Most Ljubavi
Encyclopedia
Most Ljubavi, is a pedestrian bridge in Vrnjačka Banja
, Serbia
. It is known for the numerous love padlocks
that were left there by couples as sign of their everlasting love. It is one of the famous landmarks of Vrnjačka Banja, and it is the best known among the town's 15 bridges.
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History behind the love padlocks on the bridge can be traced to even before World War I
. Local schoolmistress Nada fell in love with a Serbia
n officer named Relja. After they committed to each other, Relja went to war in Greece
, where, after the collapse of the Serbian Front as a result of the Austro-Hungarian attack of the 6 October 1915, he fell in love with a local woman from Corfu
. As a consequence, Relja and Nada broke up their engagement.
Nada never recovered from that devastating blow, and after some time, she died, as a result of her unfortunate love. As young girls from Vrnjačka Banja
wanted to protect their own loves, they started writing down their names together with the names of their loved ones on padlock
s. They bound these to the railings of the bridge where Nada and Relja used to meet. However, the tradition died out with time. It was not until Serbian writer and poet Desanka Maksimović
wrote down a poem called A Prayer for Love, that the legend regained popularity. People started once again to bind their love with so-called "love padlocks
" to the bridge. Consequently, it acquired the name Bridge of Love. After people bind their love with a padlock to the railing, the keys should be thrown down into the river below, so they cannot be found ever again.
Another bridge in Serbia is also known by the name "Bridge of Love". It is the White Bridge
in Vranje
, which was built in the name of an unfulfilled tragic love.
Vrnjacka Banja
Vrnjačka Banja is a town, municipality, and a resort, mineral spa located in Raška District of Serbia. It contains the world's only hot spring with a temperature measuring exactly that of the human body ....
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. It is known for the numerous love padlocks
Love padlocks
Love padlocks are a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love.- History :...
that were left there by couples as sign of their everlasting love. It is one of the famous landmarks of Vrnjačka Banja, and it is the best known among the town's 15 bridges.
History
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Local schoolmistress Nada fell in love with a Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n officer named Relja. After they committed to each other, Relja went to war in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, where, after the collapse of the Serbian Front as a result of the Austro-Hungarian attack of the 6 October 1915, he fell in love with a local woman from Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
. As a consequence, Relja and Nada broke up their engagement.
Nada never recovered from that devastating blow, and after some time, she died, as a result of her unfortunate love. As young girls from Vrnjačka Banja
Vrnjacka Banja
Vrnjačka Banja is a town, municipality, and a resort, mineral spa located in Raška District of Serbia. It contains the world's only hot spring with a temperature measuring exactly that of the human body ....
wanted to protect their own loves, they started writing down their names together with the names of their loved ones on padlock
Padlock
Padlocks are portable locks used to protect against theft, vandalism, sabotage, unauthorized use, and harm. They are designed to protect against some degree of forced and surreptitious entry.- History :...
s. They bound these to the railings of the bridge where Nada and Relja used to meet. However, the tradition died out with time. It was not until Serbian writer and poet Desanka Maksimović
Desanka Maksimovic
Desanka Maksimović was a Serbian poet, professor of literature, and a member of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.-Biography:...
wrote down a poem called A Prayer for Love, that the legend regained popularity. People started once again to bind their love with so-called "love padlocks
Love padlocks
Love padlocks are a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love.- History :...
" to the bridge. Consequently, it acquired the name Bridge of Love. After people bind their love with a padlock to the railing, the keys should be thrown down into the river below, so they cannot be found ever again.
Another bridge in Serbia is also known by the name "Bridge of Love". It is the White Bridge
White Bridge
White Bridge or Bridge of love , is a bridge in Vranje, Serbia. The bridge was built over the Vranje river, in the Devet Jugovića Street, in the old quarters of the city....
in Vranje
Vranje
Vranje is a city and municipality located in southern Serbia. In 2011 the city has total population of 82,782, while the urban area has 54,456...
, which was built in the name of an unfulfilled tragic love.
See also
- Tourism in SerbiaTourism in SerbiaSerbia stretches across two geographic and cultural regions of Europe: Central Europe and Southeast Europe. This boundary splits Serbia roughly in a ratio of 1:2 alongside the Danube and Sava rivers. The northern parts of the country are Central-European lowlands while the southern and central...
- Vrnjačka BanjaVrnjacka BanjaVrnjačka Banja is a town, municipality, and a resort, mineral spa located in Raška District of Serbia. It contains the world's only hot spring with a temperature measuring exactly that of the human body ....
- List of bridges in Serbia