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Exploring Lucerne Old Town

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Lucerne Old Town

Lucerne Old Town

Whether you’re visiting Lucerne on a day trip from Zurich, scaling the mighty peaks of the Bernese Oberland or cruising Lake Lucerne, exploring Lucerne Old Town — the city’s historic core and most photogenic district — will likely be at the top of your itinerary.

A muddle of medieval squares and cobblestone lanes stretching along the north bank of the River Reuss, the Old Town, or Altstadt, is a charming melange of historic buildings, with timber-framed edifices and gable-roofed townhouses adorned with colorful murals. Enter the Old Town via the landmark Chapel Bridge, the city’s instantly recognizable wooden footbridge, which dates back to the 14th century and is famed for its old water tower and flower-lined walkway, where the remains of some striking 17th-century paintings hang from the beams. At the tip of the bridge, you’ll find its namesake, St. Peter’s Chapel, from where it’s a short walk along the waterfront to the stately Rathaus (Town Hall). Further west, the Spreuer Bridge, or Mill Bridge, is another wooden footbridge, this time dating from the 15th century and renowned for its Kaspar Meglinger murals.

A trio of old town squares — the Weinmarkt, Hischenplatz and Kornmarkt — form the main navigational landmarks of the historic center, around which the majority of hotels, restaurants and shops are clustered, and the largely pedestrianized area means it’s easy to get around on foot or by bike. A five-minute walk north takes you to the Musegg Wall, the last remaining stretch of Lucerne’s medieval city walls, which includes four well-preserved towers dating from 1386. Be sure to check out the Zyt Tower, where the clock, built by Hans Luter in the 16th century, chimes each hour one minute before Lucerne’s other clocks, a right afforded it as the city’s oldest.

Around a kilometer northeast of the Musegg Wall is another of Lucerne’s top attractions — the poignant Lion Monument, a 10-meter-long sandstone lion sculpture nestled in a cliffside. Erected in 1821, it’s dedicated to the Swiss Guards who fought and died in the 1792 French Revolution and ranks among Switzerland’s most celebrated monuments. Stop by the neighboring Alpineum museum and café afterward, where you can enjoy a coffee while admiring the dazzling panorama of the Swiss Alps.

Contributed by Zoe Smith

Exploring Lucerne Old Town from Switzerland Things to Do


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