Love Locks Bucket List – love locks from around the world
From the first time I saw the Love Locks in Prague, I have had a mini fascination with these declarations of love. Where ever I travel, I seek them out. It gives me goose bumps as I read the messages, imagining the couples who have declared their everlasting love and those who are celebrating a life time together, locking their love symbolically through the locks. While I find the walls of love locks more prevalent in Europe, they are becoming more popular this side of the Atlantic with sites popping up throughout the US and Canada.
The custom of the love lock is believed to have origins in China, however the global phenomenon that the locks have become may be more readily attributed to the “I Want You”, a book by Italian author Frederico Moccia and the subsequent screenplay that showed locks on Ponte Milvio.
While controversy roars around the love locks, the list of love lock walls grows. In an effort to save the very bridges that the locks are being affixed to, some cities are embracing the passion and sentiment and adding love lock trees to the urban landscape. In some regions, it is a case of city vs love…I feel lucky to have visited the Ponte Milvio before city council removed the locks citing damage to the historic bridge as the reason for removal. I wonder what the outcome will be for the locks….will the spirit of the locks be upheld with a monument or display, perhaps a tribute to the times? They would make an interesting anthropological cultural study.
Love Lock Bucket List
While new locations are appearing all the time, there are some noteworthy Love Lock Destinations worthy of a Bucket List.
- Paris, France – the city of love and perhaps the world’s capital of romance – love locks along the Pont des Arts and the Pont de l’Archevêché
- Rome, Italy – will the locks be back? Will love lock trees be erected? The future of love locks on the Ponte Milvio is not certain, having been removed in the fall of 2012 (Do we really have to say goodbye?)
- Prague, Czech Republic – found near the Lennon Wall, crossing the Vlatva River, they are a beautiful tribute to the dream of everlasting love
- Cologne, Germany – the love locks are found spanning the Hohenzollernbrücke railway bridge across the Rhine. An impressive display of love locks to inspire even the most reluctant of romantics
- Budapest, Hungary – found between the main square and a medieval castle…a stunning location for a declaration of love
- Dubrovnik, Croatia – perched high above the Adriatic, this new love lock wall boasts stunning scenery just outside this famous medieval walled city
- Moscow, Russia – home of love lock trees, the “blossoming” trees can be found on the city’s Luzhkov Bridge
- Mount Huangshan, China – perhaps the origins of the locks and steeped in tradition, the love locks here have stunning mountain views
- Seoul, South Korea – found on the fencing that surrounds Mt. Namsan’s N Seoul Tower in Central Seoul, thousands of locks declare the love of those who place them there. Part of the tradition is to throw the key to the lock away, forever locking the lovers together. At this site, they have a special bin for the thousands of keys to the love locks
- Montevideo, Uruguay - locks are found at a fountain in Montevideo, Uruguay with a plaque attached reading “The legend of this young fountain tells us that if a lock with the initials of two people in love is placed in it, they will return together to the fountain and their love will be forever locked.”
- Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA – a growing love lock site with an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline to one side, Lady Liberty to the other. It is worth it to make the walk along the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian walkway.
Related links:
- Wikipedia: List of locations with love locks
- Serendipity: Locks from Montevideo’s Fountain
- Locked Forever? The Legend of Mount Huangshan
- Cologne Bridge Love Locks
- Love Stories in Cologne
- Introducing Dubrovnik’s Love Locks
- Love Locks on line
Reblogged this on My story to you.. and commented:
If there is a stronger symbol of love!
Posted by andy1076 | February 14, 2013, 12:08 pmI <3 these locks and very much hope they last for decades to come
Posted by andy1076 | February 14, 2013, 12:09 pmMe too. It is so interesting to read the different inscriptions. Some are really a work of art.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 14, 2013, 3:19 pmAbsolutely! an art that everyone made together at that
Posted by andy1076 | February 14, 2013, 8:38 pmOh, how romantic! And so very modern with Abloy locks… wich we had love locks in London somewhere…
Posted by Marthafied | February 14, 2013, 12:20 pmIt is amazing how artistic some of the locks are. A lot of thought has gone in to some of them.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 14, 2013, 3:21 pmThe also have in Berlin … at Weidendammer Bridge. Think it’s a lovely thing. Me and my friend put our lock there.
Posted by viveka | February 14, 2013, 12:35 pmVery cool….would love to see the Berlin locks.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 14, 2013, 3:21 pmThey are not many – but I think I have a photo somewhere.
Posted by viveka | February 14, 2013, 3:31 pmAnita, thanks for your summary of places to look for love locks; I didn’t know about a number of places in Europe which also have the locks. Also, thanks for including my story, “Love Stories in Cologne”, in your set of related links.
Posted by fotoeins | February 14, 2013, 2:34 pmMy pleasure. I love your collection of photos. They are very well done. Cologne is one of the destinations I hope to see really soon. Shhhh….plans for a Christmas in Germany may be underway!!!
Posted by Anita Mac | February 14, 2013, 3:22 pmAnita, I think you’re going to love Christmas in Germany, especially if there’s snow, the many splendoured lights, the food, the Glühwein! There’s a reason why I ended my 2012 RTW with December in Germany!
Posted by fotoeins | February 14, 2013, 7:23 pmYou are a wise man Henry! After Prague, I have become a fan of the European Christmas market…I just need to narrow it down to a couple choices.
Posted by Anita Mac | February 16, 2013, 10:50 amThat’s so sweet! I can’t believe they had to take down the bridge in Ponte Milvio!
Posted by Charity Grace | February 14, 2013, 5:47 pmLuckily, the bridge is still there – they only removed the locks. It pained my heart to see the photos of the locks being dumped into the tractor bucket. I still do not know what the final outcome was…I am almost too afraid to ask!
Posted by Anita Mac | February 16, 2013, 10:51 amOkay, at least the bridge is there. Still, it’s sad that they had to remove the locks; I don’t know if I would ask about what happened either!
Posted by Charity Grace | February 16, 2013, 1:28 pmThey are nuisance and an eyesore. This is one movement that should be nipped in the bud.
Posted by larkycanuck | February 15, 2013, 1:22 pmTo each their own….
Posted by Anita Mac | February 16, 2013, 10:52 am