The Chapel Bridge, the Kapellbrücke, is a covered wooden footbridge that zigzags across the Reuss where the river leaves the lake, and it is the symbol of Lucerne. It dates from around the middle of the fourteenth century and runs from the theatre side of the river to St. Peter's Chapel on the Rathausquai. It is built against the much older Water Tower, a stout octagonal tower that has served the town as a watchtower, archive and prison and now stands as its most photographed shape. Under the bridge roof hang triangular gable panels painted in the early seventeenth century with scenes from Lucerne and Swiss history and with the legends of the city's patron saints, Mauritius and Leodegar. On the night of 18 August 1993 a fire destroyed much of the bridge and many of the paintings; it was rebuilt within a year, so what you walk across is a faithful reconstruction with some original panels. On either side lies the Old Town: painted house fronts, the Rathaus, the Kornmarkt, the Weinmarkt and the lanes between them, all within a few minutes of each other and of the lake promenade.
Walk the bridge slowly and look up. The panels are numbered, and reading even a handful gives a short course in Lucerne's story, from saints and battles to the plague. At the far end, St. Peter's Chapel gives the bridge its name, and the quay beside it is a good place to stand for the view of the Water Tower with the mountains behind. The Spreuerbrücke, the second covered bridge a few minutes downstream, is quieter and carries its own cycle of painted panels, so it is worth adding for anyone who likes the first.
Make a loop of it. Start at the railway station and the lake front, cross the Chapel Bridge toward the Old Town, wander the Kornmarkt and Weinmarkt squares to see the painted facades, then return over the Spreuerbrücke and along the river. It takes an hour if you hurry and an afternoon if you stop for coffee, chocolate or a lakeside bench.
The Old Town is compact enough that you will cross the bridge several times without trying, on the way to restaurants, to the boats and to the Museggmauer walls, which are closed in winter.
Best timing
Early morning, when the bridge is nearly empty and the light is soft over the water, or after dark, when the bridge and tower are lit and the crowds have gone. Midday in summer is the busiest hour. In November the bridge is open at all hours and the evening light arrives early, so a late-afternoon walk finishing with dinner in the Old Town works well. Take care on wet boards, watch for cyclists on the riverbank and keep an eye on pockets in the busiest stretches.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk across the covered wooden bridge and the Water Tower, with the Old Town squares and the Spreuerbrücke close by.
Best time
Early morning or after dark for an empty, lit bridge; midday is the busiest.
How long
One to two hours, longer with a coffee stop or a loop through the Old Town.
Tips
Read the gable panels as you walk, add the Spreuerbrücke downstream, and mind wet boards and cyclists on the quay.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Every first-timer, because it is the view, the photograph and the walk that define Lucerne.
- Families
- Easy and free, with swans and boats to watch; hold small hands near the railings.
- Couples
- A lit walk after dark and a table in the Old Town afterward.
- Pair with
- The Lion Monument, a lake cruise and the Rosengart Collection.
- Time needed
- An hour for the bridge and tower, half a day with the whole Old Town.
Good questions
Is the Chapel Bridge free to walk across?+
Yes. It is a public footbridge that is open at all hours, and there is no ticket. You can cross it as many times as you like.
Is the Chapel Bridge the original?+
Not entirely. A fire on 18 August 1993 destroyed much of the medieval bridge and its paintings, and it was rebuilt within a year. A number of the painted gable panels were saved and restored.
Can you go inside the Water Tower?+
The Water Tower is part of the bridge and you walk through its base, but it is not set up as a visitor attraction you climb. Enjoy it from the bridge and the quay.
What else is nearby?+
The Spreuerbrücke, the Old Town squares, the lake promenade, the KKL and the boat piers are all within a few minutes on foot.
What is the best time to see it?+
Early morning or after dark, when the crowds are gone and the light on the water is at its best. Midday is the busiest hour.
