Lucerne, Switzerland- Chapel Bridge, Lion of Lucerne and More

We arrived in the Lucerne area as the sun was setting.  We stayed outside of the city, in the mountains, and it was so perfectly cozy!  Our room had a window that walked out onto a rooftop patio with a view of mountains, the small town and farmlands… Can you say perfection?

We made our way down to Lucerne and spent the whole day exploring the gorgeous city!  Our first stop was the Lion of Lucerne.  This beautiful monument was created for the Swiss Guards that were killed during the French Revolution.  The cave that the lion is in is shaped like a pig… (I would have never noticed had I not been told while I was standing there.)  I heard that it was because the artist didn’t get paid and was angry, and I also heard that it was a message to the French… However, I like to think it’s the first.

I don’t think anyone could describe this beautiful work of art better than Mark Twain, so I’ll just share his description from a Tramp Abroad:

The Lion lies in his lair in the perpendicular face of a low cliff — for he is carved from the living rock of the cliff. His size is colossal, his attitude is noble. His head is bowed, the broken spear is sticking in his shoulder, his protecting paw rests upon the lilies of France. Vines hang down the cliff and wave in the wind, and a clear stream trickles from above and empties into a pond at the base, and in the smooth surface of the pond the lion is mirrored, among the water-lilies.

We spent a lot of time simply walking through the city streets, and we loved being able to take advantage of the beautiful and iconic footbridges.

Chapel Bridge was originally built in 1333, but was sadly mostly destroyed in a fire in 1993.  It was rebuilt, and the dozens of paintings that are under the roof of the bridge we restored.  (Be sure to look up when you walk along.)

My beautiful mama relaxing on Chapel Bridge

An incredibly sweet Swiss woman took this photo for as after we had tried to take a “selfie” version for over five minutes- it was a process that led to many laughs and silly pictures! We could’ve used a selfie stick, like one of these!

Between the two covered bridges is the damn that controls the lake level and amount of flow of the river.

Here are some other photos of our time walking along the river and through the streets of Lucerne.  Monday will be Lucerne- Part two with photos of churches and the Rosengart Art Museum.

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