Lucerne - Surroundings

5km/3mi southwest of Kriens at Hergiswald there is the beautiful 17th C. pilgrimage chapel of Maria Loreto (flight of 1,000 steps; timber ceiling with more than 300 symbolic images of the Virgin by K. Meglinger, 1654). The road continues to the mountain resort of Schwarzenberg (831 m/ 2,727ft).

To the east of Beromünster is the Seetal (Lake Valley) in which lie the Baldegger See and Hallwiler See. Hochdorf, at the south end of the Baldegger See, has a fine church of 1768. On a hill 3km/2mi east stands a former commandery of the Knights of St John, Hohenrain (614 m/2,015ft), now a special school. Continue up the east side of the lake on road 26 to reach Schloss Horben.

2km/1mi north of Sempach, above the town on the road to Hildisrieden, is the Schlachtkapelle (Battle Chapel), built in 1473 to commemorate the Confederates' victory over Duke Leopold III of Austria on July ninth 1386, a victory traditionally attributed to the self-sacrifice of Arnold von Winkelried.

From Sursee road 23 runs northeast to Bermünster (642 m/2,106ft; pop. 1,700), with St Michael's church, which belonged to a monastic house founded by Count Bero of Lenzburg about 980. The church, originally Romanesque, was rebuilt in 1606 and remodeled in Baroque style in 1775; fine choir-stalls of 1609, rich treasury. Castle (local museum), in which the first book printed in Switzerland was produced in 1470.

The road back to Lucerne from Schloss Hallwil along the east side of the lake passes Schloss Brestenberg (462 m/1,516ft), a country house with a park built in 1625, which was redeveloped as a hotel, restaurant and museum. From Gelfingen road 26 returns to Lucerne.

A 16th C. gallows was excavated in the suburb of Emmen in 1988-89. This was the first to be found in Switzerland and had been in use until the 18th C.

Schloss Heidegg, with its renovated tower dating from the 12th C houses a museum of the history of the Heidegg area. Included are archaeological finds from the castle.

To the west of Lucerne, on the edge of the extensive Gütschwald, is the Gütsch, a hill which affords extensive views. It is reached by funicular from Baselstrasse or on foot by way of the Gütschweg (1.5km/1mi).

Just outside Hochdorf, on the Lindenberg, to the right of road 26, is Schloss Horben (1701), from which there is a beautiful view of the Alps.

Southwest of Lucerne is the industrial suburb of Kriens (alt. 482 m/1,581ft), with the little castle of Schauensee (1595, with a 13th C. round tower).

From here there is a funicular up the Sonnenberg (780 m/2,559ft), which affords superb views. Here too is the lower station of a cableway up Mt Pilatus.

A forum for history, art, photography and video plus photo documentation of the growth of the region.

The Richard Wagner Museum, once a country house rented by Wagner himself from 1866 to 1872, contains valuable manuscripts, original scores, paintings and as well as a collection of instruments.

From Wolhusen road 2 runs northwest to the old-world little town of Willisau (557 m/1,828ft; pop. 2,900) with well-preserved town walls and an upper tower dating from 1551. Nearby the 17th C. pilgrimage chapel of Heiligblut has a fine wooden ceiling with biblical decoration. The tower of the former governor's castle (17th C., opening hours given) is part of the walls, built about 1400.

To the west of Lucerne, in the valley of the Kleine Emme, is the industrial town of Wolhusen (568 m/1,864ft; pop. 3,500). On a hill near the town is situated the convent of Werthenstein, which boasts a beautiful pilgrimage church (1608-16) and a fine cloister.