A walk through Lucerne's Old Town

Lucerne may not be the most famous city in Switzerland, but it is a surprisingly compact city with many sights within walking distance. Moreover, it is an ideal base for exploring the Swiss Alps. The city is situated on Lake Lucerne and is surrounded by mountains such as the Rigi and the Pilatus. You can easily reach the summit of the Pilatus by cogwheel railway, and take the cable car to the Rigi in no time. Do you have more time? Then the Tell-Trail Highly recommended. This 156-kilometer hiking trail takes you through the Lucerne region in eight stages. A perfect choice for hiking enthusiasts. Lucerne itself is also worth a visit, especially for those who appreciate culture and architecture. You'll find charming boutiques, museums, cozy cafés, good restaurants, and a vibrant festival scene.

The historic center of Lucerne, the Old town, is compact and perfect to explore on foot. A major advantage: the center is car-free. Walking along the cobblestone streets, you discover colorful houses, wooden bridges, and unique buildings. Almost every corner of the city has something striking. If you follow a short walking route through the Old Town, you can admire all this beauty in just a few hours. For my short visit, this was the ideal way to still get a good impression of the city. Click here for the road..

Cultural and Congress Centre

You can start the walking route through the Altstadt at any point in the city center. Officially, the route starts at the Cultural and Congress Centre (KKL), located directly on Lake Lucerne. This modern building, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, is considered one of Lucerne's architectural highlights. The impressive concert hall hosts the annual Lucerne Festival, one of the world's leading classical music festivals. It also hosts operas, theater performances, and exhibitions.

archway

At the Bahnhofplatz is the archway Lucerne, a remnant of the old station that was destroyed by fire in 1971. The gate has been preserved as a memorial and serves as a reminder of the former station building. For many travelers, it is the first thing they see when they leave the modern station.

Kapellbrücke

Walk from the station to the Kapellbrücke, One of Lucerne's most iconic landmarks. This wooden pedestrian bridge over the River Reuss is one of the oldest timber-framed bridges in the world. Originally built in 1365 as part of the city wall, the bridge was intended to protect Lucerne from invasions. Beneath the roof hang 17th-century frescoes depicting important events in the history of Lucerne and Switzerland. Many of these paintings were lost in a major fire in 1993, but some have been restored. From the bridge, you have a beautiful view of the Reuss, historic buildings, and the surrounding mountains. The bridge is connected to the water tower, a tower that is older than the bridge and once served as a prison, archive, and treasury.

Lake Lucerne

Cross the Kapellbrücke to the other side of the Reuss and walk towards the Lake Lucerne. From the shore, you have a beautiful view of the Swiss Alps. In good weather, this is a lovely spot to enjoy the sunset. Do you have a bit more time? Then take a boat trip across the lake or rent a pedal boat to explore it from the water.

Hofkirche St. Leodegar

De Court Church St. Leodegar is Lucerne's main church and dedicated to the city's patron saint. A monastery and church were built on this site in the 8th century. Nothing remains of the original monastery complex. In 1633, it was completely destroyed by fire. The Hofkirche was rebuilt in Renaissance style in 1639, but the monastery never returned. Behind the church lies the old cemetery, with several impressive gravestones.

lion monument

One of Lucerne's most famous monuments is the lion monument, A tribute to the Swiss Guards who perished in 1792 during the uprising against King Louis XVI. The Swiss Guard, which served to protect the king, was massacred en masse. More than 600 soldiers fell during the fighting, and some 200 died later in prisons or during the September Massacres. The monument was unveiled in 1821 and depicts a wounded lion carved into a rock face. The dying lion lies with a broken sword and a sorrowful gaze. The statue is a powerful symbol of courage and loyalty. Above the statue is the inscription Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti (To the loyalty and courage of the Swiss.) Below the lion are the names of the officers and the number of casualties and survivors.

Museggmauer

The historic centre of Lucerne is partly surrounded by the medieval Museggmauer. This city wall was built in the 14th century to protect against invasions. A large part of the original wall is still intact; only a small section of the east side has been lost. The wall is 870 meters long, 1,5 meters thick on average, and has nine towers, each with its own style. Four towers (the Männliturm, Watchtower, Zytturm en Schimerturm) are open to visitors during the summer months. You can walk along the wall and climb the towers for a beautiful view of the city. The Zytturm is especially famous for its large clock and mechanism.

Spreuer Bridge

Next to the Kapellbrücke is another historic wooden bridge: the Spreuer Bridge. This smaller and lesser-known bridge spans the Spreuer, a tributary of the Reuss. Nevertheless, it is an important landmark in Lucerne. The bridge is also known as the Kafbrücke. Grain waste from the city mill was once thrown into the river here. Just like on the Kapellbrücke, paintings depicting scenes from Swiss history can be seen under the roof. From the bridge, you look out over the Needle weir, a wooden dam structure that regulates the water level of the Reuss.

Jesuit Church

And so you've almost come full circle. The last sight of this walk through the Altstadt is the Jesuit Church, The first large Baroque church building in Switzerland. With its imposing facade, two towers, and richly decorated portal, it is one of the most striking buildings on the Reuss. Not only is the exterior worth seeing, but the interior is also impressive. The church is richly decorated with frescoes, stained-glass windows, golden ornaments, and a beautiful main altar. Furthermore, you will find a large organ and the church treasury there. Admission is free.

Because I didn't arrive in Lucerne until late afternoon and started the Tell Trail the next day, I unfortunately didn't have enough time to truly explore the city. Fortunately, my walk through the Altstadt (Old Town) gave me a great first impression of Lucerne. I recommend everyone to set aside at least one full day for Lucerne. Besides the sights I've mentioned, there are many more architectural gems to be found in the city center. The Swiss Transport Museum is also highly recommended. It's Switzerland's most visited museum and entirely dedicated to the history of transportation. In summer, it's also wonderful to relax on a terrace by the water.

Lucerne offers a wide selection of accommodations in various price ranges. Some centrally located hotels include:

• Mandarin Oriental Palace (5 stars)
• Hotel Monopol Lucerne (4 stars)
• AMERON Lucerne Hotel Flora (4 stars)
• Hotel Hofgarten Lucerne (4 stars)
• Hotel Royal Luzern (3 stars)
• Hotel of peace (3 stars)

I stayed in myself Hotel Three Kings (3-star hotel in the city center) near the Jesuit Church. The hotel offers various room types, from standard rooms to family rooms. There's a restaurant where you can sample local dishes, and a breakfast buffet is available in the morning. I appreciated that we could leave our luggage after our hike and pick it up later. The staff was friendly and also gave us helpful tips for our visit to the city.

From Utrecht, it's about an 8,5-hour drive to Lucerne. However, be aware that the city can get busy and parking is limited. Lucerne has a small airport, but with limited connections. Zurich Airport is a better alternative. From there, you can reach Lucerne by direct train in about an hour.

We traveled by night train from Utrecht to Basel. From there, we first continued to the Saas Valley, and then by train to Lucerne. Train and bus connections in Switzerland are comfortable and reliable. NS International you can easily book tickets.

Also consider the Swiss Travel PassWith this pass, you can travel for free on trains, buses, and boats throughout Switzerland. You'll get discounts on excursions and cable cars, and some cable cars are even completely free. Many museums are also free to visit with this pass.

Disclaimer: Part of this article was created in collaboration with  Switzerland Tourism en Tourist Information LucerneEverything you read is based on my own experiences and personal opinion.