- Address: Kapellbrücke, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland
- Phone: +41 41 227 17 17
- Overall length: 204 m
- Opening: 1333
Planning a trip to Switzerland , first of all you expect to see the majestic ridges of the mountains , the azure waters of the Alpine lakes, snow peaks and glaciers. And doubly pleasanter, when to the impressions of nature is added and the admiration of what is created by the hands of man. It is this genuine surprise that causes the Kapelbrücke bridge in Lucerne. After visiting this place there is a lot of positive impressions.
Features of the Kapelbrücke Bridge
Lucerne cuts the Royce River in the very center. It is through it that the Kapelbrücke bridge is laid - the main attraction of the city. It was built in 1333 and its main function was to connect the Old and New parts of Lucerne. The bridge is made entirely of wood. That is why the fire in 1993 caused enormous damage to this monument of architecture and was perceived by local residents as a small natural disaster. However, the bridge was successfully restored thanks to the drawings, which simply miraculously survived until this time. Today it is considered the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. The shape of Kapelbrücke is somewhat intricate, broken, and on the outside it is adorned with picturesque flower beds.
Originally the bridge Kapelbrücke connected the church of St. Leodegard and the chapel of St. Peter. At that time its length reached 205 m. However, in 1835 part of the shore was covered with sand, so unnecessary 75 m at the bridge was removed.
What to see?
An integral part of the Kapelbrücke bridge in Lucerne is the Wassertum tower. It is located in the central part of the structure, and was erected in 1300. In the Middle Ages the tower served as a torture and prison. Today there is a guild of artillerymen and a shop with souvenirs.
Walking along the Kapelbrücke bridge you need to look not only around, enjoying the beauties of the city, but also up. It is at this moment that it becomes clear how this architectural monument is unique and what value it brings for the history and culture of not only the city but also the country. Over the entire length of the bridge on both sides of the triangular rafters, you can observe 111 unique paintings from the 17th century. Their plot reflects the most important events in the life of the city and country, biblical stories, myths, everyday life of local residents. The author of these paintings is the artist Hans Heinrich Wagmann. Initially, the cycle consisted of 158 works. Before the fire, there were 147. Each picture was made on a spruce or maple board, reaching a width of 180 cm.
How to get there?
Kapelbrücke Bridge is located in the heart of Lucerne, therefore it is quite easy to get to it - from the railway station it is only 5 minutes by foot. Also nearby is the Schwanenplatz stop, bus lines 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 19, 22, 23, 24. In Lucerne, trains run in the direction of Zurich , Bern and Basel . The road from these cities takes no more than an hour and a half.
Despite its respectful age, the Kapelbrücke bridge is a vivid example of how fragile the memory of antiquity can be. After all, from a randomly thrown cigarette butt, unique pictures were destroyed, and only by a miracle was it possible to restore the whole structure itself.
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