Lucerne

I thought that I should try to finish blogging about the places in Switzerland that I’ve visited since I’ve been here a combined total of more than 2 months during one of my previous jobs.

Lucerne (Luzern in German) is easily one of the most popular cities in Switzerland to visit for any tourist. I too made my way there on my second day when I was based in Switzerland for the first time.  The city is built beside a lake and surrounded by snowcapped mountains. It really fits the perfect fairy tale description of a Swiss town.

Being situated in central Switzerland, Lucerne is easy to get to as it is connected by railway and highways to most of the other Swiss cities and towns. Named after the lake that it’s built beside (Lake Lucerne), the major attraction is the Chapel Bridge which spans the Reuss River. A chapel lies in the middle of the bridge which gave rise to it’s name. As you walk along the 200m long wooden bridge, you can see pictures on the bridge describing 12th century Swiss history.

Surrounded by snow capped mountains in the distance, and standing in the Old Town area, you do feel like you have been transported back in time to the medieval age. The ski resorts of Mt. Rigi and Mt. Pilatus are nearby and they make good day trips from Lucerne. Activities that you can do there besides skiing in winter, include paragliding, cycling and hiking.

Personally, I find Lucerne a wonderful place to relax in. It has the perfect balance between tourism and retaining it’s local flavor, which may explain why it’s so popular with visitors. Being centrally located, it’s a good base to explore the rest of Switzerland using the train system. There are plenty of hotels here ranging from budget to luxury, so just take your pick.