We have just arrived, jet-lagged, in Cologne, Germany. The Cologne Cathedral is on beautiful display outside our hotel window. It is stunning at sunset.
The Hohenzollern Bridge over The Rhine River leads into the old city. Every inch of the bridge fencing on one side is covered with hundreds of thousands of “love locks!”
Lovers place these locks on the bridge swearing ever-lasting love and toss the keys into the Rhine.
We are traveling and I will be blogging as we go. Please understand that I will not be able to follow and comment on your posts as much as I would like. I will check in though, whenever I can.
Until then, cheers to you from beautiful Cologne Germany~
Have a great vacation,Cindy.I love your photographs.
Thank you my friend and be well!
Enjoyable experiences 🙂
>
Arigato Yoshiko!
You are welcome, Cindy 🙂
Looks wonderful, Cindy. We’ve a Rhine trip scheduled next year and your images are whetting my appetite!
The gorgeous Rhine and the towns it winds through! One can never visit enough!
I wish you nice and enjoyable trip !!!
Danke schoen!
Cindy, this is a fascinating story about this bridge. I am going to research it a bit and possibly write a poem or prose poem about it–not sure yet–but would you mind if I used the last photo on your post if I did?
Hope your vacation is going well. Best>KB
I would be honored! Thanks for asking~
Hope you have an amazing visit.
Vielen danke!
Willkommen 🙂
I love Germany! thank you for this beautiful reminder 🙂
So happy you enjoyed and cheers to you~
So beautiful..the sunset is perfect 🙂
Beautiful old city! Thanks much~
This is beautiful! I hope you have a great one!
Very thoughtful and much appreciated!
You’re travelling ! ! That’s wonderful ! Have fun !
Thanks, I hope too, once I de-jet lag!
That means, that you are now only 600 Kilometers away! 🙂
My wife is born in Cologne and I know the town very good. I hope you will have a lot of fun! Kind greetings from Stefan
It is a small world indeed! Tell your wife her home town in lovely and the food is divine!! Cheers to you from Deutschland! I love Germany! <3
I’ll tell her! 🙂
There are so many stunning places in this world (and yor home area is one of them), but Germany also is worth living here. Especially Bavaria – where we live right now, is very beautiful…
Have fun, Cindy!!!
I don’t want to be crass or anything, but boy, you really do get around! 🙂 Have a wonderful trip!
What a great sky! …. Have a wonderful trip!!!!
Thank you so much and cheers!
Have fun on your holiday 😊
Much appreciated and cheers to you~
Stunning Cindy! I’ve added it to my list of places to visit and linked it to my LinkedIn page. Have a wonderful trip! 🙂
Thanks much Lea and be well!
My pleasure! Enjoy!
Fabulous. I’m a one for locks and keys!
Especially the old ones! Lovely~
Only the old ones!
Love this! Thanks so much for sharing
So happy you do and thanks too!
Beautiful photos! Wish you a lovely trip.
Merci beaucoup!
Love the locks! 💞
Pretty impressive aren’t they!
Germany is a destination I have yet to travel to but it is on my wish list. Lovely photos Cindy! Have a wonderful vacation:)
Thank you and I hope you visit soon! You will not regret it~
Have fun Cindy! Thanks for taking us on vacation too in your virtual suitcase.
It is so much more fun having you come along!
By the way… these lovelocks are more dangerous as one might think. In those giant numbers they are very heavy – their weight reaches tons! There have been documented the first breakdowns of bridge-rails or even small bridges. 😯
As result they are forbidden in some early reacting towns…
Wow… what a view! I’m completely envious. Hugs!
Watching the trains crossing the Rhine as I type. Hugz to you & cheers too~
I love the locks! And Germany! Oh man. Cant wait for this series. Our son went to Germany last year for a month and had a great time!
It is a fairytale place to visit with amazing food!
We had never heard of or seen love locks until we toured Russia. They were locked onto man-made “trees” on bridges. A wonderful tradition, for sure, but our guide said that over half of marriages end in divorce. So we wondered what happened to all those locks after the marriage has ended! Travel safely.
The locks I fear last longer than the love! Apparently the tradition started in Italy. We are going to Russia on this trip so I will certainly look for these locks. Thank you for alerting me~
Enjoy and safe.
Vielen danke~
What a lovely symbol of everlasting love. I hope the lovers oil the locks from time to time. I’d hate for their relationship to go rusty!
I suspect they would have a very hard time finding their lock! There are hundreds of thousands of them. Right now they are glowing in the sun! Gorgeous~
Lol – have you ever been there?
In Cologne there are no more pickpockets than in any other big city in the world, probably it’s even more safe than most. Travel to New York, Machu Picchu, London, Paris, Istanbul or any big african City and you know, what it means to be unsafe 😉
omg… I love this. Germany is very beautiful. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed and Germany is just exquisite! I can never visit enough~
Great captures, Cindy! Thank you for posting photos as you travel.
Happy travel 🙂
It is so much fun to do and to chat with people like you!
Wow! I hope you have a lovely time, and I look forward to seeing all the beautiful photos you take during your trip.
So happy you are coming along!
Hope you have a speedy recovery from the jet-lag and welcome to Germany. I hope you have a great time and can visit as many interesting places as possible (so we get the photos later on). :-Should your hotel burn down or the journey to Russia be delayed, you would certainly be welcome. Have a nice and safe journey!
Oh how very kind and thank you for the wilkomen and how very kind! Germany is just so wonderful and I just had schnitzel so I am very happy!!!! 😉
🙂 🙂
Happy travels Cindy <3
Dance schoen!
It is amazing the variety of the locks. I wonder what the oldest one is? Thanks for sharing your joyful adventures. <3
I will google that good question!
Have a good trip!
Merci beaucoup!
Have a wonderful and safe trip, Cindy! I look forward to your vacation posts upon your return! 😀
Cheers & hugz Linda!
Safe journey and watch out for villains in dinner jackets, a patch over one eye and a white cat. 😀
Oh dear, I just chatted with one such and thought he was such a nice chappy!
Quick Mish Moneypenny get the Martini shaker. 🙂
shaken, never stirred…..
Interesting photos, the sky in the first one is amazing. I hope you enjoy your trip.
Thanks much & cheers to you~
Aaah, late summer in Germany. I was there for almost ten years, but mostly in Berlin. May I deduce from your name that you’re of German heritage? Sprichst Du auch Deutch? I didn’t get a chance to spend as much time in Köln as I would have liked, but we had good friends farther downstream. Have a lovely time, and thanks for taking the time to answer my comment and for following me!
Ich bin alles bisschen von allem, einschlieBlich Deutsch. Mein Mann ist 100% Deutsch-Amerikaner. Wir lieben Reisen in Deutschland und tun es regelmaBig. Vielen Dank fur Ihre Meinung!
Wish I could hide in your suitcase… Always such a pleasure filled with treasures traveling with you, Cindy. Thanks for the virtual rides! 🙂
Having you along makes the trips so much more rewarding and that is the truth!
Cindy – My heart be still. I love Cologne and a multitude of other European cities. However, you can never go wrong with Cologne. Happy travels ahead. Sheri
Lovely untouristed place with no crowds AKA paradise!! Cheers to you Sheri~
Wonderful!
Danke Schoen!
Very nice and thank you for sharing the sights as you go. For the locks that put on the bridge, I have been wondering whether the original design considered extra static weight (and keep on adding) from those locks or not. They concern me a bit.
That is is valid concern and good point. I could see no sign of slippage and swaying but they must weigh cumulatively a substantial amount!
Hi Cindy,
Have lots of fun. We just returned from 6 weeks in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland and was still miss the cobblestones, landscapes and museums.
Blessings, Love and Sparkles,
Brenda
Sounds like we will be following in your footsteps practically! So glad you had a good trip~
That’s a lot of love! <3
Love locked in!!! <3 <3
What a beautiful sunset. Have a wonderful vacation.
Thank you Antionette and find a bargain or twenty for me!!! 😉
Oh goody, we are in for a treat… gorgeous photos of European cities. My niece lives in Cologne, Germany, and I have visited her for 3 or 4 times. Where else do you have in your itinirary? Have a great time!
Oooooh we are going lots of places! Stayed tuned and be surprised, Lots of firsts on this trip for me as we are heading out of our usual haunts. Today I am acclimated and feel like I am in Europe!!! Wooo Hooo~
ah that is cool… however you should have let me know that you guys are over here… we could have met up… anyhow – have a fantastic time…
Awwww didn’t think of it! It would have been fun~ 🙁
Wunderschöne Bilder von Köln am Rein ich wohne ja in Köln ist eine schöne Stadt hoffenlich war der Urlaub schön.Liebe Grüße und einen schönen Tag.Gruß Gislinde
Ich hatte keine Ahnung, dass du in Köln gelebt! Es ist so schön! Wir verlassen Köln morgen. Ich hätte gerne, um Sie Gislinde getroffen haben und es tut mir leid ich die Chance verpasst. Ihre Stadt ist herrlicher!
Liebe Cindy kaum bist du in Köln angekommen und schon hast du die Sonne mitgebracht ja Köln ist eine Reise wert,hast du schon das Kölsch probiert und ein Halver Hahn ist ein Röggelchen mit dicken Käse und Butter ?? schöne Zeit wünscht dir Klaus
Ich werde es versuchen! Es klingt lecker! Ich habe den Verzehr von viel Schnitzel, spaetzel, Rotkohl und Gewürzgurken. Ich verehre Deutschland und deutsche Küche! <3 <3
What an Incredible scene to open your holiday – thank you for sharing!
Thank you for appreciating & cheers to you~
The photo of the bridge is truly stunning. And I love the locks–never knew about that. Happy and safe travels.
Thank you my friend and cheers to you! <3
I just heard a story on this about the love locks and how it is bearing down too much pressure on the bridge. I don’t know if it is true or not, but it is really nice to actually visualize it. Beautiful photos.
WOW!!! See above! Clever Yellow Cable voiced this concern. The cumulative weight must be formidable. I did see an article awhile ago that I paid no attention to about finding another way to mark your love. Interesting & thanks for pointing it out~
May your travels be safe, joyful and renewing! Köln is a gorgeous city and its cathedral one of my favorites. Please enjoy it for me to the fullest! Happy wandering.
Kathryn
How thoughtful of you and how appreciated! The cathedral and all of Koln is just lovely! Cheers to you~
Beautiful photos! I do miss Germany!
Yes, so do I, whenever I am not here. There is something truly remarkable about the place, the food, the friendly people, the charming villages, the constant green, and the Bavarian country life and furniture. I am hooked on Germay!
welcome to Europa, you are just next door to where I am; I wish you a wonderful time and can’t wait for photos and thoughts from your trip. Lilowa Wanda from Poland
Oh I want to go to Poland so badly! My grandmother was Polish named Piontek! Someday soon……..
Fantastic images, Cindy. I have seen this phenomenon in several cities, but not so many locks in one place. 🙂 Have a great trip. xx
Yes, the same here. Last time I saw them was in Prague!
Hey Cindy: Can’t tell you how much we’ve missed visiting your blog!!! We’ve been locked away the past two months trying to finish Book #2 in our P-7 series. But we’re almost done & can’t wait to get back to our blogosphere & favorite haunts!! All this post did was make us hungry for your beautiful pictures!! These are breathtaking Cindy!!! Once again you leave us in awe!! Sharing this now. 😉 xo <3
I know about your book and can’t wait to read it!! I’m thinking you two should come to Brugge where I am no. It would be a wonderful place to write and then there is the chocolate…….. 🙂
<3 <3
Interesting Cindy and I know you will have many more just as interesting scenes to show us. Enjoy your journey.
So glad you and Jack are coming along, the church bells are playing Mozart again…….
Wow….
lovely post…
Danke schoen!
These are great and made me smile.
Your comment made me smile! 🙂
Been there seen that. More locks I think than the one in Paris that collapsed recently: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trb-love-locks-paris-20140610-story.html
This is where I read this!! Thanks for the memory prompt for my severely senior challenged cerebellum!!! 😉
My naughty Reader has been leaving out your Posts. I am all caught up now, I think.
The reader is my nemesis to beat all nemeniis (sp???? ;). It routinely erases posts from my reader and erases likes from posts I liked!!! 🙁
And I find I myself unfollowed from posts I have been following for months and months……:( WordPress just likes to keep us on our toes.
Yes the same has occurred with me. Impossible to do anything about it whilst traveling which is most annoying!!
What a warm tradition… I like this. I wonder is there any room left for another lock?
Or do folks just attach locks to lock?
There is no more room at The Inn! They attach locks to chains and locks to locks!
Cindy!!!…
I loved the meaning behind those locks…
A sort of german version of the italian Trevi Fountain and the coins !…
Thanks for sharing. All my best wishes to you,
Aquileana 😀
A very appropriate analogy! Thanks for thinking of it and cheers to you my friend~
Gorgeous pictures. Love the locks!
Quite a lot of romance on the Rhine!!! <3
Kholn…I simply loved it when I visited it some years ago, during Christmas holidays…so beautiful!
Anyway, do you know the trendsetter of lovers’ padlocks in a bridge was an italian writer? He starts this trend by his novel for young people, titled “three meters above the sky”, nice story…his name is Federico Moccia 😉
I remember seeing these locks in Italy but I do not know this story and will research it. It sounds lovely and very Italian! Vive Italia. I can’t believe we are not visiting this trip, we nearly always do!!! <3 <3
Cindy, that view is stunning indeed! I love the idea of ‘love locks’. How romantic! Awesome photos, as usual. Have a fabulous time!
Thanks so much and Germany is quite a romantic country. Cheers to you Rebeca!
I’m having a bit of trouble getting a post reply in here and there, but will try again. 🙂 I am really enjoying all your wonderful photos and love them all. and see that you are reading mine. Thanks so much. I will continue to read and follow yours and enjoy all I see. 🙂
Welcome and pleased to meet you! Yes, the WP reader continuously malfunctions and is quite frustrating. Thank you for the kind comment~
Those locks are amazing. I saw that on another blog–but not as thick as here. I love different cultures.
Quite an endearing and romantic sight isn’t it!!! Cheers & thanks~
Awesome Cindy. I wish you happy travels!!!
Very kind Lori and all the best to you! Cheers~
Fabulous, Cindy! Did you attach a love lock? I would if I were there!
I didn’t think of it and couldn’t find any room!!!!
“lol”!!!! It does look intensely crammed!
Such a wonderful way to demonstrate the diverse and beauty in ‘locks’ Cindy! I loved the gorgeous sky in the first picture! I am enthralled with the ‘love locks’ on the bridge of the Rhine. this reminds me of “Letters to Juliet” and the way they are given such prominence in France. The one with the crocodile or alligator is so cool, along with the photo of all of them combined. Thanks for the views, Cindy!
Thank you for your observant and detailed eye my friend and for your always thoughtful comments!
Bill and I are planning a Rhine River trip for next year! These photos are a taste of things to come and thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
One of the loveliest trips in the world, passing through some of the most idyllic villages, and of course the incredible German food. You will have the most delightful time!
Who gets to dredge up all those keys? Enjoy your travels.
Oscar
Laughing, never thought of that!!!! Imagine a metal detector!!!!
I thought I recognized that cathedral 🙂 My paternal grandmother was born in Cologne.
Beautiful city!
Gorgeous photos, Cindy! You certainly picked the best place in Cologne, what a grand location. It’s my favourite place in town (only 20 minutes away from Bonn where I live); the Hohenzollernbridge and the Cathedral always present a different look and magic. Funny; there are more than 35.000 love locks on this bridge. I made a post on the locks a couple of years ago (Forever Love) and your two last images show the same locks I posted! 🙂
Happy travelling!
Wow that is synchronisitic and gives me goose bumps! You are so lucky to live in one of my most favorite places. I am posting soon on Warnemunde, what a wonderful surprise this place was! Cheers to you and thank you~
Maybe this is my favorite! I don’t know; there are too many to choose from. 🙂
This was one day after my mom’s birthday. 😉
Happy belated birthday to your mom and cheers to you~
Awesome article.
So glad you enjoyed and cheers!
I am jealous to see your photography………….
Your photos are amazing! Absolutely stunning! I love them all~ <3
Reblogged this on penpowersong.
Dear Sir/Madam
I would like to use the picture from your site (https://cindyknoke.com/2014/08/19/love-locks-of-the-rhine) in a academical presentation.
Would it be possible to use providing i state where picture comes from?
thanks in advance
Cesar
Yes of course thank you for asking. I would be honored and you don’t need to ask in the future.