Lucerne - 28 April 2024

28.04 - Lucerne - and a Fiat Professional service centre!

Thought we might have a night of noisy youths, and early morning dog walkers - but was absolutely fine. In fact, was lovely waking up to birdsong again. 

Tintin wanted to drive again today - was mainly on the motorway - for about 1-1/4 hours. Surprisingly busy. Also - so many different car license plates - loads from the Netherlands today, and Italy, Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg and very few from Switzerland…

We had previously found some daytime parking which was free for 5 hours. Was only 2.5 miles from there to cycle right into Lucerne and back. 

We started off at the Spreuerbrücke, (bridge) a near contemporary of the original Kapellbrücke, which has survived better than its bigger sister. 

We just wandered around. So many beautiful buildings. It’s a lovely place to visit - wide streets, so much history and keeps opening out into squares. It was much busier than we thought it would be, seeing as the shops were all closed being Sunday. 

It helps that you can look out onto Lake Lucerne, and all the mountains in the distance. Lucerne lies at 439m above sea level, and Mount Pilatus is only 6 miles away (2,132m) along with some 73 Alpine peaks. 

We walked up to see the Lion monument. It’s really sad, a dying lion has been hewn into the rock face over a pond. The monument commemorates the 786 Swiss officers who died defending Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette in the attack of the Tuileries Palace in 1792 during the French Revolution. Plus there are varying other ideas as to why it’s there!

Google maps also said there was a street scape mural nearby - so we went and found that. 

From there we went back down to the church as it wasn’t as busy as previously. Quite ‘busy’ inside with all that gold 😉 There was a christening service going on, a young lady was playing her electric piano and she went wrong a few times, could see by her facial expressions!

We sat and enjoyed the view of the lake for a while, then treated ourselves to an ice cream. CHF 3.80 each. Probably too big, would prefer to pay less and have smaller, or at least be able to choose two flavours like in Italy - but they were good 😊 

Until the 19th century, Lucerne managed to retain its medieval city walls. Though sections were razed, 870m of the 1,400m built - the Museggmauer still stand - and you can walk along the ramparts - there are 9 towers. 

There were great views from up there. We also went inside the clock tower to the top and you could see lots of the internal workings. Very steep steps in places! Had to go back down and along to be able to see the famous clock tower face from outside (Zytturm).

The Town Hall (Altes Rathaus!) was built between 1602 and 1606, and influenced by the Florentine early Renaissance style. 

We ended up at the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) which was painstakingly reconstructed after a fire in 1993. There are loads of pictures in the roof trusses. Plus, it has an octagonal water tower halfway along. Lucerne claims it is the most photographed icon of Switzerland. 

It was certainly a lovely place to visit. 

Back at Dave, time for a cuppa before driving the 10 minutes to the Fiat Professional service place. We’re parked up, ready for when they open at 07.15am tomorrow - when we’re hoping they might be able to help us with the engine coolant issue. We haven’t had any problems today - but ultimately it needs to be looked at. 

Had a good chat with my lovely sister Jo 😊

11,500 steps today just wandering around!