Lucerne Attractions

On the north side of Lake Lucerne, just off Haldenstrasse, is situated the lower station of the funicular to the Dietschiberg (632 m/2,014ft). There is a fine view of Lucerne and the lake from the top. Near the upper station there are a cafe-restaurant, a golf-course and a miniature railroad (scale 1:10).

The Fire Brigade Museum in Adligenswil highlights firefighting during the 19th century focusing on rural fire brigades.

The unique 10m x 110m round painting by the artist Edouard Castres, dating from 1881 portrays an incident from the Franco-Prussian war of 1870/71. The visitor stands in the middle of this realistic three-dimensional scene.

Southwest of the railroad station is Lucerne's Central Library (Zentralbibliothek) containing over 400,000 volumes and pamphlets, 2,500 manuscripts and over 800 incunabula.

Below Dietschiberg, to the southwest, is a park with the interesting Utenberg Costume and Folk Museum (Schweizer).

This annual three-day festival takes place during the Easter weekend and includes at least two daily events. There are usually orchestral, choral, chamber and organ concerts, theatrical performances and recitals, with repertoires in line with the traditional religious spirit of the weekend.

The venues also complement the season, and include the various churches as well as the Kunsthaus.

Two of the concerts are part of liturgical services. Morning and evening performances are held every day.

Southwest of Lucerne's Regierungsgebäude stands the Franciscan church (13th-17th C.; completely restored 1988-1989), the nave walls of which have paintings of flags and banners (carved pulpit 1628, choir stalls 1647-51). In front of the church (also known as the Barfüsserkirche or Church of the Barefoot Friars) is the Barfüsserbrunnen, a copy of the original of 1651.

Weapons, flags, costumes, gold and silver, medieval paintings and textiles plus three to four special exhibitions each year are displayed at the Historisches Museum.

This annual three-week festival runs from mid-August to early September and is equally renowned for its program and breathtaking scenery. The many daily events include orchestral, choral, chamber and organ concerts, recitals, dance performances and film screenings. Various lectures and exhibitions accompany the main performances.

Since its inception in 1938, the festival has been acclaimed for bringing together world-class performers in impressive venues including the Kunsthaus, the Lion Monument, the Jesuit Church and many other historical buildings.

On the south bank of the Reuss, extending east to the lake and linked with the Schwanenplatz by the busy Seebrücke (Lake Bridge; 1935-36), is the Bahnhofplatz; here are the new railroad station and the landing-stages used by the various boat services. A replacement bridge is planned for the end of 1991, along with a new railroad station. In the gardens stands the Wagenbach fountain (1934).

From Lucerne's Kurplatz, Löwenstrasse leads north to the Löwenplatz, to the right of which is the Panorama, a large circular painting (11,000 sq. m/118,360 sq. ft) by the Geneva battle painter Castres, with the collaboration of Hodler and other Swiss painters (1877-79). The painting depicts in highly realistic fashion the retreat of the French Eastern Army into Switzerland in 1871.

Swiss painting and sculpture with emphasis on 19th C Swiss landscapes and international and Swiss post-war art is offered as is a concert hall with some of the world's best acoustics.

Minerals, fossils, flora and fauna from central Switzerland are studied in the Nature Museum plus a hands-on live animal exhibit.

On the outskirts of Lucerne, 1km/ 0.6mi north, is an elongated lake, the Rotsee, on which a well-known regatta is held every year.

The Reussbrücke (Reuss Bridge) was built in 1877 on the site of the oldest "Pons Lucernensis" (first mentioned in 1246 and 1253). The steel diagonal construction has been replaced by a copy (1989/1990).

Downstream from Lucerne's Reussbrücke is another covered wooden bridge, the Spreuerbrücke (1406), decorated with scenes from the "Dance of Death" (17th C.).

The Aeroclub der Schweiz gives information about circular flights in Switzerland, the Alps, towns and other trips in aircraft. Special departments for gliding and parachuting.

The Agriculture Museum in Alberswil features an array of agricultural objects that illustrate the changing technology and lifestyle of the farming population.

The Museum of Clock Making in Puidoux presents watches and clocks of Swiss and foreign design from the 16th-20th C plus tools of clock and watch makers.

Reiden is located in the canton of Lucerne.