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Unusual Love Lock Locations

| Destinations, Europe, Off Beat Discoveries, Sunday Traveler

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With Valentine’s day coming up soon I’m in the mood to share the love. Across Europe the phenomenon of love locks have taken hold. Everyone has heard of the love locks on the Pont des Arts in Paris where it all started. The story goes that lovers put their initials on the lock, secure it onto the bridge and throw the key into the river below the bridge as a symbol of their undying love. Much to the government’s dislike, these locks have gain popularity and it is said that the French government will cut off locks. But never fear, these locks have spread across Europe and the world now.

Here are a few unusual and unexpected places where I’ve found some love locks:

Budapest, Hungary

Forget declaring your love over the Danube river, Budapest offers a love tree. Set in the middle of Erzsébet tér, the tree is surrounded by a metal frame with heart shapes. Affixed to the frame are hundreds (maybe thousands?) of locks full of initials.

Love Lock Tree Budapest | packmeto.com

Love Lock Budapest 1

Love Lock Tree Budapest | packmeto.com

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Despite its name and the grotesque image it may conjure, hanging off of the Butcher Bridge in Slovenia’s capital are a series of love locks. While not as full as others I’ve seen, what made this unique were what the locks were attached to. Along the bridge were stone animals where locks were attached. Others were also attached to the cables that were strung along the bridge.

Locks of Love @ Butchers' Bridge | Ljubljana, Slovenia | packmeto.com

Locks of Love @ Butchers' Bridge | Ljubljana, Slovenia | packmeto.com

Locks of Love @ Butchers' Bridge | Ljubljana, Slovenia | packmeto.com

Novi Sad, Serbia

Another unexpected location for love locks was on the Varadin Bridge. The lack of a proper sized railing didn’t deter lovers. Their solution? Adding a chain to the bridge. Over time, others attached their own locks on top of others creating a massive cluster of locks in one small area.

Locks of Love | Novi Sad, Serbia | packmeto.com

Locks of Love | Novi Sad, Serbia | packmeto.com

What unusual places have you seen love locks? Have you put one up?

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Comments

  2. I’ve never seen any love locks, and I’d only heard of the bridge in Paris, but now I’m wondering if there are any hidden around here! I think I like these little collections even better then the more popular spots – they might not be as scenic, but they somehow seem more determined.

  4. Beautiful pictures! Haha my post due to be published this coming week is exactly this sort of thing, love lock bridge from a recent trip. I am guessing this is starting become a really popular thing.

  5. The symbol and act is a cute idea but so many locks is not that visually appealing haha. So interesting it caught on in so many places though so I guess it must work! I do love your photos however!

  7. Like a Lunaguava, I’m not huge fan of a lock craze, but I love your photos. I’m never able to make a photo with such a blurred background (Ljubljana locks). Another place I’ve seen love locks is in Makarska, Croatia.

  8. What a great post about love! My sister took an incredible photo of padlocks in Makarska, Croatia – its on the lovecroatia Instagram page xx

  9. Before we went travelling I kinda wanted to do this myself but as Samantha says it’s really not all that appealing close up!

    We didn’t see the famous French love lock bridge but spotted a similar one randomly in Prague I believe – which I took the photo on this post of: http://nzmuse.com/2013/11/travel-safe/

    • I’m not a big fan of when there are large clusters like in your photo. It just looks too cluttered and ugly, but up close it is a different story. The locks in Ljubljana and Novi Sad weren’t as cluttered and looked a lot better.

  10. I’ve never seen a love lock bridge yet, but being a romantic, I would do it! I think I’ll keep an eye out now for a cute lock to use – one day! Your photos are great! I love the close ups of initials – I think about the emotions attached to each one. Thanks for sharing!!

    • I love how each lock tells its own story. Despite having seen love locks in my travels, each time I discover one I’m completely enthralled by them.

  11. Beautiful images, you’ve captured the love so well, thanks for sharing. Hope that you can also join us for Monday’s linkup on Travel Photo Mondays, the link is up for the whole week.

  12. Camden in London has lovelocks.

    I’m so unromantic and cynical but I love lovelocks. I think it’s the simplicity of it, romantic without being mushy.

  14. I have seen that tree in Budapest! It did confuse me at the time 🙂 The craze definitely is spreading around Europe, not sure if I’m a fan either but hey, it’s a bit of fun!

    • It doesn’t seem to make much sense as to why it is in the middle of a park, but my theory is that it’s Hungary and it doesn’t have to make sense.

  15. Some great examples of less-than-romantic places to add your love lock! It seems that each city in Europe has some sort of lock covered bridge now – we always get a chuckle when our walking tour guides try to claim that the tradition started in their city/province/country 🙂

  16. I’ve only put up a Love Lock in Paris. We saw some at Clarke Quay, Singapore with a handy lock vending machine nearby but didn’t get a chance to do it there. I think we may be headed to Budapest this summer, so perhaps I’ll seek out this tree. The Love Lock trend is certainly sweeping the world.

  18. This is cute and very different never heard of locks in this way before but what a great way to display them. I know a collector of locks and I will pass this post to him. Stopping over from SITS

  19. The first time I had heard of this was in a movie. Then some reality tv show did it {which ruined it for me}, but I had no idea it was so popular in other places. I wonder if it is done over here in the states…I wonder if San Francisco has one somewhere. I think pink locks would look really pretty 🙂 I love the photos

    • Time to start the trend! From some of the other comments on this thread it seems like there are locks on the Brooklyn bridge and in Seattle, but I don’t think it is as common as in Europe.

  20. OMG!!! I love the idea of love locks.. people showing how much you love another person… such a great idea. Showing love from SITS.

  23. I’ve never heard of this! It sounds so cool, but I wonder about the etiquette. If you break up does one of you have to come remove the lock? If you can’t remove it, should you pick a completely different location with your next significant other? Is it in poor taste to attach your lock to someone else’s?
    #SITSblogging

    • All very good questions. I wonder what people do. If very spiteful, I guess someone would go to town with a pair of clippers. I’ve seen people attach locks on top of other locks so I guess most don’t care too much about that.

  24. I love you for answering this question. I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge a few months back and saw a bunch of these locks. I couldn’t figure it out. Thanks for answering my question.

    • Oh wow! I didn’t know they were on the Brooklyn bridge. I walked over it too, but didn’t notice them at all. Thanks for the tip!

  27. Yes, I’ve read about this custom, didn’t know it was so widespread. It’s a cute idea but I’m not a fan of throwing random things in bodies of water! I think the custom needs updated to a more environmentally conscious version – maybe that will catch on?

    • You’re right. I don’t like that part of it either. I’ve seen some people starting to use combination locks! Not as romantic but a little more environmentally friendly.

    • Oh wow! Where abouts in Seattle are they located? I might have to pop down and have a look. I hope you get a chance to put your own lock up 🙂

  34. I haven’t seen love locks in the UK, but I remember seeing them a few years ago in Amsterdam and my first, unromantic thought, was that someone had stolen the bicycles and left locks behind 😛

    I guess this is a modern update on initials carved into trees…better for the trees, but not quite as pretty. (Unless you find a real antique of a padlock!)

  36. My kids and I enjoy discovering random stashes of love locks, and you’ve given us a few more locations to explore. We have a small bridge practically in our back yard in SW Germany that’s filling up fast with padlocks. We haven’t attached one yet, but the boys are begging to join the bandwagon.

  39. I just recently learned about the love lock trend, it seems as though it is the most popular in Europe. I thought it was unusual to see so many sites in Eastern Europe! I never would have guessed. I loved all your pictures too. Visiting from SITS comment love.

  43. Cool lock pictures. I’ve always wanted to do that! The only one I knew about was the one in Paris. So cool that there are others. Great blog!

  44. I absolutely love the idea of love locks. I haven’t had the chance to visit any place that has these. I want to though!

  45. I have heard of the ones in France but didn’t realize there were more other places, that is really awesome. So envious of all of the travel you have been able to do. Coming by from the #Sitsblogging

  46. I’ve only ever heard of this happening on the bridge in Paris but it is such a beautiful concept and your photos are incredible! It is so amazing to see this catching on in other parts of the world. #SITSblogging

  47. My teenage daughter is fascinated by the locks on bridges and fixtures! She has read about them many times and learned about them in French class. Visiting from SITS Comment Love Tribe!

  49. I’ve always known about the love lock bridge in France, but had no idea it was in other places as well. What a creative Valentine’s Day post idea. I think I want to put a lock up somewhere too!

  50. I saw this on travel show recently. Hadn’t heard of it before, but I think it’s such a cool idea. I’d love to do this. I wonder if there are any locations in the U.S.? #SITSBlogging

  52. I have never heard of Love Locks. It seems cluttered at first but the more pictures you shared, the more romantic it seems. haha. Maybe I’ll have to find a place to put one.
    #SITSblogging

  54. Your pictures are gorgeous! I never realized there was a love lock in Hungary. I’d only heard of the bridge in Paris. I think it is a sweet idea.

  55. I had no idea that there were other places with love locks. I love the idea of it though. I would definitely leave my lock in one of these places.

    • I’ve heard of its popularity in Korea. I don’t know where it “officially” started, but regardless, it has definitely taken the world by storm beyond just Europe and Korea.

  60. Very cool idea! I had never heard of love locks, but as a Romantic myself, I think the concept is lovely. Thank you for sharing the pictures all around Europe. Clearly, I’m not the only Romantic out there! 🙂 #SITSBlogging

  62. While I’ve heard of this, I’ve never personally seen any love locks. But I’d like to do it myself some time. Thank for sharing the gorgeous photos! #SITSblogging

    Alison
    Nancherrow

  63. I really enjoyed this post. Thank you for the inspiration!

    #SITSblogging

  64. I’ve seen the locks in Paris, but had no idea that the idea had spread! I really enjoyed your pictures and this post. It made my wanderlust even greater. 🙂 #SITSBlogging

  65. I just learned about these love locks about a month ago. Kind of a cute concept. I live abroad in Spain – I noticed it is not on your travel list. You’ve got to visit. There is so much culture, lots of museums, and great food!
    SITS all the way!

    • Spain was on my to go list. I even had flights booked, but alas, something came up at the last moment and I had to cancel. It’ll happen one day. I’ve heard so many great things about the country!

  67. This is so cool! I know my husband and I left our lock on the Pont d’Arts when we were in Paris last summer. I had no idea that they had similar locations in other countries. It’s such a cute and romantic tradition. Thanks for sharing! #SITSBlogging

  68. The love locks bridge in Paris is full of padlocks that couples have left throughout the years. It’s one of my favorite spots to visit. It’s great to see that other countries have adopted the idea.

    • Thanks! I think a lot of cities are fighting back when the locks become overwhelming. I guess technically it can be seen as vandalism despite people having good intentions.

  70. It’s kind of tricky! There was definitely a twitter backlash – which I think had something to do with having them removed. Anyway, going off on a bit of a tangent! Really liked the post in the first place. 🙂

  72. Useful info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, and I’m surprised why this
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