Zurich to Luzern

The following is from a daily journal during a June 2015 trip to Switzerland with my wife, Cindy:

This morning we boarded the train from Zurich to Luzern, just a quick 45 mins.  Beautiful scenery as we passed by lakes and pastureland.  

 

Our hotel is a short walk from the tran station, or should have been but for all the activities setting up for a festival this evening.  Supposed to be fireworks, too, over the lake this weekend.   With sunset not until after 9:30, that may be late.

We had lunch near the hotel and had a traditional Swiss dish, Rösti: Thick cut hash browns covered with slices of bacon, tomato, cheese, and a fried egg.  Quite good & filing.

We walked quite a bit afterwards, exploring the city's famous bridges, painted buildings, the old city wall & towers, and the must-see Luzern Lion statue.

Of the two famous wooden bridges - the Mill bridge and the Chapel bridge - I'd say the Mill Bridge was my favorite.  The original bridge was built in the 1400s and rebuilt after a flood in the 1500s.  The rebuilt bridge included a chapel for divine protection against future floods.  Seems to have worked, as this 450 year old reconstruction is still in original condition.  It is thought provoking to see and feel the original timbers and wonder how much has changed since these trees were first cut down and the wood shaped in the beams for the bridge.

 

The more famous Chapel bridge was almost totally destroyed by fire in 1993, but painstakingly restored to its older appearance.  A few charred beams and paintings on the bridge have been left to memorialize the fire.

 

We walked through the old city, and after Cindy did some shopping (and buying), we climbed up to the old city walls.  Several of the towers still are accessible, and climbed up those, as well (actually, I did two, Cindy one). The views from the walls of the city rooftops and mountains was great.

 

The tall clock tower still has a working pendulum clock keeping the time and ringing out the hour for the city.  

 

Our last visit was to the famous Lion statue, carved into the side of a cliff in a small park just north of the old city.  The lion is 33 feet long and 20 feet tall, and commemorates the sacrifice of over 600 Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution protecting the royal family one August day in 1792.  It is a sad but moving statue of a dying lion, fallen on his shield.  Far from home, these men gave their lives fighting to protect the lives of others.