Current Time in Luzern, Switzerland

Luzern (Lucerne) is a city in central Switzerland, situated at the western end of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) where the Reuss River exits the lake, surrounded by mountains including Pilatus and Rigi. One of Switzerland's most visited cities and a gateway to the dramatic landscapes of central Switzerland and the Alps, Luzern is celebrated for its perfectly preserved medieval old town, its iconic wooden covered bridges, and its position at the center of some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Europe.

With a population of approximately 82,000 in the city and about 240,000 in the agglomeration, Luzern is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and one of Switzerland's most important tourist destinations. Its central location, dramatic lakeside and mountain setting, and well-preserved historic center have made it an obligatory stop on the traditional European tour route since the days of the Grand Tour in the 18th and 19th centuries, and it remains one of the most recognizable images of Switzerland.

The Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), a covered wooden pedestrian bridge crossing the Reuss, was built in 1333 and is the oldest surviving covered wooden bridge in Europe and one of Switzerland's most iconic landmarks. Running diagonally across the river and incorporating the Wasserturm (Water Tower), the bridge is decorated with a series of painted triangular gable panels depicting scenes from Swiss and Lucerne history, most painted in the 17th century. Though badly damaged by fire in 1993 and subsequently rebuilt, the Kapellbrücke remains the defining image of Luzern. The nearby Spreuerbrücke, a second covered wooden bridge, is entirely original and decorated with a remarkable 17th-century Dance of Death cycle of paintings.

The old city's medieval character is preserved in its towers, defensive walls, and the compact streets of the Altstadt on both banks of the Reuss. The Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal), carved into a sandstone cliff face in 1820 to commemorate the Swiss Guards killed defending the Tuileries Palace during the French Revolution, is described by Mark Twain as the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world. The Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus), the most visited museum in Switzerland, covers every form of transport from rail and road to aviation and space with excellent interactive exhibits.

The Lucerne Festival, held three times a year (in spring, summer, and autumn), is one of the world's most prestigious classical music festivals, attracting major orchestras and soloists to perform in the KKL Luzern (Culture and Congress Centre), a striking contemporary building on the lakefront designed by Jean Nouvel. Lake cruises on the old paddle steamers of the Lake Lucerne Navigation Company, journeys to the summits of Pilatus (by the world's steepest rack railway) and Rigi, and day trips to the historic forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden are among the most popular excursions.

Luzern is well connected by the Swiss rail network to Zurich (about 45 minutes), Basel (about one hour), and Bern (about one hour and twenty minutes). The A2 motorway provides road access. Lake ferries connect the city to communities around the lake.

Luzern is a city of extraordinary scenic and architectural beauty that has delighted visitors for centuries — and continues to justify its global reputation as Switzerland at its most picturesque.