Lucerne City Guide

Lucerne enjoys an attractive setting on the shore of Lake Lucerne, it also has the attractive River Reuss running through it. This combined with the city’s fascinating medieval architecture makes it a popular tourist destination. Take a stroll through the old town, cross 14th century bridges and sigh over “The dying Lion of Lucerne.”

What to do and see in and around Lucerne

Chapel Bridge
Dating back to the early 1300s this wonderful wooden bridge was once part of the city’s fortifications and takes its name from St. Peter’s Chapel nearby. The Bridge also doubles as an art gallery displaying illustrations of local history from the 1600s.

Water Tower
Located at the end of Chapel Bridge this much photographed octagonal tower stands at a height of over 34 metres high and is over 700 years old. The tower has a varied and sometimes dark history as an archive, treasury, prison and torture chamber. Like the Chapel Bridge the Water Tower was once part of the city’s walls.

Jesuit Church
This majestic church is an elegant example of Baroque architecture and is over 300 years old. The church was built by Father Christoph Vogler for the Jesuits.

Franciscan Church
This Gothic black and white church dates back to the late 1200s and is well worth a visit for its ornate pulpit and historic frescoes.

Spruer Bridge
Another of Lucerne’s medieval bridges, the Spruer Bridge was again part of the city’s fortification, dates back to 1408 and takes its name from the wheat or Spreu that was once dumped in the Reuss River. Like the Chapel Bridge the Spreur Bridge also has an artistic element with its display of 67, 17th century paintings by Kaspar Meglinger which represent the "Dance of Death".

Lion Monument
This famous poignant rock carving was sculpted by the Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen’s as a tribute to the Swiss Guards murdered during the French Revolution storming of the Tuileries Palace in Paris and is called “The dying Lion of Lucerne”.

Hof Church
This romantic looking cathedral with its twin needle towers and bright white exterior dates back as far the 8th century when a Benedictine monastery was founded, although due to fire the church was rebuilt in 1645 in the Renaissance style. Especially interesting is the detailing of the interior in particular the 16th century relief on Mary’s Alter.

Old Town
Lucerne’s Old Town is bordered by picturesque squares lined by fresco covered historical buildings. One such square is the Kornmarkt square which is home to the Town Hall and the attractive Pfistern guildhall.

Musegg Wall
Another remarkably intact piece of Swiss history; the Musegg Wall is a section of the rampart walls and dates back to 1386. The wall is in very good condition and comprises three towers which can be visited, one of these towers, the Zyt tower contains the oldest city clock, and as such it is granted the privilege of chiming exactly one minute before the hour, and before all the other clocks.

Town Hall
Lucerne’s Town Hall has an enviable location on the banks of the lovely River Reuss. The hall which dates back to 1602 serves many purposes from a weekly market place which takes place in the ground floor arcades to a concert and exhibition hall on the first floor. This building was built in the Italian Renaissance style and has a charming overhanging roof.