Love lock
Love padlocks are a custom by which sweethearts affix padlocks to a fence or similar public fixture to symbolise their love.
Pécs, Hungary
Beginning in the 1980s, in the centre of the southern Hungarian city of Pécs, lovers began to clamp padlocks to a wrought-iron fence in a narrow street linking the mosque in the city's main square and the magnificent medieval cathedral, as a symbol of their commitment to one another. However, after the fence was completely covered and no more padlocks could be added, couples, both locals and tourists, began attaching them to fences and statues throughout the town centre.
Local authorities organised several attempts to discourage people from attaching the padlocks, by putting notices discouraging the activity throughout the town and removing the padlocks as vandalism. More recently, plans have been made to add a new iron fence near to the original to provide a legal site for couples to attach love padlocks, similar to walls set aside by authorities in some cities for use by graffiti artists.[1]
Miskolc, Hungary
Probably encouraged by the example of Pécs, lovers have started to fasten padlocks on the fence of the bridge at Szinva Terrace in Miskolc, a city in the northern part of the country.
Riga, Latvia
Similar customs exist in Riga, the capital of Latvia, where married couples clamp padlocks on the railings of a bridge and throw the key into the lake below.
Florence and Rome, Italy
In Florence, Italy, love padlocks have been affixed to the railing around and near the statue of Benvenuto Cellini located at the centre of the Ponte Vecchio. The same happens in Rome, Italy, on Ponte Milvio.
Guam, USA
Love padlocks can be seen in Guam's "Two Lovers' Point" (Puntan dos Amantes). Couples would usually affix the lock to the metal barrier on the viewing deck overlooking the ocean, usually with their names on it or even important dates.[2] A variation of this is the use of plastic bag tags[3] that are sometimes purchased at the nearby souvenir shop when a conventional padlock is unavailable.
Montevideo, Uruguay
A fountain in Montevideo, on Avenida 18 de Julio a few blocks east of Plaza Independencia, is designated for love padlocks. A plaque is affixed to the front of the fountain that provides an explanation in both English and Spanish. The English version of the text 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."
Seoul, South Korea
Along a fence on the ground terrace attached to the North Seoul Tower on Mt. Namsan in central Seoul, hang hundreds of locks are hanging representing the love of their owners. The keys for the locks are often thrown away as an ensurance the sweethearts’ vows to never separate. Due to the danger posed by thrown keys, the tower operator has posted warning signs and provided a "key bin" for their disposal.
Tokyo, Japan
The practice has also gained sudden popularity in Tokyo, Japan among young couples, and padlocks are appearing all over the city, especially around teen hang outs.
Cologne, Germany
Love locks have started appearing on the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, Germany. Deutsche Bahn, the bridge's operator, threatened to have the locks removed, but relented in the face of public opposition. (DW Radio)
Kiev, Ukraine
In Kiev love locks can be found on a pedestrian bridge over Volodymyrsky uzviz near the National Philharmonic building.
- Template:Hu iconPécs city guide with photos
- Riga, photo
- Italy Magazine, Florence tries to stamp out "locks of love"
- Love padlocks explained, based on a Italian movie Ponte Milvio: Milvian Bridge of Love