(Photos by Sandy Zimmerman)
When we looked across Lake Lucerne, the contrast of the style of buildings suddenly changed dramatically. Lucerne’s historical Old Town has been preserved for everyone to enjoy. So beautiful, so charming, UNESCO designated this as a World Heritage site! After a few steps across the bridge, our first stop was at the Chapel Bridge, built in 1330 as part of the cities’ fortifications. Paintings depicting Swiss and local history were added in the seventeenth century. The landmark Water Tower rises 111 feet into the air as part of the city wall. This is the most photographed monument in Switzerland formally used as a prison, torture chamber, and treasury.
With one unique building next to another, we wandered through the maze of winding lanes and alleyways. The fresco paintings told the stories of the past. Imagine we can enter these ancient buildings, they are still in use, and best of all, the buildings are now restaurants, shops, hotels, churches, etc. Each building stands out; one is more dramatic than the other. Lovely statues and fountains dot the small picturesque town squares. Since most of the village’s wooden houses were burnt down during fires, Old Town is predominately composed of stone buildings.
You can reach Old Town easily with walking paths across several bridges; the two historic Chapel Bridge and Mill Bridge with other bridges build at later times. I especially enjoyed photographing the buildings from different vantage points. The busy sidewalk cafes along the river and throughout Old Town, the colorful buildings, and boats give us a glimpse of the way life might have been in the middle ages.
Some of these beautiful buildings include the Franciscan Church with its typical medieval Gothic architecture of the 13th Century, the 16th Century Ritterscher Palace now the Cantonal seat of government, and many others.
Lucerne is a special city where you can savor the essence of the past, it is an open air museum to explore and discover another world. Of course Lucerne is filled with attractions, both modern and ancient. Visitors have a wide variety of choices of international cuisine which rank with our finest Las Vegas restaurants. Stay a few extra days or a week in order to see as much as you can. www.luzern.com
Our Personal Recommendations-
Restaurant Taube, Old Town: www.taube-luzern.ch
Bam Bou Restaurant, inside “The Hotel”;
“The Hotel”: www.the-hotel.ch
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