mr and mrs adventure, paris, eiffel tower, couple, fireworks, love, sweethearts

In anticipation of our upcoming trip to Europe, Drew and I have been researching fun and frivolous things to do in each of the cities we will be visiting. Where will we be visiting you ask? Well we will be globetrotting all the way from LA to Dusseldorf, from Paris to Pisa, Terre to Florence, and finally, for the grand finale, Munich to Kempton to see our beautiful friends tie the knot!

Amongst our research, one of our friends mentioned that there is a place in Paris where sweethearts affix “love padlocks,” also known as “love locks” or “wish locks” in Taiwan, with their names written on them, symbolizing their love. We loved the sound of this simple, yet romantic, gesture and decided to find out exactly where they do this. It turns out that this tradition has become quite the sensation, and love locks can be found in various locations all across the globe!

The history of these love locks can be traced all the way back to World War II, as a way for lovers to protect their love and “lock” it in. Here are some of the world’s most impressive collections of love locks:

Paris:

Love padlocks can be found attached to the Pont des Arts, Passerelle Léopold-Sédar-Senghor and the Pont de l’Archevêché. In May 2010, Paris Town Hall expressed concern over the growing number of love locks, stating that they were raising problems for the preservation of Paris’ architectural heritage. Soon after, love locks suddenly disappeared from the bridges, but the Administration denied responsibility. The Pont de l’Archevêché saw the return of those love-locks immediately. Long live love locks!

I spy… Handcuffs? Leave it to the French, oo lala!

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Germany:

In 2009 love locks started to appear on the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, Germany. The bridge’s operator threatened to have the locks removed, but relented in the face of public opposition. Love locks have also started to appear on the Eiserner Steg Bridge in Frankfurt and on other various bridges in Lübeck, Regensburg and Munich.

Italy:

Perhaps the most famous example in Italy takes place on the Via Dell’Amore, a path connecting the towns of Manarola and Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre. The pathway’s legend holds that it was a meeting place for lovers from the two towns, and is now a favorite site for tourists to place their locks and throw the keys into the sea. They can also be found on Ponte Milovio in Rome, affixed to the railing near the statue of Benvenuto Cellini, in Bologna on the Via Malcontenti, in Ventimiglia on the Passerella Squarciafichi, on the Ponte Talvera in Bolzano, in Verona on multiple bridges, at Casa Di Giulietta and in Peschici on the lookout over the sea near the castle. Phew! The Italians have got this love lock thing down!

China:

Nearly every metal chain-link fence or metal pole in Mount Huang, China has been adorned with padlocks. The Chinese tradition is that lovers will lock their souls together and throw the key over the edge of the cliff into the misty valleys below, so dramatic!… yet terribly romantic 😉

Japan:On the cliffside of Enoshima Island is a pavilion with a bell that is dedicated to the mythology of a five-headed dragon who loved a heavenly maiden until he died. Couples ring the bell together to vow their eternal love and place a lock on the fence around the pavilion to commemorate this act.

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Russia:

Newlyweds are known to place love locks on iron tree-shaped structures on the Luzhkov bridge in Moscow.

Moscow love locks, love locks on trees, love padlocks,

It seems as though I could go on and on about places that love locks are showing up! They are even becoming a trend in the US, on the Brooklyn Bridge, in Napa Valley and even in small towns like Springdale, Utah just outside of the Zion National Park entrance. For a full list you can check out the article on Wiki, List of Locations with Love Padlocks.

Added to my packing list for Europe: love locks <3