Luzern (Lucerne)

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Luzern lies in a beautiful region of mountains, lakes and alpine villages. The city lies on the Reuss River, just west of Lake Lucerne.

Luzern's Old Town sits on the northern bank of the river and boasts numerous interesting monuments and sights. There are many 15th-century buildings with marvelous façades, as well as several old, wooden covered bridges. Luzern's town hall dates from the 17th century and was built in Renaissance style.

The Lion Monument, just northeast of the city center, was carved out of natural rock in 1820. It was constructed to commemorate the Swiss soldiers that died in the French Revolution. Rights next to it is the Gletschergarten (Glacier Garden), an area, where numerous huge potholes prove that some 20 million years ago, the region had a subtropical climate.

One of Luzern's most interesting museums is the Transport Museum, where you can see all sorts of means of transportation, including old automobiles, trains and planes. Inside the museum is the Swissorama, where a film that shows all major sights in Switzerland is projected on a 360° screen.

Lake Lucerne and the Reuss River can be explored by pedalboat, row boat or kayak, which are rented in town. Along the river quays are several nice markets.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in town. Luzern is an excellent place to stay if you want to explore the surrounding mountains. The city is 35 km east of Bern.