What do you want to see while in Lucerne? Take an easygoing walk throught a maze of small streets, bridges, promenades and plazas dominated by countless historical towers, fountains and frescoed building. You´ll spend unforgettable days in this fair city of ours.

Erected in 1557 for Lucerne´s mayor Lux Ritter as a private residence in the Italian Renaissance style.

Old City Squares

Historical, frescopainted buildings border the old city on the right bank of the Reuss at a few picturesque squares. The Weinmarkt, where the Lucerns swore a federal oath with Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, is especially atractive. So are the Hirschenplaz square, name after an old inn from the Middle Ages, and the Kommarkt square which features the Town Hall and beautifully painted Pfistern guidhall.

Town Hall

Built between 1602 and 1606 by Anton isenmann in Italian Renaisance style and coveredbwith a Bern farmhouse roof for weather purposes. The open arcades facing the Reuss still serve today as a weekly marketplace. The Kornschütte hall above an earlier trading goods store, is used today as a concert and exhibition locale.

Franciscan Church

Typical medieval mendicant architecture. Built second half of 13th century, Gothic style. Most ornate pulpit in Switzerland from the period between Renaissance and Baroque era. Flag frescoes represent Lucerne´s conquests in the Middle Ages.

Water Spikes

A unique sight from the technical standpoint. The socalled "spikes" are lowered or withdrawn by hand into the water to regulate the water level. It replaced in 1859-60 the Reuss steps that chanelled the water over the citymills.

Spreuer Brigde

Was completed in 1408 as a part of the city fortification. Between 1626 and 1635 Kaspar Meglinger added 67 paintings that represent the "Dance of Death". Called the Spreuer bridge because chaffs of wheat were thrown in the river here.

Musegg Wall

A part of the rampart walls built in 1386. Wall almost entirely intact. Three towers are open to the public: Schirmer, Zyt and Männli. The oldest city clock built by Hans luter in 1535 in  on the Zyt tower. This clock is privileged to chime every hour one minute before all the other city clocks. 

Hof church

Main cathetral for the city population and religious center St. Leodegar and Mauritius. Benedictine monastery founded here in the 8th century. Fire destroyed church in 1633. Rebuilt 1645. Is the most important Renaissance church building in Switzerland. Especially noteworthy are the facade. Mary´s altar (with a relief panel from 1500) and the souls´altar.

Lion Monument

"The dying lion of Lucerne" is one of the world´s most famous monument. It was hew out of natural rock in memory of the heroic death of the Swiss  mercenaries at the Tuileries in 1972. Globetrotter mark Twain described the Lion of Lucerne as "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world