|
|
LUZERN - SWITZERLAND
Lucerne (German: Luzern) is a city in Central Switzerland with a population
of 60,274 (31 December 2003), capital of the canton of Lucerne. The city is
located on the borders of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) with a famous
wooden bridge and within sight of Mount Pilatus and the Rigi.
There is apparently no record of the city's founding, but it is mentioned in
840 named "Luciaria", the name originating from a monastery of St Leodegar
founded around 730. The opening of the St Gotthard Pass route in the 13th
century made Lucerne into an important trading town. Acquired by the
Hapsburgs in 1291, it joined the Swiss Confederation in 1332. Lucerne was
capital of the Helvetian Republic in 1798 .
Since the city straddles the Reuss River where it drains the lake, it has
a number of bridges. The most famous is the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), a
204 m (670 ft) long wooden bridge originally built in 1333, although much of
it had to be replaced after a 1993 fire. Partway across, the bridge runs by
the octagonal Water Tower (Wasserturm), a fortification from the 13th
century. The Bridge with its Tower is the city's most famous landmark.
The Swiss Transport Museum is an impressively large and comprehensive museum
exhibiting all forms of transportation, including locomotives, automobiles,
ships, and aircraft.
The Culture and Convention Center Lucerne besides the lake in the center of
the city was built by Jean Nouvel. The center has one of the worlds leading
concert halls (Accustic: Russel Johnson). Every year in late summertime the
very famous Lucerne Festival (classic music) takes place .
|
|
