Town Hall (Lucerne)


The City Hall of Lucerne is a truly unique old building that combines the characteristic features of Swiss architecture and the spirit of the Italian Renaissance. Originally it was built as a trading building. This distinguishes it from other European town halls, which were erected primarily to accommodate the city administration.

History of Town Hall Construction

The decision to build the city hall in Lucerne was made at the very beginning of the XVII century. For this purpose, a plot was located on the banks of the Royce River, just 100 meters from the famous Kapellbrücke Bridge . The Italian architect Anton Isenmann supervised the construction. This architect is known for creating buildings with characteristic features of the Renaissance style - straight lines, laconic arches and flying arcades. And the ancient Lucerne Town Hall is distinguished by the fact that its roof is least like the roof of the front building. This method the architect used to ensure that the building was able to withstand the unfavorable weather conditions of this city.

Features of the Lucerne Town Hall

If you were lucky enough to visit the Royce embankment in Lucerne, do not miss the opportunity to take a walk around the old town hall. Be sure to bypass it from all sides and appreciate how harmoniously it fits into the surroundings of the old Swiss houses. This is largely helped by the red roof, tiled - a characteristic feature of the Bern houses. Like any other European town hall, this building is decorated with an hour tower. An astronomical clock with two dials serves as a guide for tourists and locals.

In the Town Hall itself is worth visiting the halls, which still retain their original appearance, namely:

The interior space is decorated with an antique Versailles parquet and elegant wooden panels. The portrait hall of the Town Hall, which is dominated by the imperial style, was built already in the XVIII century. The hall serves as an exhibition of the works of the famous Swiss artist Josef Reinhard.

The open arcades of the Town Hall are the venue for weekly fairs. Directly above them is the Kornschütte hall, where concerts and exhibitions are currently held. After visiting the town hall, be sure to visit the cozy restaurant Rathaus Brauerei, where you can taste delicious local cuisine and try tart Swiss beer.

How to get there?

The ancient Lucerne Town Hall in Switzerland is located on the Rathausquai seafront a few dozen meters from the Kapelbrücke chapel bridge. A walk from the railway station or city moorings to the Rathausquai waterfront takes no more than 10 minutes.