Love lock

For other uses, see Lovelock (disambiguation). For locks of hair that are given as a sign of affection, see Hair jewellery.

Love padlocks by night on Butchers' Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Love without locks campaign, Passerelle Debilly, Paris

A love lock or love padlock is a padlock that couples lock to a bridge, fence, gate, monument, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love.[1] Typically the sweethearts' names or initials, and perhaps the date, are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away (often into a nearby river) to symbolize unbreakable love.

Since the 2000s, love locks have proliferated at an increasing number of locations worldwide. They are treated by some municipal authorities as litter or vandalism, and there is some cost to their removal. However, there are other authorities who embrace them, and who use them as fundraising projects or tourist attractions.

  1. ^ Enulescu, Dana (1 March 2007). "Rome mayor in 'love padlock' row". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2011.