Goldens on the Road: # 10 Lucerne Switzerland

Lucerne Switzerland

Lucerne Switzerland was absolutely beautiful. We had a full day in Lucerne which is the heart of central Switzerland. First we visited the Lion Monument, or the Lion of Lucerne, which is a rock relief designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. It is one of the most famous monuments in Switzerland, visited annually by about 1.4 million tourists, including us! In 2006 it was placed under Swiss monument protection. This Monument is one of the best known in Switzerland.

As we walked along the lovely roads on our way to our next stop we enjoyed the sights and we came across a Swiss Chocolate Shop! Of course we had to go in to the shop; the smell alone was awesome, yummm … chocolate!! This shop had a ‘Chocolate waterfall on one wall’ it was great and so were the treats we purchased!

This photo shows just a bit of the ancient wall of the past.

Next we visited the 14^th century medieval Chapel Bridge which is one of the oldest covered bridges in Europe as well as the oldest surviving truss bridge. It forms the centerpiece of Lucerne’s townscape and is beautiful. Here's the bridge and the setting around it.

Oh, and the Swans!! Throughout this trip we saw Swans at several of our stops. Here’s a look at some of the Swans that enjoy the peaceful living alongside the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower.

Swans are so beautiful and graceful aren't they?

The Hofkirche Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church overlooking the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne. It was built in parts from 1633 to 1639 on the foundation of the Roman basilica which had burnt in 1633. This church was one of the few built north of the Alps during the Thirty Years War and one of the largest art history rich churches of the German late renaissance period. It is also called Church of St. Leodegar and like so many of the churches in Europe it is a beauty to see! All photos of the Church are of intimate moments within … no long sweeping shots for size or reaction. I was more taken by the items as I walked about, like the chandeliers for example are a style we would see in some palaces. Points of interest on ceilings and walls, various altars, pulpits and flowers. Enjoy!

Next was Mount Pilatus, a mountain massif overlooking Lucerne in Central Switzerland. It is composed of several peaks, of which the highest 6,982 ft. and is named Tomlishorn. Our assent to the top of this massif was via the Pilatus Railway, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, and our return trip down the mountain was via the aerial cableway gondolas. You can probably guess that the entire experience was about the awesome beauty of meadows and streams as we slowly climbed the mountain on the railway and then the breathtaking views from the mountain top! There is no doubt that Switzerland is an awe-inspiring country!