Lucerne

Lucerne is one of the best places to get a sense of the real Switzerland. Visitors may be surprised to find that a city with a French name is located deep in the heart of the Swiss-German region. It’s just this kind of cultural juxtaposition that defines Switzerland. Lucerne is the very essence of Switzerland, one of the first cities to join the Swiss Confederation in the fourteenth century.

 Old town Lucerne is compact and walkable, offering you a chance to experience all of the main attractions in just a few hours. There are two wooden bridges in Lucerne, the famous Kapellbrücke and the smaller Spreuerbrücke. The Löwendenkmal, a wounded lion memorial carved out of a rock face, is a monument to the Swiss guards massacred during the French revolution. Described by Mark Twain as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world”, it’s visited by around 1.4 million tourists every year.

The countryside around Lucerne is the perfect example of Swiss nature. Mount Pilates rises up above the city and can be reached by the world’s steepest cogwheel railway or a cable car that runs year-round. Another option is to hike, which takes several hours but comes with unparalleled views of the town below and the surrounding Alps. At the mountain’s base lies Lake Lucerne, best explored by boat tours, which glide slowly along the lake’s shores. Visitors can hop off and explore the villages and parks scattered along the edges of the lake. Travel far enough along the shore, and you’ll come to the Rütli Meadow where, according to legend, the country of Switzerland was born.

Well-connected to the rest of the country, Lucerne is the perfect base for any traveler looking to explore Switzerland. It wouldn’t be necessary, though. Lucerne has everything a visitor to Switzerland could want, wrapped in stunning countryside and sprinkled with centuries of rich history.