luzern

28/12/14

This morning was a lazy morning.  We didn't get up until 7.40 am and then didn't get down to breakfast until 8.30.  Overall we didn't leave the hotel until 10.45 am.  I think that is the latest I have ever left a hotel when on holiday with mum!  Usually its up at 6 out by 7, and not back until 10pm at least! I usually need a holiday to recover from my holiday!

We caught the tram into Bern Bahnhof, where we bought tickets Luzern (or Lucerne - you can spell it two ways).  There were two options - One train which only took an hour but didn't leave until 12 (it was 11.20), or there was one at 11.36 which got there by 12 as well.  The 11.36 train was also cheaper than the 12.00 train, though this was because it took longer.  We bought two adult tickets, one half fare ticket and two children day riders (Lauren and Hannah) for the train and headed to the station.

We arrived in Luzern at about 1 pm, as with every other city the first thing we did was find the tourist / information centre.  As it was Sunday though, it was closed.  I managed to find a tourist information brochure though and inside was a map (all we had actually wanted really).

The bikes at the train station

We walked along the river, Lauren was leading.  We were eventually heading to the Dying Lion monument, however got side tracked along the way.  It was snowing quite heavily whilst we were walking, Nanny had her umbrella but the rest of us were in jackets and the snow just got everywhere,.

We turned left down a side street, on a mission to find the Lion Monument, and got distracted again.  This time it was by a church.

 

This was the Court Church of St. Leodegar.  One of the most important churches in Luzern, it was built in parts between 1633 to 1639, onto the foundation of a Roman basilica which had burnt down in 1633.  Inside the church was absolutely beautiful (look at the organ!)

We eventually made it to the Lion Monument ... one of the most famous monuments in the world.  The statue was carved in memory of the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution.  It was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and was carved in 1820-21 by Lukas Ahorn.  Mark Twain described the sculpture as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."

Right next to the Lion Monument is the Glacier Garden.  It is a journey where you travel back to when Luzern was a subtropical palm beach 20 million years ago right through to the glaciers of the last Ice Age 20'000 years ago.  The museum was built around a glacial pothole found by accident when a wine cellar was being built, a glacial pothole which had survived since the Ice Age.  The museum also displays artifacts from throughout the town's history.  

The last thing in the museum, is the Labyrinth of Mirrors.  Which was really fun - if you don't get lost!

We walked around town before having a coffee at Macca's.  It was absolutely freezing, so we decided that a warm drink was a good idea.  

Then we walked back to the Train Station - we walked along the river and then across the board walk across the river.   

White Swans!

Boardwalk of Luzern

Tower in the Lake

Then we caught the train back to Bern, it was dark by then.  We went through the Co-op and got some salad and food, and then went to Macca's for a burger and Daim McFlurry for desert!