On the third day of our Great Journey Through Europe with National Trust Tours we did what millions of tourists have done for years—visited the lovely Central Switzerland city of Lucerne. With the majestic Alps as backdrop for Lake Lucerne, the city is a photographer’s delight.

More than most communities, Lucerne tells its history and celebrates the present through art. Painted murals on buildings in the Old Town, pictorial panels on Europe’s oldest covered bridge, whimsical fountains, magnificent churches, and store signs all join together with an arresting landscape to tell Lucerne’s story in a most delightful way.

Our day began early at the “Lion of Lucerne” before the crowds arrived. Unveiled in 1821, the dying lion of Lucerne was sculpted from the rock of the cliff and commemorates the Swiss guardsmen who died in 1792 during the French Revolution. It is a moving tribute, a beautiful work of art, and part of the nation’s story.

We then walked through the local market to arrive at another city landmark: the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower.

Lucerne is well-known for its wooden bridges. The Chapel Bridge, built in 1332 as part of the city’s original fortifications, connects the New Town to the medieval Old Town, bending along the way as it passes the water tower.

Pictorial panels were incorporated into the bridge in the 17th century, showcasing scenes of local and national history as well as the biographies of the city’s patron saints, St. Leodegar and St. Maurice. The bridge and panels were burned in a catastrophic fire in 1993, but all of the structure and many of the panels have since been restored.

Lucerne is defined and designed by water. The River Reuss flows swiftly through the city where it is crossed not only by the fourteenth-century Chapel Bridge (or Kapellbrücke) but also by the fifteenth-century Spreuerbrücke.

The river is fed by Lake Lucerne, also known as Vierwaldstättersee or Lake of the Four Forest Cantons (the Swiss term for states). Small villages dot the shoreline and the Alps make for a breathtaking backdrop.

The story of the city is also shown on the faces of many of the historic buildings. Murals tell of the city’s millers and brewers, showcase the various guilds that were once prominent in the region, speak to the pursuit of hunting, highlight biblical stories, and display the city’s rich Carnival (Mardi Gras) history which dates back several hundred years.

Finally, Lucerne is filled with gates and fountains . . .

. . .churches, alleyways, and broad vistas . . .

. . . and so much more that adds to the charm of this vibrant city.

More to come . . .

DJB

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For the first in the series about my Great Journey Through Europe with National Trust Tours see Seeking the beautiful and awe-inspiring.

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Sunrise in Lucerne photo by Simon Infanger on Unsplash. All other photos by DJB unless otherwise credited.