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    Recommended Reviews - Löwendenkmal

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    Sara C.

    The Lucerne Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal) is a gorgeous carving of a lion, commemorating the Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution. The lion itself has been called the "dying lion" because he has a broken spear in his side and is mournfully laying his head on the Swiss Guard shields and weapons. It's definitely a sight to behold, due to its impressive size, subject, and being carved into living rock. There is some greenery around the area, as well as a few rock features that appear to be for other carvings or rock work. There's not much else around the monument, so it can definitely be a quick stop for reflection, mediation, or just to see the monument and consider the history behind it.

    Cynthia V.

    A beautiful yet tragic monument in that it elicits a lot of emotion and pulls at your heart strings (as all good art should!). Free entry accompanied by a small park area with restrooms. Allow yourself 15min or so to visit; it is readily accessible and does not take long to access or view.

    Lily H.

    Super random, seems to appear out of nowhere. Nice peaceful spot with shade. You won't need long to visit.

    Byron S.

    This is a must visit spot. Make sure you read up on the interesting history of this sculpture. Do you see the shape of a pig on the outer carvings? The water fountain was under repairs and I am sure it will look wonderful once complete. Make sure this is on your list.

    Jennifer L.

    What a cool spot to visit in Luzern! I am SO glad we took the time to find this. We were only in Luzern for a day as we were staying in Zurich and for some reason I remember reading that the Lion Monument was located pretty far away from the downtown area. This is so not true. It was a 12-min walk from the train station at most. Google maps led us right to it. It's a neat little area - totally free to enter. We were there in January so the water in front of the monument had a layer of ice over it. It was not crowded at all at this time of year and was just so cool to see in real life. Pictures can only do so much - this is a spot you need to see in real life. Don't miss it when you visit Luzern!

    Alison V.

    LION MONUMENT - A beautiful tribute to memorialize the Swiss soldiers who died during the French Revolution. It is free to enter, and it is open 24 hours per day. To get here from the central station, we took the Luzern #23 bus towards Gisikon, got off at Lowenplaz, and then we crossed the street towards the Swiss House building and followed the signs to lion.

    10/14/2016
    Linda T.

    Interesting sculpture of a Lion monument and it's also one of the popular sightseeing spots in Lucerne, Switzerland. This was my 2nd time here and there's no fee to enter. There were a few tourists when I came. Turnover is pretty quick since you can take a few pics and then you can just leave. You could also visit the "Glacier Garden Lucerne" museum which is nearby.

    Paige M.

    Created in 1821, Löwendenkmal is a stunningly solemn landmark commemorating the Swiss Guards who were massacred while serving King Louis XVI in 1792 during the French Revolution. When the revolutionary masses attacked the royal Tuileries castle in Paris, the Swiss troops tried to defend the royal family and assisted the monarchs' escape. Out of the 1,110 Swiss soldiers, 760 were killed. The monument features a giant dying lion carved out of a wall of sandstone rock above a quarry, measuring 20 x 33 feet. The lion is portrayed impaled by a spear, covering a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchy; beside him is another shield bearing the coat of arms of Switzerland. An inscription reads, "Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti" ("To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss") and also lists the names of the officers, and numbers of the soldiers who died. Löwendenkmal is one of the most moving war monuments that I've visited, and tops the list as my favorite. I could sit in front of the lion and his reflecting pool all day. Viewing Time: 30 minutes

    Ben L.

    Meh it was literally a two second visit. It's a statue in front of a pond. You go, you take a few pics and you head out. The free bathroom on the right is actually pretty interesting, very high tech.

    Kanchan B.

    Melancholy and mesmerizing, I found this tribute to the the Swiss fallen soldiers both sad and hopeful. The lion's reflection in the waters magnified the effect. When I visited in the early hours of a blustery winter evening, it was all tour groups and visitors. The only sign of a local was the lady walking her dog whom we passed at the entrance, and she walked right by this place. It's truly magnificent, and yet in a very unexpected location, set back two streets from Lowencenter mall and just back from a square which house either a glorious library or an amazing bookstore. I liked the small church set right beside the entrance but the whole effect is really spoiled by this huge fake golden lion placed katty-corner to the monument, at the entrance to a tourist shop. Final verdict? Go see it and sit on the convenient benches and mediate on lost lives, national pride, and the futility of war (something even our current generation hasn't learned from) and just ignore the weird location and tourist traps.

    Our tour group
    Sharon H.

    Our first stop in Luzern was a visit to this sleeping (dying, I later earned) lion monument where our guide gave us a brief history lesson on Switzerland. How it tied to the lion, I sort of faded in and out as the dappled sunlight across the monument made me dizzy. You do feel the solemnity of the area as there is a sense of time stopping. Perhaps -- like me -- you were actually in sad need of a nap and wishing the lion had some space in his niche for you to lie next to him.

    Jeff S.

    Löwendenkmal is German for the Lion Monument, more commonly known as the Lion of Lucerne. I was interested in the sight but I was not prepared for my fascination. Mark Twain called it "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world." This monument was carved into sandstone and is very close to the center of Lucerne. It is carved into the face of a cliff and is dedicated "To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss." The monument of dying lion, impaled by a spear, covering a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchy, with another shield beside him bearing the coat of arms of Switzerland is full of sorrow. It honors the Swiss soldiers who died defending King Louis XVI in 1792 during the French revolution (FYI - "Les Miserables" begins more than two decades after the start of the French Revolution). It is a tradition to toss a coin over your shoulder into the pond for good luck, although I am not sure how such a sombre memorial would offer good fortune. The lion commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, where Napoleon once lived. In present day, the Swiss Guard refers to the Pontifical Swiss Guard, who are responsible for the safety of the Pope, and the security of the Apostolic Palace. The Swiss Guard also serves as the de facto military of Vatican City.

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    Löwendenkmal Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Löwendenkmal

    LION MONUMENT - A beautiful tribute to memorialize the Swiss soldiers who died during the French Revolution.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    Kapellbrücke

    Kapellbrücke

    4.6(55 reviews)
    0.8 km

    The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) is absolutely worth the visit and lives up to its reputation as…read moreone of Lucerne's most iconic sights. Walking across the bridge feels like stepping into a postcard -- the wooden structure, the flower boxes, and the views of the Reuss River with the mountains in the background are stunning. One of the highlights is the series of historic paintings under the roof, which give a glimpse into Swiss history and culture. The Water Tower next to the bridge adds even more character and makes the whole area feel timeless. It does get crowded, especially during peak tourist hours, but if you visit early in the morning or later in the evening, it's much calmer and perfect for photos. The bridge is centrally located and easy to combine with a walk around the old town.

    It's the iconic wooden pedestrian bridge over the Reuss River in Lucerne. It connects Old Town to…read morethe transportation hub and the more modern parts of town. The hanging flowering plants that decorate the bridge make it the most photographed spot in Lucerne along with its 13th century water tower. The tower was once a prison in medieval times. The original bridge was built in the early 1300s. Unfortunately, most of the wooden structural parts of the bridge were destroyed in a fire in 1993 along with the triangular historical paintings. I believe some did survive and were restored. The other paintings are reproductions. It's still beautiful despite all of this. We found it to be very crowded but easy to find a space for pictures. The view of the painted buildings along the Rathausquai is priceless. It's a great place to be on a sunny day. It's also the perfect place to be on a rainy day to shield you from the elements. It's very close to the transportation hub (train, bus, and ferry). There are many awesome restaurants with great terrace views of the bridge. Depending on the season, there will be roasted chestnut kiosks along the river as well. It was probably the first place that we visited on the day we arrived. It just happened to be the perfect route to take on our way to visiting the historic Lion Monument. Make that crossing for the history and great views from the bridge. You won't be disappointed.

    Photos
    Kapellbrücke - Bridge with paintings

    Bridge with paintings

    Kapellbrücke
    Kapellbrücke - Bridge

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    Bridge

    Spreuerbrücke - Artwork along the Spreuerbrücke (half the bridge is under construction)

    Spreuerbrücke

    4.8(10 reviews)
    1.0 km

    Spectacular old Swiss bridge crossing a river in Luzern. In its center there is a wood chapel…read more Review: 5

    This old wooden bridge crossing over the Reuss River may be smaller than the more popular Chapel…read moreBridge, but it definitely has more personality. It's the one with the triangular-shaped Kaspar Meglinger "Dance of Death" paintings. I'm guessing that they've been restored over the years. They actually looked well-preserved considering they've been exposed to the elements under the trusses of the bridge since the mid-17th century. The skeletal death guy in all the paintings is kind of creepy. Oh, and there is a Grim Reaper too. Can you imagine walking over this bridge at night while looking at all those spider-webbed paintings? We decided to take this route on the way to visiting the towers along the Musegg Wall that once fortified the city. It also happens to be the site of the hydroelectric plant and the beaver ramp. I'm not sure if beavers actually use it, but it's there in case they need to pass over the rough downstream water to get to Lake Lucerne. It's all explained with descriptive informational markers. That whole area is kind of cool. It was interesting to see even though half the bridge was under construction at the time we were there (Sept 2025). You can still see the paintings above the scaffolding. It's definitely worthy of a cross over at some point during your stay in Lucerne.

    Photos
    Spreuerbrücke - About the Spreuerbrücke

    About the Spreuerbrücke

    Spreuerbrücke - A view of Hotel Château Gütsch after exiting the Spreuerbrücke

    A view of Hotel Château Gütsch after exiting the Spreuerbrücke

    Spreuerbrücke - Artwork along the Spreuerbrücke

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    Artwork along the Spreuerbrücke

    Die Museggmauer und ihre Türme

    Die Museggmauer und ihre Türme

    4.6(8 reviews)
    0.7 km

    The medieval city wall is impressively preserved, and walking along it gives you a real sense of…read moreLucerne's history. The clock tower itself is iconic. The best part is the views. From the wall and tower, you get amazing panoramas of Lucerne's Old Town, the lake, and the surrounding mountains. It's perfect for photos, a relaxing stroll, or just soaking in the city's charm from above. The climb is manageable, and there are plenty of spots to pause and enjoy the scenery. I'm only giving it 4 stars because we didn't see enough signage or information to know what to expect or where to head to for the sights.

    I don't think many tourists go out of their way to visit this historical landmark, but I could be…read morewrong. I just didn't see many people out there with the exception of some kids from a nearby school. It's another steep walk up a hill with many steps. However, it gets very interesting once you're there. Did you know this old stone wall is a habitat for birds, bats, and even lichen? There's all kinds of things living in the nooks & crannies of these tower walls. These walls have been here since the late 14th century. The inner and outer walls once had 30 towers. Now, there are only 13 with 9 of them seen today on the outer musegg wall. The Water Tower on Chapel Bridge was once part of the Inner wall ring. I didn't know that. Our original plan was to take the 3 flights of stairs up the Schirmerturm and walk along the wall to the Zytturm (Clock Tower) and then up to the clock. We decided not to do that after looking at the wooden ladder-like stairs. There were also warnings in their brochures about steep stairs and other hazards. Just be aware of that if you have limited mobility. There is one other Tower that can be visited. That's the one with the armored statue on top called the Männliturm. It's the furthest away. Also, there's a farm called Hinter Musegg that's close to the Watch Tower (Wachtturm). I believe they're only open on the weekends. It's just another place to visit while you're out there. It was a very nice walk.

    Photos
    Die Museggmauer und ihre Türme
    Die Museggmauer und ihre Türme
    Die Museggmauer und ihre Türme

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    Löwendenkmal - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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