability of certain elements. There is also the potential for damage to coatings and metal parts, as well as the effort required for inspection, removal and maintenance. In a city with numerous historic areas in particular, preserving public structures carries special importance.
The decision has not met with unanimous approval locally. For some visitors, love locks are part of a romantic holiday gesture and a feature of souvenir photographs. Others support the rule because bridges and railings are not designed for such loads and public space should not be overloaded with private symbols. The dispute highlights the tension between tourist symbolism and the protection of collectively used structures.
As an Alsatian city with a heavily visited historic center, Colmar is particularly affected by seasonal visitor traffic. Its bridges, waterfront areas and railings are not merely technical infrastructure, but part of the cityscape. The new requirement is therefore intended to prevent individual attractive photo spots from becoming collection points for ever more locks, resulting in damage or safety problems.
The city is thus opting for a clear rule rather than retroactively removing locks that have already been attached. The information available so far does not indicate how compliance will be monitored in practice or how existing locks will be handled. One thing is clear, however: anyone wishing to show their bond in Colmar should no longer use bridges or railings to do so. The municipality is combining the protection of its heritage with the aim of keeping public facilities safe and accessible in the long term.
Sources
- Franceinfo
- City of Colmar