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Luzern Sights and Landmarks Guide, Switzerland

Luzern Sights – The Chapel Bridge

Luzern is the main tourist destination in Switzerland due to its astonishing surroundings and very cozy inner city atmosphere. Its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne and near Mount Pilatus in the Swiss Alps make it the perfect destination for mountain lovers but also for those who are looking for a vivid city with both medieval and contemporary art works and monuments. Luzern is known for its large number of bridges, out of which the most famous is the Chapel Bridge, a 204 meter wooden bridge that was built in 1333. It was rebuilt almost entirely in 1993 when it partially burned down, but the structure and design remained intact. Inside there are various paintings depicting events from the history of the city and it overlooks another important landmark of Luzern, the octagonal 13th century fortification known as Water Tower. These two make the most important and popular of the Luzern sights.

Luzern Sights – Unique Monuments

Another popular sight in Luzern is the Mill Bridge, with a zigzag design and 17th century paintings. It is the first covered bridge in Europe and features a series of allegorical paintings depicting Death deviously frowning upon all mortals who are now equal. There is a famous and unique monument among the Luzern sights which is called the Lion Monument, a carving in stone of a dying lion made by Bertel Thorvaldsen to symbolize the hundreds of Swiss guards that were killed in 1792 during the French Revolution. There are also two other significant and beautiful churches, the Jesuit Church built in 1666 which is the first baroque sacral building in the city and the Franciscan Church, typically medieval gothic built in the 13th century.

Luzern Sights – The Old City and the Museums

The old city squares are definitely a must see and the best way to visit them is through guided or independent walking tours. They display beautiful historical buildings and large picturesque terraces. If you plan on visiting a museum we recommend you start with the Swiss Transport Museum, a very comprehensive presentation of all forms of transportation from ancient to modern. There is also the unique Richard Wagner Museum and the Culture and Convention Centre which is a great display of modern architecture and hosts one of the world’s best concert halls. Luzern is located just 45 minutes (60 kilometers) away from the largest town in Switzerland, Zurich, and 110 kilometers away from the capital city, Bern.

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