What a beautiful city, Luzern. From Zurich, it is just under an hour on the train, although the train fare is quite expensive - 44 CHF return. On a very cold and crisp winter day, with only a sprinkling of tourists snapping away with their cameras, Luzern sparkled in the snow.
On the lake front beside the railway station is the culture and congress centre KKL. The complex, designed by the Paris architect Jean Nourvel, comprise of a congress centre, the Art Museum of Luzern, and a concert hall. The Art Museum was a great disappointment. Despite the claim that it stages cutting edge contemporary art, the exhibits on the day were crude and naive to the non discerning eyes like mine. Inside the KKL, it was all chrome and glass, but lacking a sense of space. In all, it did not live up to expectation.
The Chapel Bridge and its octagonal water tower - the main landmark of Luzern, lies on the River Reuss, at the end of Lake Luzern. In the tourist literature, it was said that the Bridge was damaged by fire in August 1993 and was rebuilt in eight months. Swiss efficiency, no less. The inside roof of the bridge features a variety of gable paintings - a mixture of advertisements and local sceneries.
Situated on one end of the Chapel Bridge is the Jesuit Church, a marvel of the Baroque architecture that displays the power and glory of the Catholic tradition. On entry, the nave and the marble altar dominated the eye. On a Sunday, the mass was well attended, an indication of the strong Catholic faith that exists in today's Luzern.
Away from the formality of mass, children were having fun with their their sleighs near the impressive Musegg Wall in the Old Town. The Wall was built in the 14th to 15th centuries, and once had 30 towers. What remains today is about 870 metres long, and nine towers, four of which are open to the public during the summer months. It was enjoyable to watch children tumbling down the slope and nudging each other out of the way.
The Chapel Bridge and its octagonal water tower - the main landmark of Luzern, lies on the River Reuss, at the end of Lake Luzern. In the tourist literature, it was said that the Bridge was damaged by fire in August 1993 and was rebuilt in eight months. Swiss efficiency, no less. The inside roof of the bridge features a variety of gable paintings - a mixture of advertisements and local sceneries.
Situated on one end of the Chapel Bridge is the Jesuit Church, a marvel of the Baroque architecture that displays the power and glory of the Catholic tradition. On entry, the nave and the marble altar dominated the eye. On a Sunday, the mass was well attended, an indication of the strong Catholic faith that exists in today's Luzern.
Away from the formality of mass, children were having fun with their their sleighs near the impressive Musegg Wall in the Old Town. The Wall was built in the 14th to 15th centuries, and once had 30 towers. What remains today is about 870 metres long, and nine towers, four of which are open to the public during the summer months. It was enjoyable to watch children tumbling down the slope and nudging each other out of the way.