Lucerne
Pictures
Old Town Photos, Switzerland
Chapel Bridge on the Reuss River, Lucerne, Central Switzerland
Lucerne, founded officially in 1178, is arguably Switzerland's best summer tourist destination, with a large range of sights and activities in the vicinity that will easily occupy a week or more, whereas Bern and Zurich, for example are potential day-trip destinations.
Chapel Bridge's ceiling is partially lined with 17th century paintings. Unfortunately many were destroyed in a fire in 1993.
Chapel Bridge is Lucerne's (Luzern in German, the local tongue) number one tourist attraction, an incredible piece of workmanship. Built in 1333 as a defensive structure it's 204m long (670 ft).
Luzern's Wasserturm or Water Tower, looking towards Lake Lucerne.
The Wasserturm is another sight indelibly connected to the Chapel Bridge, though little used to contain water; it was in fact mainly used as a watchtower, prison, torture chamber and treasury for most of its existence. The tower is on the Reuss River which is fed by Lake Lucerne.
The City Wall on the hill overlooking Lucerne, not more than a few hundred metres remaining, along with eight watch towers, but the views are good and it's a pleasant stroll there, up through the old town.
One of old Lucerne's more quirky buildings, built in 1556.
And there is no shortage of colourfully embellished structures, murals are everywhere in the old town.
Hirschenplatz and more beautifully maintained murals.
Weather
The best month to visit Lucerne is September with a daily average temperature of 14C (57F) and 9 rainy days. May offers wonderful spring flowers in the hills but daily average temperatures of 12.5 C (55F) and 14 rainy days, while the three summer months are warm (15-18C) but have almost 2:1 chance of rain. i.e. 13/14 days of rain per month.
The driest months are September and October, the coldest are December to February.
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