Lucerne

Lucerne is a majestic site in the middle of Switzerland. The city is located on Lake Lucerne and is surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery.

The proximity of Rigi, Pilatus, and Stanserhorn, partnered by the dazzling beauty of Lake Lucerne the city is simply irresistible. The city is also full of interesting old-style structures, something that enhances the character of the city. Some of its most famous landmarks are Chapel Bridge which is the center of the city considered to be one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe, and Museggmauer which is a famous historical wall. The city is full of history in every corner.

The architecture is simply exceptional and would make you want to take a picture every now and then. Lucerne is the perfect starting point for most tourists who would like to explore Switzerland. Art and culture is also very alive in Lucerne. This is also one of the things that you should look out for. Better look out for museums and theatres. You might get to know the heart of Lucerne through the wonderful artefacts, exhibits, and performances.

It also home for a plethora of events like Lucerne Festival in Summer, World Band Festival, Swiss City Marathon, Lucerne Blues Festival, Lucerne festival at the Piano, Fumetto-Internationl Comix Festival, Rowing World Cup Lucerne, and many more. All in all, a visit to Lucerne would definitely be very worth it and extraordinary.

On the north shore of the lake there are a number of old quays, such as National Quai, Carl Spitteler Quai running down to Luzernerquai. The quays are now a shaded leisure walkway along the lake shore laid out with gardens and green spaces..

Walking along the quays of Lucerne is relaxing and interesting. Trees, shops, and other establishments line up near the quays of Lucerne. In the most popular quay, National Quay, you can take a dip in the beautiful lake. The view from these quays is also outstanding. You can see Mt. Rigi and the wonderful waters of Lucerne Lake.

The Nationalquai is located between the National Hotels and Palace which is why it was named as such. Before the construction of the present casinos and Palace, Nationalquai was not that long. An array of chestnut trees could be found along Nationalquai. You will cross Matthias Luchschinger Square as you reach the middle of the quay.

The Carl Spitteler Quay is considered as the continuation of Nationalquai in the east. You will find it on the right side of Lake Lucerne just between the Palace and Hausermatte. This quay’s construction started in 1923 while it was named Carl Spitteler, a Swiss Nobel Laureate in 1931.

This beautiful lake is located in the heart of Europe. It is the fourth largest lake in Switzerland which would surely captivate you. The water is bluish green and dazzling. You could see the reflection of the beautiful surrounding while feeling the gentle breeze on your face.

What makes it more interesting is its shape. It surrounds the city of Lucerne and circumnavigates the mountains nearby. The total area of Lake Lucerne is an impressive 114 square kilometres. Altogether, this makes Lake Lucerne an astonishing panorama. You can explore the outline of the lake through the road beside it.

There are also boats which can take you around if you really like to be close to the water and have the best Lake Lucerne experience. Lake Lucerne to be specific borders between these three cantons: Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden, together with the canton of Lucerne.

This is why it is called locally as Vierwaldstattersee or Lake of Four Forested Cantons. Lake Lucerne is also surrounded by some old towns like Weggis, Vitznau, Gersau, and so on. You could visit these towns while appreciating the beauty of the lake.

Kapellmeister Brucke or Chapel Bridge is one of the most popular destinations in Lucerne. It is considered as the town’s landmark.

This is a very old wooden bridge which was constructed back in the 14th century and is in fact the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. It was built near St. Peter’s Chapel that is why they named it after the chapel.

Inside the bridge paintings are hanged which dates back to 17th century. The paintings mostly depict the scenes in Switzerland and the place’s local history.

The famous Chapel Bridge comes with an octagonal Water Tower which is dubbed as such because it is standing on the water. It is 43 metres tall and adds up to the beauty of this bridge.

A glimpse of the River Reuss between Kapellbrücke and Spreuerbrúcke. The river rises in the Gotthard massif and flows into Lake Lucerne and through the city of Lucerne. The needle dam beside Spreuerbrücke controls the water level through the city.

A needle dam is a weir designed to maintain the level or flow of a river through the use of thin "needles" of wood. The needles are leaned against a solid frame and are not intended to be water-tight. Individual needles can be added or removed by hand to constrict the flow of the river, forming a sluice.

This is another covered wooden bridge in Lucerne. The River Reuss completes the scenic view of this old bridge. Paintings are also found on the triangular frames on the ceiling so you can both enjoy the sight of the river and these masterpieces while exploring Spreuerbrucke.

These paintings form a Danse Macabre which dubbed as Totentanz. 65 paintings used to hang there but in the present only 45 still exist. The original Spreuerbrucke was built back in the 13th century. Dumping chaff was allowed here and it was the only bridge in Lucerne where you can do this.

This is why it was named Spreuerbrucke because Spreu in German means chaff.

Near the bridge is the Nadelwehr or the wooden water spikes used in Lucerne to control the lake’s water level. Spreuerbrucke is another landmark which you should not miss in Lucerne. There are only two covered wooden bridges in Lucerne so be sure not to miss both.