By Europe, Germany February 14, 2016

The Love Lock Story

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love-lock

Being American, Valentine’s day was always about roses and chocolates; however, in Europe there are some fun traditions I like even better!

Like LOVE LOCKS! In Europe, there are bridges all over where couples hang padlocks. The padlocks are colorful and have the couple’s names engraved. The key is thrown into the river to symbolize their everlasting love! 

The practice started in Serbia at the Most Ljubavi Bridge, or the Bridge of Love, which is now named after the love padlocks! The story is traced back to pre-WWII when men were going off to war. A local schoolgirl named Nada, from Vrnjacka Banja, fell in love with Relja, a Serbian military officer. They used to secretly meet on the Ljubavi Bridge. They fell in love, and then he went off to war in Greece. While he was away he met another woman and broke off his engagement to Nada. She was devastated and eventually died of a broken heart.

Due to this heartbreaking story, all the girls from Vrnjacka Banja started carving their names, and the names of their loved ones, onto padlocks. Then, they would hang their padlocks on this exact bridge where Nada and Relja used to meet. This was to protect their own relationships! The padlock is hung to represent how strong their love is. Then, the key is thrown into the river so it can never be unlocked!

Iain_Mallory_06725These love lock bridges have also caused a lot of controversy because many of the love locks bridges have become too full of locks. Many of the local governments and railways have tried to cut them off and have them removed! In Cologne, Germany, at the Hohenzollern Bridge, the German train company, Dutsche Bahn, tried to have them all removed! The train company was actually worried that there were so many locks that the bridge was becoming too heavy! They were worried that the bridge could possibly collapse under the weight of the train and the locks; however, the people of Cologne went crazy in love and protested the removal of the locks. The train company ultimately gave in! The locks are still hanging, and the numbers are growing by the day!

One great way to include your kids is to have a family love lock made! Engrave all your names on a love lock and go hang it as a family! This is an awesome tradition and can be done in many countries around the world! Think what an amazing story your kids can share about how many love locks your family has around the world!

Have you hung your love lock?

To cologne-4find your nearest love lock bridge, here is a list of all the love lock locations around the world! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_locations_with_love_padlocks

sunday-traveler-small-whiteThis is part of #TheSundayTraveler http://www.chasingthedonkey.com/sail-croatia-guide-to-vessel-charter/

– Stacey

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51 Comments

  • Reply October 3, 2014

    Elaine

    Such a sweet post, I love the idea of love locks but I've seen some of the bridges have had the love locks removed due to damage.
  • Reply April 20, 2014

    awesome things!

    bcJLOM I really enjoy the post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
  • Reply April 18, 2014

    Michael Orobona

    There's a small town in northern Nevada named Lovelock. It's a desperate place, with no bridges and no romance. But there is a prison, where OJ Simpson has resided.
  • Reply March 23, 2014

    Betty Taylor

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I am so glad you did! It lead me here to one of the best blogs I have ever found! I love this! I love travel. Now, I really want to start a love locks bridge in my area. I visited the bridge over the Seine River in Paris and thought it was wonderful. I didn't realize there were so many places that have Lock Lock Bridges. Oh, this is so exciting!!!
    • Reply March 23, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi Betty thank you so much for stopping by ~ Oh yes the love lock bridges are super cool! You will have to let me know if you start one! They are all over the world and so much fun! Thank you again for stopping by ~ and I am fan of your blog as well! :)
  • Reply March 2, 2014

    Andrea

    Okay, so I think we should start this in the US too. It's pretty darn cool!
  • Reply February 22, 2014

    Mary Reilly

    Here in Italy the most popular love locks bridge is Ponte Milvio in Rome, as it was mentioned in a very famous teenage chick-lit book
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Very Fun ~ we have a list of them and have started carying locks with us to hang when we run across them around the world! Thank you for reading!
  • Reply February 21, 2014

    Samantha @mytanfeet

    I just found out about this tradition, very sweet and cute idea!
    • Reply February 21, 2014

      basketslife

      Yes very fun we love it ~ :) thanks for reading Samantha!
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Yes its cool we really like to hang our locks as a family too!
  • Reply February 20, 2014

    eemusings

    How neat, I had no idea! I was so thrilled to randomly stumble upon one of these bridges in Prague (photo here: http://nzmuse.com/2013/11/travel-safe/)
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      We lived in Czech for 2 years ~ we have been there Beautiful Thank you for reading !!
  • Reply February 19, 2014

    Phoebe @ Lou Messugo

    I didn't know the history of the love locks so thanks for sharing that. I like the idea of them but find that in some places it's kind of out of control and it's hard to see the original structure. I guess I'm fairly alone in my thinking though!!
    • Reply February 19, 2014

      basketslife

      No I think the governments in most places think this way most places that have them out of control have tried to remove them ~ but it turns into a huge controversy and then they stay ~ Some places I think are going to try and relocate them so they are not so out of control ~ :)
  • Reply February 18, 2014

    malaysianmeanders

    I've never heard that origin story. My husband and I hung a love lock while we were in Paris. I wish I had read your suggestion of a Family Love Lock because then the kids could have gotten into the act, too. They would have enjoyed that. Penang, Malaysia where I am now has just introduced a love lock area on, appropriately, Valentine's Day.
    • Reply February 18, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi thank you for reading ~ well you have hang a Family Love lock next time ~ It is a lot of fun! Have a super day
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    Chasing the Donkey

    I have never put a lock anywhere, but I so want too. I am just never that organised. I had no idea that the idea started in Serbia, or why they began, thanks for sharing that and thanks for linking up with us to #SundayTraveler xox
    • Reply February 18, 2014

      basketslife

      Well you will have to come to Germany while we are here and hand one next to our Love Lock! Thanks for reading and inviting me to Sunday Traveler! xox :)
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    Jess

    I love the idea of these locks - I'd never heard of what inspired them! Really, I don't know if I would want to do anything that follows in the tradition of a doomed couple - but it's a romantic idea.
    • Reply February 18, 2014

      basketslife

      Good Point ~ but it is kind of a fun tradition ~ :) Great for the family love lock as well! :) Thank you for reading!
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    A Southern Gypsy

    I've always loved this concept, just never seen one before! Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler!
    • Reply February 18, 2014

      basketslife

      Well you will have to find one close by and Hang your love lock! Thanks for including me #SundayTraveler
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    Bianca Malata (@ItsAllBee)

    Great post. My last post is actually about one of the Love Lock in Cologne. Beautiful place. Valentines Day | Cologne's Love Locks Bridge
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      We are in Bonn Germany the photos are of the bridge in Cologne that is where our love lock is! Thank you for reading!
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    Ace CB @ Life in Dutch

    While I've never put one on myself, it was impressive to see the bridges in Cologne and Paris covered with so many. For that many couples to all decide to do it is a bit mind boggling! =)
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    Ace CB @ Life in Dutch

    While I've never put one on myself, it was impressive to see the bridges in Cologne and Paris covered with so many. For that many couples to all decide to do it is a bit mind boggling! =)
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Yes very cool to see and think of all the people before us that have hung them.
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    aeparker81

    a very sweet concept, i wonder who starts a new bridge - it must be strange for a while when there are just one or 2 on a bridge!!
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi Yes that is a good question ~ it would be a little weird to just one or two but I guess that it how it always starts. Thank you for reading!
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi Yes that is a good question ~ it would be a little weird to just one or two but I guess that it how it always starts. Thank you for reading!
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    Jempi & Nina

    LOVEly post!
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    frankaboutcroatia

    Oh, I never knew that love locks actually started in Serbia?! Nice idea to involve your entire family, and engrave all your names on the lock.
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi Thank you so much for stopping by! Yes it is really cool for the kids as well! Thank you so much for reading!
  • Reply February 16, 2014

    bavariansojourn

    We have several sites in Munich, but I think the most I have seen has to be in Verona at "Romeo and Juliet's" balcony. I know for a fact that they come along and chop them off with bolt cutters once in a while though! :D
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Yes I know there are some in Munich we have not been to the Romeo and Juliet Bridge We will have to check it out! I know many cities try to remove them due to the sheer volume of them! :) thank you for reading!
  • Reply February 14, 2014

    Megan Shier (@meggiekay)

    I think this is such a cute idea. I'd like to add a lock someday... Just need to find that other person. Hah
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Thank you for reading ~ I am sure you will find that person and then you can hang a lock!! :) It is a really great idea!
  • Reply February 14, 2014

    lornamclaughlin

    i live in frankfurt where the old iron bridge is literally covered in love locks. when i cross it to go to the flea market i always wonder...are they still together? i hope so!
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi ~ Oh so we are in Bonn just up the road from you! Yes we have the one in Cologne and it is covered I wonder too how many people are still together! Thank you for reading!
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi ~ Oh so we are in Bonn just up the road from you! Yes we have the one in Cologne and it is covered I wonder too how many people are still together! Thank you for reading!
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi ~ Oh so we are in Bonn just up the road from you! Yes we have the one in Cologne and it is covered I wonder too how many people are still together! Thank you for reading!
  • Reply February 14, 2014

    eurobondgirl

    Reblogged this on lisa bond ✈ photography and commented: Where is your love lock?
  • Reply February 14, 2014

    The Guy

    Believe it or not I only first came across the idea of these love locks whilst watching Homeland! Now I see and hear about them everywhere and I'm from the UK. You've put a nice spin on the article and I like the idea of involving the family.
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi thank you so much for reading and stopping by my blog! Really Homeland? Interesting! We love them and love involving the kids! It is really fun!
  • Reply February 14, 2014

    Travelling Book Junkie

    We travelled to Paris last year and were amazed by the amount of love locks across the bridges. They have spread so far they are close to starting on the railings of Notre Dame.
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Hi thank you for reading! Yes they are a little bit out of control in many places But I just really love them and the idea of them Its so much fun!
  • Reply February 14, 2014

    Vanishing Point

    Very cool. I really think its a sweet concept.
    • Reply February 14, 2014

      basketslife

      Yes it is super cool ~ do You have a love lock anywhere?
    • Reply February 24, 2014

      basketslife

      Yes I really like it ~ its fun for the family and a romantic gesture! Thank you for reading!

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