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    Luzern

    Switzerland

    Luzern

    City

    Lucerne lies in Central Switzerland at the outflow of the Reuss from Lake Lucerne, surrounded by Pilatus, Rigi, and Titlis.

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    9. Luzern
    Lucerne lies in Central Switzerland at the outflow of the Reuss from Lake Lucerne, surrounded by Pilatus, Rigi, and Titlis. The well-preserved Old Town with Chapel Bridge and Water Tower, and its location between lake and mountains, make the city a fixed point of every Switzerland trip.The approximately 200-meter-long Chapel Bridge from the 14th century is considered Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge. In a fire in August 1993, large parts, along with many of its gable paintings, were destroyed; by April 1994, it had been rebuilt. Next to it stands the octagonal Water Tower, which is older than the bridge and cannot be visited. The Lion Monument from 1821 commemorates the Swiss Guards who fell in Paris during the French Revolution; right next to it is the Glacier Garden. Steamboats are available for trips across the lake.
    Lucerne, situated where the Reuss flows out of Lake Lucerne, is the main gateway to Central Switzerland. Old Town, train station, and boat docks are close together; most routes are walkable. The Old Town on the right bank of the Reuss is largely cobbled, overlooked by the Musegg Wall and its towers. On the opposite bank are the Jesuit Church and KKL, while north of the Old Town you'll find the Lion Monument and Glacier Garden. From here, paddle steamers cruise the lake, connecting with mountain railways up Pilatus, Rigi, or Titlis.

    More districts in Luzern

    Old Town Lucerne

    Old Town Lucerne

    The car-free Old Town lies on the right bank of the Reuss, between Kapellbrücke and Museggmauer. Around Weinmarkt, Kornmarkt and Hirschenplatz stand burgher houses with painted façades, with cafés and shops in between. Via the Kapellbrücke and the Spreuerbrücke, you reach the other side of the river.

    Sights in Luzern

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Lion Monument
    Historic Landmark

    1Lion Monument

    Carved into a rock face, the Dying Lion of 1821 commemorates the Swiss Guards who fell in Paris during the French Revolution. Right next to it is the Glacier Garden.
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    Chapel Bridge and Water Tower
    Attraction

    2Chapel Bridge and Water Tower

    The roughly 200-meter-long 14th-century covered wooden bridge crosses the Reuss; triangular painted panels adorn its gables. After the 1993 fire, it was rebuilt by 1994, and the octagonal water tower next to it is not accessible.
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    Jesuit Church
    Church

    3Jesuit Church

    The 17th-century Baroque church stands on the Reuss riverbank opposite the Old Town. Inside, ceiling paintings are visible, and regular organ concerts are held.
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    Musegg Wall
    Historic Landmark

    4Musegg Wall

    The medieval city wall with nine towers runs above the Old Town. Some towers are accessible, offering views of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne.
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    Restaurants in Luzern

    1

    Fondue House du Pont

    Fondue and Swiss cuisine in the Old Town by the Reuss, Unter der Egg, just steps from the Chapel Bridge.
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    2

    Restaurant Bündnerland

    Restaurant on Eisengasse in the Old Town, serving, among other things, Bündner specialties like Bündnerfleisch.
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    3

    Restaurant grottino1313

    Italian restaurant on Industriestrasse south of the center, a little off the beaten path.
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    Food & Beverages in Lucerne

    Lucerne Meatball Pastry

    Lucerne Meatball Pastry

    A puff pastry pie, filled with small meatballs and veal in a cream sauce, the city's traditional festive dish.
    Carnival pastry

    Carnival pastry

    During Fasnacht, bakeries feature Fasnachtschüechli, thin, crisp pastries dusted with powdered sugar.

    Culture in Lucerne

    Lucerne combines a vibrant carnival tradition with world-class classical music.Lucerne FasnachtOn Shrove Thursday, Fasnacht begins at 5 AM with the Big Bang over the lake basin. Until Shrove Tuesday, Guggen bands and costumed groups parade through the Old Town; highlights include the Fritschi Parade, the Wey Parade, and the Monstercorso. Anyone who comes in costume immediately becomes part of the action.KKL and Lucerne FestivalThe KKL Culture and Congress Centre, designed by Jean Nouvel, is located right next to the train station on the lakeside; its cantilevered roof has become a landmark. Its concert hall is renowned for its acoustics and is the main venue for the Lucerne Festival, whose Summer Festival runs from mid-August to mid-September. The KKL also houses the Lucerne Art Museum.

    Nightlife

    1

    Jazzkantine at Graben

    Local spot in the Old Town with bar food, drinks, and regular live jazz concerts.
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    Discovering Lucerne

    Lucerne's center is compact: From the train station, you can reach the Chapel Bridge, Old Town, and boat docks in just a few minutes on foot. For destinations like the Lion Monument or the Swiss Museum of Transport, take the VBL city buses, which depart from Bahnhofplatz.The boats on Lake Lucerne depart directly in front of the train station, connecting Lucerne with towns along the lake and the valley stations of the mountain railways. Buses and the SGV regular services are included with the Swiss Travel Pass.

    Accommodations in Luzern

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    Campgrounds in Luzern

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    Nearby

    Old Town Lucerne

    Old Town Lucerne

    The car-free Old Town lies on the right bank of the Reuss, between Kapellbrücke and Museggmauer. Around Weinmarkt, Kornmarkt and Hirschenplatz stand burgher houses with painted façades, with cafés and shops in between. Via the Kapellbrücke and the Spreuerbrücke, you reach the other side of the river.
    Central Switzerland

    Central Switzerland

    Central Switzerland around Lake Lucerne is the historic heartland of the Swiss Confederation: Here, Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden united in 1291, and the Rütli Meadow lies above Lake Uri. The main town for travelers is Lucerne, with its Old Town on the Reuss River.Around the lake rise panoramic mountains like Pilatus, Rigi, and Titlis, which you reach by cogwheel and cable cars. Boats connect the towns along the shore.
    Seefeld

    Seefeld

    The residential district on the right bank of Lake Zurich stretches from Bellevue to Zürichhorn. Along the lakeside promenade are parks, lidos, and sunbathing lawns, which are well-visited on summer evenings. From the city center, you can reach Seefeld on foot or by tram.
    Zurich Oldtown

    Zurich Oldtown

    The Old Town lies on both sides of the Limmat, between Hauptbahnhof and Lake Zurich. Left of the river are Lindenhof, St. Peter and Fraumünster; on the right, Niederdorf with its narrow lanes, bars and guild houses around Grossmünster. The largest part is pedestrian zone and can be easily explored in one day.
    Zurich

    Zurich

    Zürich, Switzerland's largest city, lies at the northern end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat flows from the lake. Its medieval Old Town on both sides of the river, lakeside promenades, and a wide array of museums make it a great starting point for any Swiss journey.On the right bank, you'll find the Grossmünster and the Rathaus; on the left, the Fraumünster with Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows, and St. Peter's Church with Europe's largest clock face. Bahnhofstrasse leads from the Hauptbahnhof, the country's largest railway station, to the lake. For a panorama of the city, lake, and, on clear days, the Alps, take the train from Hauptbahnhof up the 870-meter-high Uetliberg.