Lucerne

I recently had the chance to visit Lucerne, Switzerland this past July, and if I had to describe the city in one word, it would be ‘picturesque’.

I stayed near Lucerne’s old town, which features medieval architecture and cobblestone alleyways. Some monuments I visited included The Lion Monument, a lion sculpture carved into a cliff, as well as the Chapel Bridge, Europe’s oldest wooden covered bridge which spans the Reuss River. I also visited the Musegg wall, a partially intact medieval wall with a number of remaining watchtowers. With the wall being located slightly away from the old town centre, I took the opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets and sat myself on a bench, soaking up the evening sun and watching some cows laze about in the grass, 50 meters away from some locals playing volleyball.

On my second day of the trip, I visited the iconic Mount Pilatus, which is featured in many a photo of Lucerne. The scenic hillside turned into mountains as I ascended and took the views in. The peak of the mountain had an amazing view of Lake Lucerne and the snowcapped peaks across the Swiss Alps. Unfortunately, I did not dress appropriately for the occasion (a T-shirt and shorts are not mountain-appropriate attire) but that did mean that I got to enjoy the views whilst enjoying a nice Swiss priced coffee.

I would recommend visiting Lucerne if you enjoy beautiful, historic architecture and breathtaking views (as well owning a big fat wallet!).