Switzerland:
Lucerne Switzerland:
Lucerne
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From Lugano, we took the train on a nice relaxing 2h-45m journey to Lucerne. It was a beautiful train ride passing through the mountains and small towns along the way. Lucerne is located in the upper-center of Switzerland and has more of a German influence. We found that German was mostly spoke here compared to Italian in Lugano. We had traditional German dishes such as grilled sausage with onion. We also tried some wonderful Swiss cheese fondue as well as chocolate fondue. From Lucerne we took another 1 hour train ride to Zurich. We did not see any of Zurich but it was just as well as it was very rainy and cold there. We flew back from Zurich to London. |
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| The Alps by Zurich: Some photos of the Alps as we flew back from Zurich. | ||||||
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Chapel Bridge and Tower: The bridge
was constructed the first half of the 14th century as a part of the city's
fortifications. It was named after the nearby St. Peter's chapel.
The paintings that were added in the 17th century illustrate scenes of Swiss and local history including the biographies of the city's patron saints, Leodegar and Mauritius. The octagonal Water Tower is over 34 meters high and was built in 1300 as part of the city wall. It used to house the archives and was a treasury. It was also used as a prison and torture chamber. It is the most photographed monument in Switzerland. |
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| Musegg Wall and Towers: A part of the rampart walls that were built in 1386. The wall is almost entirely intact. Three towers are open to the public. Schirmer, Zyt and Mannli. | ||||||
The oldest city clock built by Hans Luter in 1535 is on tthe Zyt tower. The clock is privileged to chime every hour one minute before all the other city clocks.
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| Views from Musegg Wall: From the top of Musegg Wall, you have wonderful views of the city and lake. | ||||||
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| Around the Town: Various photos from around the town. | ||||||
  
A cheese shop. We liked the little mouse painted into one of the cheese holes
Another photo of Zyt tower from the city
Notice some of the painted buildings
A hotel on the hill
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| Birds: Various water foul. The water in the lake was crystal clear and even at night, you could see down several feet with the light from some of the surrounding lampposts. We watched the birds dive down to the bottom and bring of pieces of plant to eat. It was interesting watching them swim underwater and float back to the surface. | ||||||
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Tufted Duck
Red-crested Pochard
Just a Swan
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| Food: Pork in a pastry cut with rice and Wiener schnitzel (breaded, fried port) with potatoes. | ||||||
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| Fondue | ||||||
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Fried sausage with onions and hash brown potatoes, cheese fondue with bread
Chocolate fondue with fruit and bread
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| Franciscan Church: This church has typical medieval mendicant architecture. It was built the second half of the 13th century in Gothic style. It has the most ornate pulpit in Switzerland from the period between the Renaissance and Baroque era. Flag frescoes represent Lucerne's conquests in the middle Ages. | ||||||
Yes, that is Chris in the very last row all by herself while I was standing at the podium taking her photo. We were the only ones in the church.
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| Jesuit Church: This was the first large sacral Baroque building in Switzerland. It was constructed in 1666 by Father Christoph Vogler for the Jesuits. The vault was redecorated in the mid-18th century. | ||||||
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| Lake Lucerne: Some views of Lucerne Lake. | ||||||
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| Lion Monument: "The dying Lion of Lucerne" is one of the world's most famous monuments. It was hewn out of natural rock in the memory of the heroic death of the Swiss mercenaries of the Tulleries in 1792. Author Mark Twain described the Lion of Lucerne as "the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world". | ||||||
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| Misc: Miscellaneous photos | ||||||
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One of the restrooms in a coffee shop and
different painted tiles on the wall. These are two that I thought were
funny so I took photos of them. Good thing no one else was around.
A dog sign we liked. I guess it means dogs are ok in the area or maybe it means only poodles are ok in the area.
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| Rathaus (Town Hall): The Rathaus was built between 1602 and 1606 in Italian Renaissance style and covered with a Bern farmhouse roof for weather purposes. The open arcades facing the Reuss still serve today as a weekly marketplace. The Kornschutte hall above an earlier trading goods store is used today as a concert hall and exhibition area. | ||||||
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| Restaurant Fritschi: Another restaurant where we had sausage, potatoes, beer, wine and cheese fondue. | ||||||
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| Spreuer Bridge: This bridge was completed in 1408 as a part of the city fortification. Between 1626 and 1635 Kaspar Meglinger added 67 paintings that represent the "Dance of Death". Called the Spreuer bridge because chaffs of wheat were thrown in the river here. | ||||||
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| St. Leodegar Cathedral (Hof Church): This is the main cathedral of the city. First a Benedictine monastery founded here in the 8th century. Fire destroyed the church in 1633. It was rebuilt in 1645. It is the most important Renaissance church building in Switzerland. Especially noteworthy are the facade, Mary's alter with a relief panel from 1500 and the souls' alter. | ||||||
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| Train Station: The Lucerne train station is located right in the center of town. When exiting the station, you simply walk across the bridge directly in front of the station and you are immediately in center of town where all the tourist attractions are. | ||||||
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| Zurich Airport: At the Zurich airport we found these guys waiting to perform. | ||||||
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