Some of you may have been somewhere where there are loads of padlocks locked in one place on a bridge, gate, arch etc. These are what we call Love Padlocks. When you get married or start a relationship you take a lock, the stronger and more weatherproof the better, write or engrave you name on it, and then lock it to something. It is a bit like a wishing well. Once one person does it then others follow and before you know it, there are hundreds of the things. Here is our definitive top 5 list of ‘love lock’ locations!!!
1. Pont de l’Archevêché, Paris
For years people have been putting padlocks on the internationally renowned “Love Bridge”. The bridge goes over the Seine river just behind Notre-Dame Cathedral so it is on a popular tourist route. In 2010 the city removed all the locks in one fell swoop but they quickly began appearing again. Many of those locks that returned were dated with the original year the couple first came, so it is rumoured that they now leave the locks due to the potential of repeat tourism.
2. Namsan Tower, Seoul
Completed in 1971, the Tower is telecoms tower that is now open to the public. Equally as attractive for tourists are the Padlock Trees on the promenade leading up to the tower. Layered so thick you can’t even see what is underneath and now they even sell locks on the site for couples. No wonder there are so many! Here the messages are more varied than anywhere else and not only left by lovers, some with wishes and poems. Many locks have plastic boards hanging from them with full messages while others have socks and handkerchiefs.
3. Huangshan, China
If a mountain can be a place for love then Huangshan is regarded as the most romantic. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and sites high about pine forests and often above the clouds. Padlocks have been attached at many places along the mountainous trails, some parts dangerous. According to local legend you could go all they way and the your keys off the mountain, symbolizing that no one will be able to break your bond. Not exactly great for the environment or the people below you so maybe just recycle the keys when you get back home!
4. Casa di Giulietta, Verona, Italy
The home of Juliet. Yes Romeo’s Juliet and the famous balcony. Well that is at least what people believe but the only connection is in fact that the house was probably once the home of the Cappello family, who may have been the model for the Capulets of Romeo and Juliet. Anyhow, lovers from around the world flock to put letters and padlocks on the house. There isn’t much space left and finding a free spot can prove difficult!
5. The Locks Fountain, Montevideo, Uruguay
Located on Avenida 18 de Julio, this fountain has a large plaque that reads: “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“. The Fountain itself is not in great condition and clearly quite old. We’ve put it in the top 5 purely because it appears as though it was designed especially for the purpose of Love Padlocks!
