The Beauty of Lucerne

Lucerne, Lucerne, or Lucerna, all the official names, depending on what language will we use. Such interesting clues can be found if we take a trip to Switzerland, but did not take their tourist brochures.


At first the city was just a small fishing hamlet, located on the west bank of Lake Lucerne. However, since the year 840, the hamlet was named Lucaria started in the historical record. This name refers to the figure of St. Leodegar, the chaplain who founded the monastery in that place about the year 700. Gradually, and then turned into Lucaria Lucerne. From a fishing village eventually grew into large cities.

These developments occurred after the Gotthard Pass, the road was built across the mountains of the Alps, is opened. The location of this city turned into a very strategic, located on the trade route between the Rhine Valley in Southern Germany and Lombardy in northern Italy.

In the year 1332, Lucerne which was increasingly prosperous, joined the confederation of three cantons (states), the early founders of the Swiss federal state. Prosperity increasingly felt, after the next road transportation of water held.


Beautiful city on the shores of this lake even eventually also connected with the railway. This railway makes Lucerne a trading city and tourist destination.

Lucerne is overflowing with all sorts of natural beauty. With the background that show eternal snow throughout the year, and this means that during the four seasons, always seemed to decorate the top of the Alps Mountains. While the stretch of pine forest surrounding the city, combined with a very clear lake water sparkling blue.

Although located far inland in the middle of Switzerland and the European mainland, Lucerne every time fishing hundreds of thousands of travelers coming from all over the world. All beauty is equipped with a water excursion on Lake Lucerne, a lake covering 38 square miles that joined with the Lake Uri, up to the wall of steep rock hills in the Alpine region.

Oldest Wooden Bridge

One of the main tourist Lucerne is a wooden bridge that spanned the River Reuss. Bridge in the middle of the city known as The Chapel, built in 1333 and believed to be the oldest wooden bridge in the world.



For more than seven centuries, the bridge is already several times (last in 1993) ravaged by the flames. Every time a fire occurs, the local government to intervene and restore.

This bridge can always look intact and seemed to have never wavered, and felt able to survive, despite all the beams in the water for hundreds of years.

"This is the symbol of public attitudes Lucerne persistence, always timeless and want to improve themselves," said Christine, a girl guide, explained cheerfully.

Although the course of history has made some of the buildings in Lucerne starting to look older by age, the traveler can actually enjoy the classic beauty and tranquility of a society in a European inland cities.

On the other hand, Lucerne is also trying to come beautify themselves, without leaving the old. The city can show the characteristics of modern social life, complete with all kinds of perniknya.

In 1971, major fires scorch Lucerne Railway Station. In the former location of the fire, now stands the magnificent complex of buildings that are named the Luzernersaal. Blend between the concert hall, convention center, as well as art galleries.

The main building complex is a French architect, Jean Nouvel. Coupled with the design of the building by the acoustics expert from the United States, Russell Johnson.

Today, not only traces of fire had not left. The complex is then actually performed as a benchmark, reference materials and guidance in building, to build similar complexes throughout the world.

Jesuit City

Sunday morning in early July, I was awakened from sleep, by the sound of dozens of bells to the rhythm of his voice rumbling through the hard right into the hotel room. With eyes still half asleep, Christine reminded, "Lucerne is a city built by the Federation of Switzerland as an example of a Catholic town, to meet the recommendations of the Convention on Trent 1545-1563".

Not just Catholics, even in the beginning, the management of this city specifically assigned to the Jesuit Order. Thus, in Lucerne some churches present conspicuous. Every Sunday, the center turned quiet trade due to close.

"Six days we've been working, cooking is not willing to leave one day to honor our Creator?" Christine said seriously.

Lucerne society since the sixteenth century to build a special education center Jesuit and equip it with a variety of additional buildings. Peak activity they finally achieve by establishing a church dedicated to St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552). Development of special church began in 1666 and completed eleven years later.

Today, not only meaning in the history of the building is important because it commemorates one of the Catholic holy figures are well known, St. Francis Xavier, who had once worked in Malaya, Ambon, Ternate, to mainland China. For ordinary people, the church architecture is very interesting because it marks the trace of the Baroque style, which has recorded its own impression in the world of architecture.

In the book Die Kunstdenkmaler des Kantons Luzern, Adolf Reinle describes, "A building is truly a work of genius ..."

Not excessive praise. Of all the Baroque-style church building on the north and south of the Alps Mountains, the Jesuit Church in Lucerne occupies a special position. Unique shape, design built compelling, and worked with the following skills excellent detail.

Once the impression from the outside. Especially on the inside, saved a lot of ancient paintings and sculptures which are very beautiful.