Get To Know Lucerne, One Of The Most Beautiful Cities In Switzerland

Lucerne is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, it is also one of its most visited places. In fact, it has the monument that receives the most photographs in the whole country: its incredible Chapel Bridge. Just to see this medieval gem is worth the trip to Lucerne , but there is much more.

Location of Lucerne

Like many other Swiss places, Lucerne is located in the Alps and its urban center is completely surrounded by high mountains.

From the streets of Lucerne you can see the Rigi, Pilatus or Stanserhorn peaks. The presence of these mountains makes the winter scene of Lucerne the quintessential Alpine image, in addition to creating the ideal environment for practicing snow sports.

However, the city is in a valley, in what millennia ago it would have been a glacial deposit that generated a large lake (something also common in many other parts of the Swiss geography). In this case it is the Lake of the Four Cantons or Vierwaldstättrsee. Its presence and its altitude make the temperature soften in the winters and the summers to be very mild.

The Kapellbrücke in Lucerne

We have already talked about the famous Chapel Bridge, which rises over the waters of the Reuss River, a river that runs through the historic heart of Lucerne. This bridge is neither more nor less than the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. And it is not only old, it is also very long, reaching 200 meters in length.

But their values ​​do not end here. We are not facing a straight bridge, but rather it develops in an irregular route to adapt to the characteristics of the river and finally to reach the Torre del Agua, which rises in the channel.

And as if that weren’t enough, this bridge, built in 1333, has more than 100 paintings inside  that tell the entire history of the city.

The Wasserturm

That is the German name for the Water Tower that we have named. A tower that is several decades before the bridge itself.

An octagonal tower that is only joined to the shore by this bridge. For this reason , over the centuries it has been the ideal place to become an archive of important documents.  It has also been a treasure room where to store wealth and even a prison. While today it is accessible to everyone, as it is the tourist office of Lucerne.

The visit to the old town of Lucerne

Once you have completed the rite of walking the Kapellbrücke, you have to prepare to tour the historic center of Lucerne. Much of it is pedestrianized, so it is a pleasure to walk through it. On your walk you will discover buildings such as its old 16th century Town Hall or the imposing baroque church of Hofkirche.

Don’t miss the Lion Monument, made by sculptor Thordvaldsen in the 19th century. It is a large sculpture that represents a dying lion inside a cave. A tribute to the soldiers of the Swiss Guard killed during the French Revolution. Soldiers whose mission was to protect Louis XVI.

A cruise on the lake

And in addition to walking through the urban center,  we recommend you stroll along the shores of the Lake of the Four Cantons. This is the best way to discover the jetty, where an old steamboat that offers excursions to tourists moored.

Do not resist. It is an activity that you must do in Lucerne because this unique navigation between mountains is a delight. Simply unforgettable. And if you take the walk at sunset, you can also enjoy one of the most incredible sunsets you can imagine.

You’ve seen it, Lucerne is a charming city where you can enjoy a magical getaway. Write it down as one of your next destinations, you will not regret it.