Chapel Bridge & Water Tower

The story

The Chapel Bridge is the symbol of Lucerne and one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe. It was built around 1333 as part of the city's defences. In the 17th century triangular paintings were hung under the roof, telling the history of Lucerne and its patron saints. On 18 August 1993 a fire destroyed a large part of the bridge and many of the paintings; it was rebuilt within a year, and you can still see some charred panels. The octagonal Water Tower is even older than the bridge and served as a prison, an archive and the city's treasury.

Key facts

• Built around 1333; today about 200 m long.
• 158 paintings were made for the roof; a large part burned in the fire of 18 August 1993.
• The Water Tower was a prison, archive and treasury, but never a water tower.

Good to know

Free, open day and night. The Water Tower is not open to visitors.