Lucerne - History, Sights, Events

47°03N 8°18E, pop (2000e) 62 000. Resort capital of Lucerne canton, C Switzerland, on W shore of L Lucerne, 40 km/25 mi SW of Zürich; developed as a trade centre on the St Gotthard route; railway junction; lake steamers; engineering, tourism; Lion Monument, painted footbridge (16th-c), cathedral (17th-c), town hall (17th-c); International Music Festival (Aug–Sep), folk festivals, winter carnival (Feb–Mar).

Coordinates: 47°03′N 8°18′E

Lucerne
Canton	Lucerne
District	Lucerne
Coordinates	47°03′N 8°18′E
Population	57,533   (December 31, 2005)
Area	24.15 km²
Elevation	436 m
Postal code	6000
Mayor	Urs W. Studer
Website	www.luzern.ch
Lucerne

Lucerne (German: Luzern (help·info)) is a city in central Switzerland.

Due to its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi, Lucerne is traditionally considered as a touristy city.

History

Origins

The city grew from a small fishing village of ancient origins on the shores of Lake Lucerne with the founding of the Benedictine monastery of St. Leodegar in around 700 AD.

Confederation and modern Switzerland

The opening of the St. Gotthard Pass route in the 13th century made Lucerne into an important trading town for the transshipment of goods over the Alps.

In 1601 the city was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami, with the waves of the tsunami repeatedly pounding the town after being reflected back against it by the far shore of Lake Lucerne.

Lucerne was the center of a peasants' revolt in 1653 against the aristocratic regime in the towns, the members of whom had grown rich from mercenary service in foreign armies.

Lucerne was briefly capital of the Napoleonic Helvetian Republic from 1798-1803.

In 1841, Lucerne seceded from the Swiss Confederation, leading to the Sonderbund War of 1847.

The construction of the Gotthard railway and the establishment of ship transport on Lake Lucerne have made Lucerne into one of Switzerland’s main tourist destinations.

Lucerne today

In August 2006, the city government agreed on a merger with the adjacent municipality of Littau.

Sights

Since the city straddles the Reuss River where it drains the lake, it has a number of bridges.

Downriver, between the Kasernenplatz and the Mühlenplatz, the Spreuerbrücke or Mill Bridge zigzags across the Reuss.

Old Town Luzern is located just north of the Reuss River, and still has several fine half-timber structures with painted fronts.

The twin needle towers of the cathedral of St. Leodegar sit on a small hill just above the lakefront.

The Culture and Convention Center Lucerne beside the lake in the center of the city was designed by Jean Nouvel.

Events

The city hosts the Lucerne Festival for classical music each year in late summer.