Culture of Luzern. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Each landmark of the city of Lucerne is a reminiscence of significant historical events and epochs. The famous Lion Monument (named Loewendenkmal) resembles of the events of the end of the 18th century and particularly of the Tuileries battle. The collapse of the monarchy was an important event in the city history. For many centuries the lion has stood for courage and spirit of the Swiss soldiers.

Lucerne boasts the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe – the Chapel Bridge. Its construction was finished in 1333, the length of the ancient bridge is 204 meters. Up to the 1993 the bridge was untouched and preserved in its initial state. The upscale construction was from year to year repaired by the local residents. In 1993 a part of the bridge was destroyed by fire, however through the efforts of architects the construction was renovated as soon as possible. Nowadays the bridge is considered not only one of the most important city sights, but it is among the most significant landmarks of the country.

The Mill Bridge is of the same high interest. It features a unique zigzag form and crosses the Reuss river. The construction of the covered bridge was finished in 1408 after which the famous artist Kaspar Meglinger decorated the bridge with plague paintings. The medieval fresco paintings resemble the local folks and city visitors of another significant event – plague epidemics killing the town folks in the medieval period. The city as well as its suburbs has preserved many ancient religious buildings. Jesuit Church or the Jesuitenkirche stands on the right bank of the Reuss river. The construction of the church took place in the second part of the 17th century. It became the first baroque building in the country. Despite of the age of the church exceeding three hundred years it looks rather impressive and modern like. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

During the city tour the travelers will be surely offered to visit the church and to explore its interior as it features luxurious hall decorations and preserves many significant religious relics. The most visited and renowned cultural establishment of the city is justly considered to be the Pablo Picasso Museum. Apart from the artworks of world renowned artist the museum presents the exposition of 200 photos. All of them were shot by David Duncan Douglas, the photographer from the United Stated of America who arranged the ambitious photo session in the house of the artist.

Among other cultural institutions of the city, the Historisches Museum stands out. Housed in a former arsenal building dating back to 1568, It will be of great interest to tourists wishing to plunge into the local culture and history. The diverse and modern museum keeps a huge collection of costumes, armor, weapons, household items, jewelry, as well as geological, religious, and paleontological artifacts related to the canton of Lucerne. Of particular interest is the diorama of the history of Switzerland. Not far from the above-mentioned cultural institution is the Natur-Museum, which provides visitors with information about the local fauna and flora.

If you have free time, it'd be a good idea to spend it on visiting the Verkehrshaus der Schweiz and exploring its huge collection of Swiss-made vehicles. Among them, you can find rail transport, aircraft (including space vehicles), cars, motorcycles. The Puppenhausmuseum dedicated to dolls is interesting not only for small tourists but also for adults. Here you can find a wonderful collection of 19th-century dollhouses with dolls living in them. Both the houses and the dolls are made down to the smallest detail - which, however, is not surprising - the Swiss quality is well-known throughout the world. You can also find a collection of technical toys of the same 19th century.

The house where the great German composer Richard Wagner lived for some time is now converted into the Richard-Wagner-Museum. Out of deep respect for the author of “The Ring of the Nibelungs”, the original interior has been preserved in the mansion and its priceless works sound in the building. Apart from that, an interesting collection of rare musical instruments can be found in the house museum. For those who prefer contemporary art, it would be worthwhile to mention the Kunstmuseum and the Museum im Bellpark, which host temporary exhibitions of famous artists, as well as those whose names you haven't heard yet.

The Kultur- und Kongresszentrum with its perfect acoustics is a great place to get a wonderful experience of watching music performances. Thanks to its characteristics, the concert hall is considered one of the best not only in Europe but throughout the world. Also, interesting events like exhibitions and festivals are often held in the center. Fans of theatrical art will be happy to visit the Luzerner Theater and watch one of the impressive shows. A unique place in Lucerne is Gletschergarten - a wonderful place for archeology and history buffs. This is a frozen glacier demonstrating fossils of living organisms (including palm leaves). Of particular interest are “crooked mirrors”, a picturesque pond with fish, as well as an observation deck offering fantastic panoramic views.

It is worth noting that it's almost impossible to pass by Gletschergarten, as it is located next to the city's main attraction - the Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal). A little further from the symbol of the city is the Museggmauer - an old city wall with nine towers, from which you can enjoy picturesque views of the city and its surroundings (you can climb three towers - Mannliturm, Schirmerturm, and Zytturm). The fortification was built in the 14th-16th centuries, and its distinguishing feature is that each of the above towers is not similar to another. Beyond the wall, visitors will find a beautiful park offering spectacular views. The highest tower of all nine is 52-meter-tall Luegislandturm, and the highest of those available for climbing is Mannliturm reaching 33 meters in height.