Lucerne

Today I headed to Lucerne, which is in the central part of Switzerland and about two hours from Lausanne by train. Lucerne lies on the shore of the lake that bears its name and is bisected by the Reuss river, which flows from the lake. The geography surrounding the city is quite scenic, as there are many mountains around the lake that rise rather vertically and make for a nice background.

I spent most of my visit touring the historic Old Town district and walking along the lake and river. The Old Town itself reminded me of the historic districts of some of Switzerland’s other major cities. The streets are lined with unique architecture and buildings dating back 500+ years. A number of the buildings had murals painted on their facades, which I found interesting.

Along the river there are a couple of bridges that are unique to Lucerne. The first, known as the Chapel Bridge, was built in the 14th century and is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. It served as part of the city’s early fortifications and has a tower near the center of the river that previously served as both a lighthouse and a prison. The second, known as the Spreuerbrucke, was built in the early 1400s and has a roof lined with paintings by Kaspar Meglinger.

My favorite sight was the Museggmauer, the well preserved northern section of Lucerne’s medieval fortifications. It’s in the hills above the city and runs nearly 1,000 yards with nine towers. The size of the structure alone is quite impressive, but the best part is the views from the towers. Though the climb involves steep wooden internal stairs / ladders (which don’t seem to be subject to the same safety codes we’re used to in the U.S.), it is well worth the effort.