Lucerne is a small city in the central part of Switzerland. It has the most enchanting backdrop of the mighty Alps and is located on the banks of the charming Lake Lucerne. These are the three things to see in Lucerne if you have just one day here.
I myself had a day to spend around this little town. And these are the places I visited at a nice and slow pace. Of course, there’s much more to Lucern than these three things, but I have saved that up for another day.
Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne has the weirdest irregular shape and is the fourth largest lake in Switzerland. Each part of the lake has a different name. The Lucerne city is based on the banks of this Lake. When you are in here for one day in Lucerne this is that first site that you will come across. And the first place that you must visit. It is very hard to miss if you are walking through the streets of Lucerne. A walk around the lake is never a waste of time.
You can also row or cruise across the lake. Or you can grab a bike and go biking around Lucerne Lake. Many times rowing competitions happen here. The dark blue waters tell you the depth, while the constant background of the Alps keep you entertained. The Lake further turns into River Reuss at Lucerne. Keep reading until the end to know where.
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Lion Monument
The Lion Monument was built to acknowledge the sacrifice made by the Swiss guards in the ugly massacre that happened in Paris during the French Revolution. This was a great blow to a nation which has maintained its neutral peaceful status through years and years of wars. And, straight up I have never seen anything so miserable in my life. Carved into a single stone rock, the Lion is a really sad sculpture. This is definitely a place to visit when you are for one day in Lucerne.
When you look carefully, you see there is a knife going through his heart and it holds the shield of Swiss guards in one paw. With the other paw, he protects the Lilies of France. From the top of the mountain rock, a stream of water flows into the pond below. In the water, among the water lilies, the Lion reflects beautifully. The sculpture is enormous, the lion is noble and the place is perfect. This is the kind of place where a lion would die, in a sheltered wood, seated inside a cave.
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On top of the sculpture are the words in Latin “HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI” which in English mean “To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss.” The site is accessible without an entry fee. The atmosphere is worth the visit.
Chapel Bridge and Water Tower
Chapel Bridge of Lucerne is a wooden pedestrian bridge over the River Reuss. It is apparently the oldest wooden bridge in Switzerland. Lined with beautiful flowers on both sides it is indeed a pretty sight. This definitely makes a must-visit place when you are here for one day in Lucerne.
In 1993, about two-thirds of the bridge was destroyed by a fire. They later reconstructed to what it used to be like. Inside the wooden bridge, below the triangular roof used to be triangular paintings all around the bridge. Many of these paintings got destroyed in the fire. Only 25 could be saved and some of them were later repainted by the local artists. These still hang up inside the Bridge.
Now we come to the Water Tower. The Water Tower of Lucerne is the most photographed place in the whole of Switzerland. No, not the Alps but the Water Tower takes the first place. Water Tower marks the place where Lake Lucerne ends and River Reuss starts. Historically, the Water Tower was a dungeon and later as a treasury. Today it is a place for the local club. It is not open to tourists. However, Chapel Bridge has free entry.
While walking around Lucerne, you will find the old clock tower, make sure to look for it. And then walk towards the river from this tower. The paintings on the walls around this wide staircase here are just amazing. Apart from these, there are several viewpoints all around Lake Lucerne where you can sit and forget all the worries of the world.
Other places to visit in Lucerne
- Glacier Garden
- Musegg Wall
- Jesuit Church
- Hofkirche
- Spreuer Bridge
- Meggenhorn Castle
- Rosengart Collection
- Bourbaki Panorama
- Swiss Museum of Transport
Other places to visit near Lucerne
- Mount Pilatus
- Mount Rigi
- Mount Titlis
- Engelberg
