Lucerne's Architectural Jewels Walking Tour (Self Guided), Lucerne

Lucerne's long religious and cultural history is duly reflected in its architecture, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Switzerland. There are quite a few places in the city that need not strive for attention and can easily catch the eye of any passer-by. Such like are:

The Lucerne Railway Station – an architectural jewel and main hub of the Swiss railway network, built in 1896; renowned for its entrance hall with a distinctive cupola and elegant curved roof.

Ritter Palace – early Renaissance, Florentine-style piece of architecture; seat of the cantonal government.

Rathaus (the Town Hall) – one of the most beautiful historical buildings in Lucerne; completed in 1606.

Zunfthaus zu Pfistern (Pfistern Guild Hall) – formerly Guild Hall, now a restaurant serving Swiss cuisine.

Dornach House – a charming neo-Gothic edifice with Mannerist fresco paintings. Built around 1900, dedicated to the Swiss victory in the Battle of Dornach.

Straddling the river Reuss, Lucerne boasts several remarkable bridges, such as the Chapel Bridge – the oldest covered bridge in Europe, dated 1333 – symbol of the city and one of Switzerland's best known landmarks.

Your attention will also be struck by the number of magnificent churches, including:

Jesuit Church (Jesuitenkirche) – the first large Baroque temple in Switzerland; consecrated in 1677.

St. Matthew Church (Matthäuskirche) – a fascinating piece of Gothic Renaissance architecture; German composer Richard Wagner married here for the second time in 1870.

Church of St. Leodegar – named after the city's patron saint; sitting atop a small hill above the lake front. Originally built in 735, redesigned in Renaissance style in 1639.

If you wish to acquaint yourself more closely with the architectural jewels of Lucerne, consider taking our self-guided walking tour.