Viking Cruise #10: Love Locks Bridge of Cologne, Germany

Today's blog about our Viking River Cruise on the famous Rhine River takes us to Cologne, Germany, and the famous "Love Locks Bridge." In today's blog, you'll learn about the "love locks" and the history of this bridge that was once destroyed during World War 2!  

(Photo: Tom and Rob standing in front of the Love Locks or Hohenzollern Bridge of Cologne, Germany that spans the Rhine River. Credit: R.G.) 

WHAT IS THE LOVE LOCKS BRIDGE? Padlocks became symbols of love. Since 2008, lovers have attached them to bridges, gates, fences and similar public places. Often, the names or initials of the lovers are engraved and the key gets thrown away in order to demonstrate the indestructibility of the love between them.

The keys of the love-locks attached to the Cologne Hohenzollern Bridge are thrown into the river Rhine below. The Rhine, which traverses Germany, has seen millions of loving couples but keeps their secrets in its watery depths.

FUNNY STORY - Our tour guide reported that several people have been caught coming back with bolt cutters and cutting off the locks after they've either broken up or divorced their "Love Lock" mate. 

WHERE IS IT LOCATED? The Hohenzollern Bridge spans the Rhine River. To visit Love Locks Bridge from the city, either take the U-Bahn lines 5, 16 and 18 and get off at Dom Hauptbahnhof, or lines 1 and 9 to Deutz Bahnhof.

PLANNING A LOCK OF LOVE - Our friend Jim had the foresight to plan ahead for the Bridge. He's a true romantic.  His wife Sue said, "Jim knew about the bridge and engraved the lock and brought it with him (he knew we were touring the area);  the day we put it on the bridge happened to have been our anniversary too!!!  That Jim!!"  ! (Photos: Sue with the perfect lock, and close up of the lock. Credit: Sue and Jim L.)

HOW MUCH DO THE LOCKS WEIGH ON THIS BRIDGE? - City officials estimate the locks weigh an estimated 40 to 45 tons. In comparison, an ICE train weighs at least 400 tons.

SURPRISE! THE BRIDGE HAS A WEBSITE!  https://www.lovelockbridge.cologne/index.html. That's where I got the following history of the bridge below. 

A LOOK AT THE BRIDGE'S HISTORY - The Hohenzollern Bridge began construction in 1907. Four years later it was proudly inaugurated by the German Emperor Wilhelm II.

At that time, the bridge consisted of three parallel parts, each of them having three transverse arches to drive through. Two of them stretched over a pair of railway tracks, and the third one stretched over a street.

Shortly before World War II came to an end, the Hohenzollern Bridge was destroyed. 

Between 1948 and 1959 it was rebuilt with a different architecture. Only the railway tracks and two sidewalks have been re-established.

STATUES AT BRIDGE ENDS -  At each end of the bridge, two statues of troopers were set up. They show Prussian Kings and Emperors of the Family of Hohenzollern. 

FAST FACTS -  Today, Hohenzollern Bridge has a length of about 400 meters (almost a quarter of a mile). It is crossed by more than 1,200 trains each day and thus, it is one of the most used European railway bridges.

NEXT: Stumble Stones, Dwarves and Dunkin!

Viking Cruise #9: Cologne, Germany's Once Haunted, Devil-deal Cathedral

Today's blog about our Viking River Cruise on the famous Rhine River takes us to Cologne, Germany and a look at the once-haunted, Devil-deal Cathedral. There's a story about the Cathedral that says the architect made a pact with the devil to help him build it in 3 years...

(Photo: Rob and Tom in Cologne, Germany. All photos taken during our visit! - R.G.) 

HISTORY - The Cathedral construction began on August 15, 1248. Later in time, Prussia also helped to fund the construction work. Cologne Cathedral was finally finished in 1880, 632 years after construction originally commenced.

ORIGINAL DEAL WITH THE DEVIL - Here's the story of the Deal with the Devil and a video of the Cathedral from Viking Cruises. 

Thanks to the website "ferienwohnung-koeln" and Viking River Cruise's Websites I am able to share the story of the Cathedral Architect and the Pact with the Devil. Here's the story:

Cathedral builder Gerhard von Ryle moved to the Rhine with his family and was looking for creative ideas for the appearance of a new cathedral.  While taking a walk on the Deutz side of the Rhine, he had become so tired that he took a rest and fell asleep on a stone. Allegedly this was the so-called devil's stone!

The devil noticed this strong character and naturally wanted to use the moment of weakness immediately. So the devil showed himself to Gerhard and made a pact to help him complete the Cathedral in 3 years IF Gerhard would sell the souls of his family to the devil. 

If the Devil couldn't make it happen in 3 years and before the first cock crow last night, the cathedral builder and his family should be free. 

The Builder's Smart Wife Tricks the Devil

The construction of the cathedral made rapid progress: every day it grew more and more in height. And with every centimeter the cathedral builder became more and more nervous. After all, he didn't want to lose the souls of his family to the devil. 

In his great concern, he then told his wife about the pact, who was shocked but had a good idea. She just bought a rooster and taught him to crow on command. Even before the very last stone was placed on the cathedral, the wife made sure that the rooster began to crow very loudly. The devil was of course angry and annoyed and immediately caused parts of the cathedral to collapse again. The permanent construction site " Cologne Cathedral " was born.

The next bet with the Devil

Master Gerhard resumed work. Then, disguised as a small, fat man, the Devil made Gerhard a new bet that he would create a canal from Treves to Cologne with ducks swimming in it before the cathedral is finished. 

Bet lost

One day when Gerhard was standing on the scaffolding and working on Cologne Cathedral he saw a stream of water from the mountains in a pond! In the water, he saw ducks and he panicked. Gerhard didn't want to be taken alive by the devil. So he immediately jumped into the depths, knowing that he had lost the bet.

The Haunting Until Completion

The story concludes with Gehard's ghost haunting the Cathedral until it was actually completed in 1880. Then he supposedly crossed over into the light. 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rzQZuQBm074

NEXT: The Love Locks Bridge of Cologne