Lucerne
Fly here
The Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne, gateway to the central Alps.
From the basket
Where the Reuss leaves its lake, Lucerne spreads out between two mountains, Pilatus on one side and the Rigi on the other. From the balloon you can see the river cross the old town, spanned by two long wooden footbridges under roofs, and the lake open out towards the Alps.
The Chapel Bridge, with its octagonal water tower, is the very image of the city. It is two hundred and four metres long and was built in 1333; no wooden bridge in Europe is older. Under its roof, paintings tell the history of the city. A fire ravaged it; it has been rebuilt since.
To the north, the walls of the Musegg, with their towers, still close off the old town. Further on, carved into the rock, the Lion of Lucerne commemorates the Swiss Guards who died in Paris in 1792, then serving Louis XVI.
Fly over the two bridges across the Reuss, then let the wind sweep you over the lake, towards the mountains.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Lucerne”.
All around
- Lake Lucerne, close by, to the south-east
- Pilatus, 2128 m, 9 km to the south-west
- Lake Zug, 13 km to the north-east
- Rigi, 1798 m, 13 km to the east
To discover around Lucerne
Beromünster Radio Trail
The municipality of Beromünster is also known as the home of Swiss radio, because Radio Beromünster has ruled the airwaves of German-speaking Switzerland since the 1930s.. You can find out more about the radio’s history by hiking along the Beromünster Radio Trail.
BLS RegioExpress Bern - Luzern
The BLS RegioExpress will bring you to one of Switzerland's most original areas.
Christmas in Lucerne
During the Advent season, Lucerne shines in a very special glow. Twinkling lights illuminate the picturesque alleyways and Lake Lucerne glistens serenely in all its beauty. A light scent of winter chill, mixed with cinnamon and mulled wine, wafts through the city. It's Christmas time in the city of lights.
Luzern-Engelberg Express
Enjoy a relaxing, comfortable and rapid journey to Engelberg, an excellent day-trip destination. The newly-refurbished 1st class panorama coach of Luzern-Engelberg Express offers a particularly comfortable journey and spectacular views. The train will whisk you in just 47 minutes from the city, past Lake Lucerne and into the Engelberg valley, where you will pass through delightful villages nestling at the foot of increasingly steep and lofty mountains.
Steamboat trips on Lake Lucerne
Take a ride on a nostalgic paddle steamer across Lake Lucerne with its beautiful landscape, marvel at villas and castles, discover culinary specialities or enjoy a hearty breakfast: the possibilities are endless when you embark from Lucerne.
Take a boat trip on the Saphir panorama yacht
The chic ambience, aqua terrace and gorgeous views of the lake, city and mountains all make for a relaxing and enjoyable trip. A boat trip on the Saphir panorama yacht around Lake Lucerne offers a feast for your senses.
Vögeligärtli Park
Where circus artists and people running stalls once entertained people, there is now what is without a doubt one of the most popular green spaces in the city of Lucerne: the Vögeligärtli. Its name – meaning the “bird garden” – comes from the aviary that was built in the park in 1901.
Voralpen-Express
The gentle side of Switzerland: It’s not all 4,000-metre mountains and deep ravines. On the Voralpen-Express, visitors discover a different kind of Switzerland – undulating hills, picturesque villages and lovely orchards.
Source: Switzerland Tourism — myswitzerland.com, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.