Lucerne - the secret capital of Switzerland

• Lucerne - the secret capital of Switzerland

There is an opinion that in Lucerne combines almost all the elements of the ideal tourist town: the magnificent view of the lake with mountains in the background, old churches, interesting shops and lots of greenery. A nice bonus to all this are attached to wheeled excursion steamers and the annual music festival in August and September. And yet many people believe secret capital of Lucerne Switzerland. If Bern - is the head, and the Zurich - hand, the Lucerne can certainly be proud of the position "heart of the country."

Let's check out, as well as whether these statements are true?

Walk on the secret capital of ...

We visited Lucerne in May 2013 as part of our two-day blitz tour of Switzerland. Before the trip I read on the Internet only rave reviews about this city - all admired the beautiful painted houses in the historical part of Lucerne and the old wooden bridge with stone turret. And, of course, I am very much expected of him.

But we were lucky with the Lucerne not. No, the weather was perfect, it was warm, sunny, almost all the iconic landmarks, we managed to see. The thing is that it was the third (!) We visited the city on the day before we went to Berne and Interlaken. And all of our emotions, and physical forces stayed there. It's a pity! Lucerne clearly deserves more attention. We have found the strength only in his cursory examination literally on the run with a camera at the ready)))

Therefore love alfalfa happened we have at home, for photos))) But I'm still very glad I spent in this really beautiful city a little bit of time. So there is a reason to return))) So, the first species of Lucerne that we have met:

And here is the first church, unfortunately, was unable to identify it:

Our main goal in Lucerne - historic Chapel Bridge, heading in his direction, simultaneously considering all around:

A house with gray shutters in neat, discreet, but still beautiful:

But the first signs of Swiss luxury in this town - shop watches and jewelry luxury "Byuherer:

Once upon a time in the distant 1888, Karl-Friedrich Byuherer opened in Lucerne its first store hours and laid the foundation for a successful family business. Today, the third generation Byuhererov is one of the leading sellers of watches and jewelry in Switzerland. The company represents many well-known brands, including Rolex:

My attention was drawn to sculpture on the roof of this building, and the building itself is also interesting:

approximate the buzzer over and round the clock see the figure of the child, calling the bell:

Next, we met "Stone House", one of the oldest stone buildings in Lucerne, dates from about the beginning of the 16th century:

And here we are already at Kapellplatts area. She installed a fountain in honor of the annual spring carnival:

Here it closer:

I love such monumental corner building. In Switzerland, they abound:

And here is the first postcard view, which is certainly in everyone who visited Lucerne - tower Wasserturm in Chapel Bridge. And I have more and seagull in the shot hit)))

I'm not sure, but most likely in this photo - the post office, over the sculptures on the facade of "POST" is written, and sculpture - are great:

This chapel of St. Peter, one of the oldest churches in the city:

The facade is decorated with paintings:

Chapel was built in the late 12th century, and after she was named the Chapel Bridge, which leads to it:

Bridge Chapel, or the Chapel Bridge - a true sample of the Swiss Covered Bridge and the symbol of Lucerne. It is not surprising that everyone wants to capture it in the memory:

And for this photo I really want to go back to Lucerne. When we ran to catch all to examine, I am very envious of these people. After all, they sat quietly and enjoyed the views of the city. I also want bleeders on these benches)))

Just fly to the Chapel Bridge, and here they are, the famous triangle ceiling beams of the bridge, and in each of them - the pictures, which were created from the 17th century:

A hundred paintings tell the story of the patron saint of the city of Lucerne and heroes, as well as depict scenes from Swiss history:

August 18, 1993 there was a fire on the bridge, causing many of the paintings and the bridge severely damaged. The bridge was restored, but it is still possible to see the charred blackened drawings. They were left unreduced in the memory of the loss:

And we examined the picture, start looking at views from the Chapel Bridge views. This view of the huge railway / train station in the city center. Many people consider it ugly. But such an elegant arch covers the station from the lake:

It is spring-like looks fresh green of the trees on the waterfront:

A huge painting on the facade of the hotel "Alps":

How is probably nice to sit at a table in a cafe on the waterfront or take a stroll along the beautiful buildings:

This view of the other side of the mountains:

In the distance one can see the spiers of the main church of Lucerne - Hofkirche. On it is the story later:

View from the bridge on the town hall building:

On the ground floor there is a restaurant "Town Hall Brewery:

And this building is a large Swiss insurance company:

Wasserturm in all its glory. Until the 19th century, this octagonal stone tower was used as a prison, a treasure trove of archival and library:

Again waterfront views:

And if we are on the waterfront Switzerland, somewhere near must be swans:

And Duck:

Immediately on the waterfront entrance to the Jesuit Church (Iezuitenkirhe) - one of the oldest and most beautiful baroque buildings in Switzerland:

It was built in the late 17th century. Inside, white-pink interior is decorated with frescoes and stucco. But we do not see, unfortunately:

Fully to photograph Iezuitenkirhe I did not succeed, only fragments available. For example, it reminds me of the tower of the dome of the Orthodox Church:

This photo is visible from almost all the main facade of the church - that's good:

Somewhere on the top of the mountain you can see the hotel "Gutsch Castle":

From the city to the hotel can be reached by cable car:

It seems that the white and red building on the waterfront built in half-timbered style, but it's just a painting:

Because of the rooftops you can see the very bright town hall tower:

The building of the old town hall of the Renaissance was built in 1602. It has an interesting stonework, a huge roof and high rectangular tower:

The tower serves as an excellent vantage point for the crowd on the market, where they spent something like the fair in the morning on Tuesday and Saturday:

And we go on a date and happened to spy on the background of the tower Wasserturm. Romantic! :

On the way to meet a nondescript gray fountain. Of course, it is beautiful in its own way, but after the motley raznotsvetya fountains in Bern somehow already not very impressive:

EU flag, canton Lucerne and two unidentified:

Bells Wall

Photo to my collection "spire piercing the sky." I'm from Switzerland, brought a lot of)))

This building is the second oldest hotel in Lucerne, a first, I do not know. The hotel has retained a beautiful historic facade, which was formed through the merger of several houses. On the building contains the date of construction - 1517:

For this inconspicuous, but the massive door in a quiet side street is one of the regional offices of the Swiss National Bank. Apart from him, some companies there is more Apartment 2 offices. That's right, is not pompous look separation state of the Swiss bank:

I liked the old pharmacy building:

Striped shutters in another my collection. I must say that it is with a visit to Switzerland took the start of my many photo collections -. Church spiers, fountains, window shutters, etc., etc .:.

Striped shutters were at the History Museum building. And I collect funny photos of posters, that's like this: