| Lamp Luzern • Lucerne | ||
.jpeg/250px-Lucerne_With_Christmas_Lights_(238689191).jpeg) | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Central Switzerland | |
| Altitude | 436 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 37.4 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 81.592 (12/2016) | |
| Name inhabitants | luzerner (Lucerne) | |
| Prefix tel | 41 41 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 6000 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | San Leodegario | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Lamp is a city of Switzerland.
To know
Lucerne (Luzern in German, Lozärn in Swiss-German) is the location of the legend of William Tell who hit the apple placed on his son's head with an arrow. Besides being a great place to visit Lucerne is an ideal base from which to explore other famous Swiss sites such as the Rigi, Mount Pilatus, Titlis and the Rütli meadow.
Geographical notes
The city is located on one of the banks of the Lake Lucerne.
When to go
| Climate | gen | Feb | mar | apr | mag | down | Jul | needle | set | Oct | nov | dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (° C) | 2,8 | 4,8 | 9 | 13,2 | 17,5 | 20,9 | 23,3 | 22,3 | 19,1 | 13,8 | 7,9 | 4,1 |
| Minimum (° C) | -2,4 | -1,3 | 1 | 4,1 | 8 | 11,2 | 13,3 | 12,8 | 10,4 | 6,4 | 1,7 | -1,2 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 66 | 65 | 66 | 93 | 111 | 144 | 127 | 145 | 95 | 66 | 80 | 65 |
Lucerne has dry cold winters and hot summers.
Lucerne has an average of 138.1 days of rain per year and on average receives 1,171 mm of precipitation. The wettest month is June, during which Lucerne receives an average of 153 mm of rain spread over 14.2 days. The driest month of the year is February with an average of 61 mm of precipitation over 10.2 days.
Background
It was the first city to join the Swiss Confederation, today it is a small town with a thriving tourist industry, thanks above all to its position as the gateway to Central Switzerland. The city became a center of Swiss history and legends.
Tourism in Lucerne has a distinct history dating back to the mid 19th century, including Mark Twain. In one writing he recalls the nascent souvenir business and other budding examples of the tourism trade:
| «The trade in Lucerne consists mainly of souvenirs, the shops are full of alpine crystals, landscape photographs and sculptures in wood and ivory. I do not hide the fact that the miniatures with the Lion of Lucerne are among the most famous. " |
| (Mark Twain) |
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How to orient yourself
Lucerne: full screen map.Bahnhofplatz, (Station Square) is located on the southern bank of the Reuss River, at the point where it drains from Lake Lucerne.
200 meters from the station is the Kapellbrücke, a covered wooden bridge from the 14th century which is the symbol of Lucerne. Crossing it leads to the old town (Altstadt) characterized by narrow streets reserved for pedestrian traffic only. The best known street in the old town is Kapellgasse leading to Kornmarkt (Grain market), the square where the old town hall (Altes Rathaus) overlooks. Just a block further west stands Weinmarkt, (Wine Market), another pretty square in the old town.
Also on the north bank of the Reuss River and east of the old town
is Schwanenplatz, considered the central point of Lucerne and the National quai, the lakefront where boats moor
Another tourist point of this downtown area is Löwenplatz, where "Panorama Bourbaki" is a museum where the largest oil canvas ever made is kept.
In the vicinity of Löwenplatz, at the height of Denkmalstrasse there is a small park that contains "the Lion of Lucerne", a famous sculpture by the Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770 - 1844) depicting a wounded lion. The work symbolizes the massacre of the Swiss Guards at the Tuileries Palace in Paris during the French Revolution.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airport is that of Zurich easily accessible by train.
Lucerne is located at the north end of the Vierwaldstättersee, one of the busiest waterways in Switzerland, for travel information from Schwyz, Flüelen, Weggis and from the exit points see the program at the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Vierwaldstättersee.
On the train
- 1 Lucerne station (Bahnhof Luzern), Zentralstrasse 1, ☎ 41 900 300 300. It makes connections with the main cities of Switzerland.
Thanks to its central location Lucerne can be reached easily from almost all other cities in Switzerland using the Swiss Federal Railroad. There are trains every hour from the airport Olten is Zurich and trains every half hour from Zurich or direct trains every hour from Bern. There is also a service every hour from Bellinzona in Ticino is Pfäffikon is St. Gallen in the North East. The "Zentralbahn" branch of the Swiss Federal Railroad also provides trains every hour between Interlaken and Lucerne during the day.
By bus
- 2 Bus station. The main bus station in Lucerne, opposite the train station.
There are no intercity buses in Switzerland, as the railway system offers extensive connections to many Swiss destinations. For hiking in the countryside or mountains where there are no trains, refer to postauto.ch. Buses are available from some nearby places such as Rotkreuz.
How to get around
Prospective travelers will find Lucerne a complete joy to get around on foot. The old town is tiny, and most of the other interesting sites are within a 20 minute walk, there is also an urban bus system as well as assistance for disabled visitors upon request from the Mobility International Switzerland. The Lido beach and the Swiss Transport Museum are a little further away and can be reached by bus or one of the several boats every hour, right in front of the central train station.
Lucerne also forms a good base for discovering the rest of central Switzerland using the Swiss Federal Railroada, the Schifffahrt Vierwaldstättersee or any other private rail or boat company.
By public transport
The urban mobility system can be consulted on this site in German.
On a boat
Lucerne has a ferry service that allows you to travel to various parts of the city.
- 3 Luzern Bahnhofquai. Ferry terminal near the station.
By bike
Bicycles are available for rent at the central railway station, at ticket office 21 on the lowest level. For 35 Fr. per day, you can rent a 24-speed, robustly built bicycle with a luggage clamp. Electric bicycles are also available. The collection and release of the bike can be found on the left side of the train station, in a kiosk across the street from the Post Office building. Bike lanes are present on most of the secondary roads, and Lucerne drivers are generally aware and polite with cyclists. You can also consult the website of the Switzerland.
Bike sharing
In Lucerne there is also a bike sharing service managed by Nextbike. There are several stations in the city to retrieve a bike and release it. It also works via app.
What see
- 1 Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke). The Chapel Bridge, a landmark of Lucerne, is the oldest wooden bridge in all of Europe, built in the 14th century to protect the city. It is fun to walk on it, as seen from around 100 pictures of 12th-century city life and Swiss history. Unfortunately, the bridge burned down on August 18, 1993. In a few months it was rebuilt. The tower used as an underground prison is still in its original condition.
- 2 Water Tower (Wasserturm). It is a tower attached to the bridge Kapellbrücke which in the past had a defensive function and today is one of the symbols of Lucerne.
- 3 Walls of Lucerne.
Apr-Nov 8: 00-19: 00. A part of the walls built in 1386; the walls are still almost entirely intact. There are four towers are open to the public: Schirmer, Zyt, Wacht and Männli.
Apr-Nov 8: 00-19: 00. A part of the walls built in 1386; the walls are still almost entirely intact. There are four towers are open to the public: Schirmer, Zyt, Wacht and Männli.
- 4 The Lion of Lucerne (Löwendenkmal), Denkmalstrasse 4. The Lion of Lucerne is a sculpture designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen. It commemorates the Swiss Guards massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when the revolutionaries attacked the Tuileries Palace in Paris. American writer Mark Twain (1835-1910) praised the sculpture of a mortally wounded lion as "the most pitiful and moving piece in the world".
- 5 Church of San Leodegar (Hofkirche St. Leodegar). Dedicated to Saints Leodegario and Maurizio, patrons of the city. It stands on the foundations of a Romanesque basilica which, burned down by a fire in 1633, was built from 1633 to 1639 in the Renaissance style. This church was one of the few constructions in the north of the Alps during the Thirty Years War and is one of the largest churches, rich in German historical art, of the late Renaissance period. The interior with three naves is in Baroque style. There is also a large pipe organ.
The Jesuit Church of San Francesco Saverio
- 6 Jesuit church of San Francesco Saverio (Jesuitenkirche). It is a Baroque church from 1667. The facade is made up of two nineteenth-century bell towers, while the interior has a single nave with an arched roof. It is located on the left bank of the Reuss River.
- 7 Spreuerbrücke. It is another of the bridges of Lucerne, also made of wood. It was destroyed by a flood in 1566 and then rebuilt.
Museums
- 8 Kunst und Kongresshaus Luzern (KKL) (Next to the central station), ☎ 41 41 226 70 70. Mon-Fri 09: 00-18: 30, Sat 10: 00-16: 00. The KKL is a spectacular building that contains several concert halls and the Lucerne Art Museum. It was designed by Jean Nouvel. Its large concert hall ("La salle blanche") is famous for its acoustics and world-class orchestras can be heard regularly. It hosts the Lucerne music festival.
- Lucerne Museum of Art (Kunstmuseum Luzern), Europaplatz 1, ☎ 41 41 226 78 00.
15 Fr adults, 6 Fr reduced (Oct 2017). Thu-Sun 11: 00-18: 00, Wed 11: 00-20: 00. The museum is located on the fourth floor of the building with an area of 2000 square meters, there is a collection of contemporary art. With its temporary exhibitions of national and international artists, it is considered one of the most important museums in Switzerland.
- Lucerne Museum of Art (Kunstmuseum Luzern), Europaplatz 1, ☎ 41 41 226 78 00.
15 Fr adults, 6 Fr reduced (Oct 2017). 
- 9 Alpineum, Denkmalstrasse 11 (In the immediate vicinity of the Lion Monument), ☎ 41 41 410 62 66. 5 Fr adults, 3 Fr children (Oct 2017). Mon-Sun 09: 00-12: 30 and 13: 30-18: 00. It is a museum with dioramas and spectacular images of the Alps, reproductions of means of transport and audio support to recreate the mountain environment. The visit lasts 10-15 minutes. The museum is nothing exceptional.
- 10 Bourbaki panorama, Löwenplatz 11, ☎ 41 41 412 3030. 12 Fr whole, 10 Fr reduced (Oct 2017). Nov-Mar 10: 00-17: 00; Apr-Oct 09: 00-18: 00. One of the largest canvases ever made measuring 112 x 10 meters. The canvas has a concave shape and is the work of the artist Édouard Castres (1838-1902). It depicts the surrender of the general Bourbaki during the Franco-Prussian War.
- 11 Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus der Schweiz), Lidostrasse 5 (From Lido Beach, the first stop for boats leaving from the central railway station, preferably reachable by bus), ☎ 41 41 370 4444, fax: 41 41 370 6168, @[email protected]. Fr. 30 for adults, p. 15 for children 6-16 and free for the little ones. (Oct 2017). Summer 10: 00-18: 00; winter 10: 00-17: 00. With its large collection of trains, planes, automobiles and motorcycles, this transportation museum is a great place to spend an afternoon. If you are tired of real train engines you can check out a model railway or miniature steam train. The air section also features numerous space travel exhibits, including an unused Mercury capsule.
- 12 The glacial garden (Gletschergarten), Denkmalstrasse 4, ☎ 41 041 410 43 40, @[email protected]. Adults 15 Fr, reduced 12 Fr, children 8 Fr. (Oct 2017). Apr-Oct 09: 00-18: 00; Nov-Mar 10: 00-17: 00. This is a park with a historical museum, opened in 1874, which shows what Switzerland was like in the past during the ice ages and when they retreated.
- 13 Rosengart collection (Sammlung Rosengart), Pilatusstrasse 10 (Close to the train station), ☎ 41 41 220 1660, fax: 41 41 220 1663, @[email protected]. Adults Fr 18, seniors Fr 16, students and children Fr 10 (Oct 2017). Apr-Oct 10: 00-18: 00, Nov-Mar 11: 00-17: 00. Over 200 works by 23 early modernist artists, including 125 works by Paul Klee and around 50 by Pablo Picasso. Also works by Cézanne, Chagall, Miró, Pissarro and others. The collection also houses 200 photographs - previously housed in the Am-Rhyn-Haus - by David Duncan Douglas, Life Magazine's World War II photo correspondent, who arrived with his camera invited to the "Picasso" villa in California, was welcomed by Picasso and his family, and over the years has produced an intimate portrait of the artist's daily life. Picasso's living room was his studio, and the interior scenes with a ballet lesson, a drawing by Picasso with his children or with a hat from his native Spain, are the backdrop to some of his most famous works.
- 14 Richard Wagner Museum, Richard Wagner Weg 27 (Buses 6, 7 and 8 then walk for 10 minutes. By boat from Lucerne Bahnhofsquai to Tribschen), ☎ 41 041 360 23 70, fax: 41 041 360 23 79, @[email protected]. Adults Fr 10, seniors Fr 8, students Fr 5 (Oct 2017). Apr-Nov 10: 00-17: 00, Jun-Sep 10: 00-18: 00, closed on Mondays. The museum was established in Richard Wagner's former residence in Tribschen, outside Lucerne, paying homage to the life and work of the famous composer. He lived on the shores of Lake Lucerne for six years. In 1931 the city of Lucerne acquired the estate together with the surrounding park (30,000 m2) of the Am Rhyn family to make it accessible to the public. The museum was established two years later and has been hosting an exhibition ever since.
Events and parties
- Carnival (Fasnacht). February. Some cities in Switzerland, including Lucerne and Basel, celebrate an exciting carnival just before what happens every year. The version celebrated here is famous for its chaotic "march in any direction you like" with street parades of the so-called Guugemusig (wind instrument band and drummer, typical of the Central Swiss carnival) and elaborate masks. Lucerne Carnival Week starts at the end of February with Shrove Tuesday and ends on Ash Wednesday. The program in brief: Shrove Tuesday, Urknall (big bang) at 05:00 is the official start, music on the streets all day in the city, masked parade from 14:00 along the lake, music on the streets in the evening; Friday and Sunday music and masks in all the towns and villages of the region; Güdis on Monday, second Urknall at 06:00, Shrove Thursday; Thursday big street concert for the whole old town and its surroundings, end of the official carnival at midnight ... but it continues in the bars until the morning of Ash Wednesday. As with carnival elsewhere, the exact date of the calendar varies according to the phase of the moon. If you don't want to be recognized as a tourist, put on some colorful clothes. Most people are dressed in color or masquerade. In recent years, the cities of Zurich and Bern have begun to copy Central Switzerland's carnival. At the moment the mood and the music are not as good as in Lucerne.
- Lucerne Fest. June July. Music festival.
- Blue balls (Blue Balls). July. Music event.
- Lucerne Festival. Musical events at various times of the year.
What to do
- 1 Boat trip. Take a boat ride on Lake Lucerne with traditional steam boats.
- 2 Minicruise on the lake, Werftestrasse 5 (From pier 7), ☎ 41 041 367 67 67, fax: 41 041 367 68 68, @[email protected]. 27 CH (Jul 2018). A partial tour of the lake showing Lucerne and the various points in the vicinity such as the Wagner House Museum and the beautiful surrounding panorama.
- 3 Explore the historic center. One of the main reasons why Lucerne attracts so many travelers is its small but well-preserved old town. You can get lost (for a few minutes anyway) in its labyrinth of streets, passages and squares, admiring the numerous and colorful murals painted on what looks like a building like any other. A pleasant walk on the Museggmauer starts at Schirmer-Turm, walk on the road near Jazzkantine, open only during the day.
- Guided tours of Lucerne. Possibility to visit the city relying on a guide.
- Paragliding, Lauerzring 33 CH-6010 Kriens, ☎ 41 78 7606360, @[email protected]. 150 Fr (Oct 2017). Paragliding down from the majestic mountains (Pilatus and Rigi) that surround Lake Lucerne is a unique experience. Tandem paragliding is possible all year round with pilots certified by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) of Switzerland.
- Alternative mobility. In Lucerne and its surroundings there are routes for alternative mobility by bike, mountain bike, inline skates as well as hiking trails with which to explore the surroundings of the city and near the lake. Maps like the one on the side are available in the city or by consulting the Swiss site.
Shopping
Shopping in Lucerne improved to a lesser extent after Mark Twain's visit. You will find several good department stores with acceptable prices for most items as well as expensive specialty shops.
Lucerne station is home to several shops that have longer opening hours than most other shops.
- 1 Weekly market (along the river). Thu and Sat 06: 00-13: 00. The market has many local products and specialties.
- 2 Bucherer, Schwanenplatz 5, ☎ 41 41 369 77 00, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 09: 00-18: 30, Sun 15: 00-18: 30. High-end jewelry and watch shop.
How to have fun
Shows
- 1 Congress and Culture Center (Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern, o KKL), Europaplatz 1 (Next to the train station). The Lucerne Auditorium is renowned for its perfect acoustics.
- 2 Stadtkeller, Sternenplatz 3 (In the old town). Musik Restaurant with folklore shows.
- 3 Lucerne Theater (Luzerner Theater), Theaterstrasse 2, ☎ 41 041 228 14 14, @[email protected]. Theatrical performances in German.
- 4 Theaterpavillon, Spelteriniweg 6 (Bus 6, 7, 8 bis), ☎ 41 079 626 63 50. Pleasant theater with a bar. A place for art work and for meeting people. Not so expensive.
- 5 Kleintheater, Bundesplatz 14, ☎ 41 041 210 33 50. Another Lucerne theater.
Locals
- 6 Pickwick Pub, Rathausquai 6, ☎ 41 41 410 5927, @[email protected]. Mon-Sun 11: 30-24: 00. One of the most popular English pubs in Lucerne.
- 7 The Loft Dance Club, Haldenstrasse 21. Frequented mainly by young people.
- 8 Jazzkantine, Grabenstrasse 8, ☎ 41 41 410 73 73. Small but comfortable bar. They have a room in the basement. Sometimes there are jazzmen playing (4-8 times a month). In the same building is the local jazz school, so it is a kind of student bar.
- 9 Metzgerhalle, Baselstrasse 1. Old Swiss restaurant converted into a bar, usually full on weekends.
Gambling games
- 10 Grand Casino, Haldenstrasse 6, ☎ 41 41 418 56 56.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 Treibhaus Luzern, Jugendkulturhaus, Spelteriniweg 4, @[email protected]. menu Fr. 13, students Fr. 7. They have great food. They prepare 2 menus every day, snacks, donuts and coffee. There are also concerts in the evening.
- 2 Erdem Kebab, Zentralstrasse 45, ☎ 41 41 210 13 13. It serves the best kebab in town.
- 3 Parterre, Mythenstrasse 7, ☎ 41 041 220 20 43, @[email protected]. Restaurant, Bar and Internet Café. Good friendly atmosphere. Every day they have different menus.
Average prices
- 4 Mövenpick restaurant, Grendelstr. 19, ☎ 41 41 410 52 22, fax: 41 41 410 44 37. International dishes and English menu on request.
High prices
- 5 Restaurant Schwanen, Schwanenpl. 4, ☎ 41 41 410 11 77.
- 6 Brasserie Bodu, Kornmarkt 5, ☎ 41 41 410 01 77. Exquisite French cuisine.
- 7 Restaurant Old Swiss House, Löwenpl. 4, ☎ 41 41 410 61 71. Famous for their Schnitzel which they prepare right next to the table.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- Backpackers Lucerne, Alpenquai 42. The membership card is not required.
Average prices
- Villa Maria, Haldenstrasse 36, ☎ 41 41 370 2119. Family-run pension in a 1950's chalet.
- Tourist Hotel, St. Karliquai 12 (On the Alstadt riverside), ☎ 41 41 410 2474, fax: 41 41 410 8414, @[email protected]. Some rooms are multi-bed (up to 4), which makes it suitable for families who do not want to spend.
- Alpha Hotel, Zähringerstrasse, 24 (South shore), ☎ 41 41 240 4280, @[email protected].
Safety
Lucerne is a heavily tourist destination and where there are tourists there are pickpockets. As in any other place, keep your passport and other valuables hidden. However, Lucerne is a friendly and safe city. Women can safely move almost anywhere even at night. There are few areas that should be avoided, including the area around the Basel street, where you will find a colorful and exciting cultural mix, is relatively harmless. According to the police, the "Tribschen" district (Inseli-Ufschötti-Weinbergli-Tribschenstrasse) can be dangerous at night. Most violent crimes and robberies occur in this neighborhood. But compared to other cities in Europe it is a safe area.
How to keep in touch
Around
Tell-Pass allows you to travel free of charge for 2 or 5 days using boats and buses around Lucerne. More information on the site official or at its headquarters in Zentralstrasse 5 (next to the train station).
- Dietschiberg - Viewing platform on the top of the hill of 619 m. overlooking Lucerne. It can be reached by cable car from Haldenstrasse.
- Gütsch —
- 15 Engelberg.
- 16 Mount Pilatus (14 km south of Lucerne). A famous mountain overlooking the city of Lucerne (2123m). Its peak can be reached by the world's steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad (which does not operate in winter) and all year round by cable car in three sections from Kriens (10 minutes by trolley bus No. 1 from Lucerne to Linde) . This trip is definitely a must and gives a good impression of a wild and rocky peak with a wonderful view of the "real" Alps. Of course you can reach the top on foot, which takes at least 4 hours from Kriens. A pleasant alternative is to walk to Kriens from the bottom of the middle section of the cable car. In addition to hiking, there are several other activities, including a suspension rope park and a 1,350m toboggan (both at the second cable car stop from Kriens). Even if you don't intend to hike, it allows you to spend at least three hours in the Pilatus.
- 17 Mount Rigi (30 km east of Lucerne). Mount Rigi reaches 1,680 m. of altitude. It is a viewpoint on the lakes of Zug, the Four Cantons and the smaller one of Lauern. It can be reached from Lucerne via a boat that docks in Vitznau, where a cog railway starts or even by car to Goldau (36 km) from where another cog train departs.
- 18 Mount Titlis. Mount Titlis has a glacier on top and great views
- 19 Bollingen Tower, Bollingen. Jung's house on Lake Zurich. The building has some inscriptions prepared by Jung himself, however it is private property and internal visits are not possible.
- 20 Felsenweg Buergerstock. Get great views of the Mittelland and its lakes on this two-hour hike. Go by boat (Lucerne-Kehrsiten) and funicular or by train and bus (Lucerne-Stansstad-Bürgenstock). There are some luxury resorts in Buergerstock. It is also possible to go mountain biking to the top.
Useful information
Tourist information
- Tourist Information Lucerne, Zentralstrasse, 5, ☎ 41 041 2271717, @[email protected].
