« SWITZERLAND • Discover Switzerland • Lucerne

Discover magical Lucerne

Lucerne is a city in central Switzerland. The city is located on the shore of Lake Lucerne with a famous wooden bridge and within sight of Pilatus and Rigi. The city grew from a small fishing village of ancient origins on the shores of Lake Lucerne with the founding of the Benedictine monastery of St. Leodegar in around 700 AD.

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» Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrucke)

The Chapel Bridge (or Kapellbrucke) in Lucerne is a 204 meter (670 foot) long bridge crossing the Reuss River located in the upper part of the Swiss city. It was originally constructed in 1333 as a fortification to help protect Lucerne from attacks and is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. Inside the bridge are a collection of paintings from the 17th century, depicting various events and important saints from Lucerne's history …

» Culture and Congress Centre

The Culture and Congress Center, often simply referred to as KKL by the locals, is the work of the French architect Jean Nouvel. It has an extraordinary presence among the more traditional buildings of Lucerne, especially due to the modern square shape and the enormous flat roof overhanging Europe Square. This floating roof, sometimes called the magic roof, soon became a symbol of the city and is definitely the building's most prominent feature …

» Eiger

One of a trio of famous peaks that dominate the Bernese Alps, the Eiger, along with the neighboring Jungfrau and Monch, is one of Switzerland's most recognizable mountains, towering 3,970 meters above the resort town of Grindelwald. Notorious among climbers, scaling the 1,800 meter near-vertical North Face of the Eiger is one of the country's most challenging feats, first accomplished in 1938 and claiming a number of lives over the years …

» Engelberg

Engelberg, literally meaning the Mountain of Angels, is a mountain valley and village in central Switzerland boasting one of the best action packed recreational programs in the country. The fun doesn't stop at skiing and snowboarding and from paragliding and bungee jumping to climbing, snow tubing and zorbing, the adventure possibilities are pretty much endless. A bit more traditional is the village's history. Engelberg was founded in 1120 by Benedictine monks and to this day …

» Engelberg Monastery

This Benedictine Monastery lies in the heart of Engelberg. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels and, to this day, there are still roughly 30 monks living and working in the Engelberg monastery. Engelberg's culture dates back to the 12th Century when the monastery was founded by the Count of Seldenburen. Engelberg Monastery has been granted many rights and privileges by various emperors and popes and was once the center of power in the region …

» Jungfrau Glacier

Jungfraujoch is a saddle in the Bernese Alps between the Monch and the Jungfrau and one of Switzerland's most popular destinations. The Jungfraujoch is often referred to as the "Top of Europe" in travel books; however, in fact the Jungfraujoch is the lowest point on the col between Monch and Jungfrau, at 3,471 meters (11,388 feet). Take the famous railway ride to the Jungfraujoch and enjoy scenic views of glaciers and Eiger's northern face …

» Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne is the 4th largest lake in the country and has complicated shape that curves into the mountains and the city of Lucerne. The lake's has a total area of 114 square kilometers (44 sqare miles). The lake and shoreline have many stunning views, especially of Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus. It is possible to trek around the lake by road. You should be wary that the route is slow, twisted, and goes through multiple tunnels. The lake is a popular tourist destination, both for foreigners and native Swiss …

» Lion Monument

Carved into the low cliff face on the outskirts of the Old Town, the Lion Monument is Lucerne's most distinctive landmark, evocatively described by Mark Twain as 'the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world'. The giant sandstone sculpture depicts a 10-meter long dying lion resting in a shaded nook above a shimmering pond, and was created in 1821 under commission of Captain Carl Pfyffer von Altishofen. Hewn out of the natural rock on-site, the monument was the handiwork of stonemason Lucas Ahorn …

» Lucerne Old Town

With its idyllic lakeside promenade lined with half-timbered buildings, old burghers' houses decorated with elaborate murals and maze of cobblestone lanes linking the main squares of Weinmarkt, Hischenplatz and Kornmarkt; the pedestrianized Lucerne Old Town provides an atmospheric backdrop for a walking tour. The UNESCO-listed district is the historic heart of the city, set on the eastern banks of the River Reuss and still surrounded by the remains of its medieval city walls and watchtowers …

» Mount Rigi

Mount Rigi is a mountain in central Switzerland, bordering Lucerne, and part of the Swiss Alps. It's also known as the "Queen of the Mountains." Rigi offers stunning panoramic views and is famous for its beautiful sunrises. Nowadays, the mountain is easily accessible by public transportation. It offers many winter and summer excursions such as skiing, sledding, or hiking …

» Mt Pilatus

Pilatus is a just north of Lucerne. Local legend alleges that Pontius Pilate was buried there, giving the mountain its name. The tale claims Pilate haunted the mountain after his death and would unleash storms on climbers approaching the summit. However, it is more likely that the name comes from the Latin world pileatus, meaning covered in clouds. Whatever the truth is, everyone can agree that it is a beautiful place to visit, both in winter and in summer …

» Mt Titlis

Mount Titlis is the best and highest view over central Switzerland. The summit is always snow-covered, which is great for avid skiers. The view from the belvedere, at 2,970 meter (9,742 feet), includes the Jungfrau and the Matterhorn, in addition to Zurich and Basel on a nice day. Enjoy the ride up to the summit on the funicular and cable cars …

» Rosengart Collection (Picasso Museum)

The Rosengart Collection is Lucerne's newest museum addition and houses the extensive and once private collection of Angela Rosengart, a Swiss art dealer and good friend to the famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso. Rosengart, who has collected one of the biggest private art stashes of the classical modernist era, wanted to make these paintings, which would normally just be passed from one private collector to the next, more accessible to the public …

» Stanserhorn CabriO

We all know what regular cable cars look like. The mountain Stanserhorn in the canton of Nidwalden though, has managed to provide a more revolutionary experience for its guests and at the same time, write cable car history. The world's first convertible-style cable car, the Stanserhorn CabriO, is where the fun is at. You can have a panoramic and completely unobstructed view over a hundred kilometers of alpine peaks while you float under the open sky with pristine mountain air blowing through your fluttering hair …

» Swiss Transport Museum

Home to Switzerland's first IMAX theater and a fascinating collection of trains, ships, airplanes, automobiles and even spaceships, the Swiss Transport Museum is one of Europe's leading transport museums. A popular attraction for visitors to Lucerne, the museum exhibits over 3,000 large-scale items, among them the Riga, Switzerland's oldest steamboat, dating back to 1847; a number of vintage 1870s trams and trolleys; the EURECA satellite; and a Car Theater crammed with over 80 automobiles …

» Weggis

Weggis is a municipality in central Switzerland, which is located right on the shores of Lake Lucerne and at the foot of the Queen of the Mountains, the Rigi. The inhabitants of Weggis often claim that their town is a little bit warmer than other places on the northern side of the Alps and they might just be right. Due to being protected from the harsh north wind, the climate is milder and there is hardly a garden in Weggis that doesn't spread that little bit of vacation feeling with a palm tree or two …

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