House of the Pfister Guild

On your left, you’ll see one of Lucerne’s most remarkable buildings: the Zunfthaus zu Pfistern—the House of the Pfister Guild. In medieval times, guilds were professional associations that regulated trades, set standards, oversaw training, and controlled access to specific professions. The building you’re looking at is the oldest surviving guild house in Lucerne. Dating back to the 14th century, it features classic medieval architecture, including a beautiful timber-framed façade. Its large mural shows a genealogical tree displaying the coats of arms of local families and institutions. The word Pfister comes from the Latin pistor, meaning “baker.” In fact, this was the guild of Lucerne’s bakers and millers, founded in 1408. This house served as a political and professional hub, where guild members would meet to set the price of flour and bread, and to decide whether new candidates would be accepted into the guild. In 1697, pastry chefs were also admitted into the guild, which later became the Bakers’ Association in 1829. The association was dissolved fifty years later, and the building was sold at an auction for 80,000 francs. In 1977, history came full circle, and Lucerne’s bakers and pastry chefs united to buy the property back. Today, they carry on the guild’s spirit by preserving traditional baking methods and protecting the heritage of this historic house. There’s also a restaurant in the house, where you can sample some of Switzerland’s culinary specialties.