For several years, Cologne has maintained a beautiful tradition: Couples in love attach small padlocks to the railing of the Hohenzollern Bridge to promise each other eternal love in a romantic gesture.

Anyone crossing the Hohenzollern Bridge by train or on foot is greeted not only by the sight of Cologne Cathedral but above all by thousands of small, colorful padlocks. Lovers have inscribed them with their names and the date and hung them on the bridge railing to seal their love and loyalty. Traditionally, the key is then thrown together into the Rhine.

Initially, Deutsche Bahn decided to remove the numerous love locks because they allegedly unnecessarily burdened the bridge structure. However, the company was eventually convinced by the many fans of this tradition, and the locks were allowed to remain. Today, they are an integral part of the Cologne cityscape and are visited by thousands of tourists as a popular attraction.

The exact origin of this tradition is unclear, but it likely originated in Italy. It has long been customary for couples in love in Rome to attach a padlock to the central lantern of the Milvian Bridge and then throw the key into the Tiber with the oath “per sempre” (forever).