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.

It's a small site, but the emotion it conveys is enormous. Carved directly into a sandstone cliff,…read morethe lion's expression is so realistic and sorrowful that it leaves a lasting impression. Knowing the history behind it -- a memorial to the Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution -- makes the visit even more meaningful. The surrounding area is peaceful and easy to explore, with benches nearby to sit and reflect. Perfect for photography, history lovers, or anyone looking for a reflective moment during their Lucerne visit.

It's the Lion Memorial to the Swiss Guardsmen that died defending King Louis XVI at Tuileries…read morePalace in Paris on August 10, 1792. The Roman numerals inscribed on the monument reference the 760 who died and the 350 who survived. It's definitely a very sad monument. If you look closely, you'll see the broken spear that's described as piercing the Lion's heart. The park and quarry is kind of hidden from plain sight. I'm not sure how anyone would just "happen to stumble" across it unless you happen to be on Denkmalstrasse visiting the Old Swiss House or Restaurant Caravelle. Hubby figured it out quickly, but I was very confused. The whole park area and neighborhood surrounding it feels hidden despite the touristy attractions such as the Alpineum 3D and Glacier Garden Museum. Some find these paid attractions to be worthy. I was happy just seeing the park & monument. The park is actually a very relaxing place to be. We walked around the pond in this former quarry to get different views of the monument. The size of the lion sculpture is quite surprising as you get closer to it. There are historical pictures and information markers that give more incite into how it was sculpted and constructed. If anything, it's worth a visit to get away from the traffic around the city. Try to get there before the tour groups arrive. It was quiet & peaceful when we visited on a weekday.

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.

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.

One could only imagine the majesty and awe a person must have experienced when this was one of the…read moremost traveled to venues of worship in an era when faith was held far more dear than now. Walking through the church I felt that magnificence and wondered how many thousands of others held that same immaculate feeling while staring at the impressive artwork and gorgeous architecture. This was a moment well spent and I encourage anyone visiting Lucerne to follow suit and spend a few of your precious minutes here at this historic church.

It's the square in front of KKL that brings art, transportation, people, and scenery together into…read moreone big and open environment. We passed through it daily on our way to Old Town. It can be lively or restful depending on the time of day. We happened to see a group of people stretching or participating in a Tai Chi class one morning near the Wagenbach fountain. What a great place to do that with running water in the background. The rest of the time, we saw people going to or coming from the ferry, train, or bus stations. There are restaurants there as well as an art museum and concert hall within the cultural center. We observed that the best thing to do here is to grab a quick bite to eat (or cup of coffee) and sit along the quai of Lake Lucerne. We found it very relaxing just watching the swans & ducks swim by, and to see the mountainous landscape. You're in for a treat if you're there in October. That's when the Lucerne Autumn Fair is at Europaplatz. Otherwise, enjoy the open and peaceful space while you can.

It's the needle dam along the Reuss River. You'll recognize and hear it right away when walking up…read morethe south side of the river on the pedestrian path known as the Reusssteg on your way to the Spreuer Bridge. It's not as impressive as the more modern day dams, but it's very unique. This one was built back in the 19th century to control the flow of water. It's uses thin slats of wood to regulate the water level and can be adjusted by adding more wood. It's just cool to see it in action and upclose as you walk by it. There are very few operational needle dams that exist today. You might as well see it while you're there.

July 2024 - A nice hidden little gem. Just walk down the street and you will see how powerful the…read morewater is. You can also walk on top parts of the water pumps to take a few great photographs of the area. Very near an older bridge to cross.

It's the church with the Gothic twin towers that you see from across the lake as you're crossing…read morethe bridge into Old Town. These towers were all that was left of the structure after the fire of 1633. The church was rebuilt on the original foundation in the Baroque style of architecture while retaining the medieval towers. I was more interested in the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Altar. I've never seen one like this before that visualizes the story of the Virgin Mary on her deathbed. I looked around for more information about it. It appears that this altar had also survived the fire. It dates back to some time in the early 1500s. It's definitely unique. The rest of the church is not as ornate. The vaulted white-stone ceilings and arches along with the dark wooden bench seats give it a nice contrast between light and dark. It's a beautiful church. One thing to note is that there are quite a few steps to climb if you want to visit the church. However, I did see a car at the top of the steps. Did someone drive it up the steps, or is there a path behind the church? I have no idea. It's worth looking into if you have limited mobility. There's a church cemetery garden as well as lovely fountain in the former abbey courtyard and square. It's a peaceful & breezy walk up there. It was a nice little visit on the way to the Lion Monument.

7/11/2024 - A large church near the water and you have to walk to a few steep steps to get inside…read more It was very slow inside the church. Great photos to take inside. There is a cemetery behind the church and the sides. A great looking building you will see if Lucern. See photos. Also, it is free.