Kładka (Ojca) Bernatka Bridge - Tradition in Cracow Poland

The bridge "Kładka Bernatka", over the Wisła River in Cracow, was built within the last 4 years. It is named after a priest, Father Bernard. From the Kazimierz district side of the river looking towards the Podgórze district you can see two different lanes of the bridge. The left lane is for pedestrians; the right lane is for cyclists. No cars allowed.

Somehow a tradition got started where married couples in Cracow would hang a padlock with their names and their wedding date on this bridge. My husband and I decided we wanted to take part in this tradition. We had to find a hardware store to buy a padlock. Then we had to find magic markers so we could write our names and wedding date on the lock. Today we hung the lock on the cyclists' side of the bridge.

Here are some photos from our "lock ceremony".

Our lock.

Many locks hung already on the cyclists' side.

Here is the bridge from below.

Tradition says that you must throw away the key to the lock once you have hung the lock on the bridge.

Now we are permanently attached to Cracow!