Old Town of Lucerne, Switzerland

Where the festive glow lingers

On the shores of Lake Lucerne, you’ll find the medieval Swiss city that shares its name. Growing from a Benedictine monastery founded here in 750, Lucerne is now the largest town in central Switzerland, and the country’s sixth most populous city.

Lucerne’s Old Town has three ancient, covered wooden bridges. The interior of the central bridge, Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), boasts a unique feature - it is painted with religious scenes and allegories for those walking across it to the St Peter’s Chapel. Said to be Lucerne’s most photographed destination, it is usually snapped alongside the city’s iconic Water Tower, which it passes on its way from the Lucerne Theatre, on the south bank of the river Reuss, to St Peter’s Chapel on Rathausquai.