The Chapel Bridge

Welcome to the heart of Lucerne’s story. You’re now crossing the iconic Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge. In the Middle Ages, Lucerne was a unique city, crossed by three wooden bridges that spanned the river at different points, but only two of them remain today. The oldest, known as the Court Bridge, was demolished in the 19th century. In fact, the other two bridges nearly disappeared as well. In 1801, fearing a potential attack, the bridges were prepared for demolition to protect the city’s access points. In the end, no attack came — and Lucerne’s heritage was spared. The Kapellbrücke you’re walking on is one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe, dating back to the mid-14th century. It’s the most popular and most photographed bridge in Switzerland, and one of the country’s top tourist attractions. In the 14th century, it wasn’t just a way to cross the river, but it was also part of Lucerne’s city fortifications, explaining its unusual diagonal path across the river. The bridge takes its name from the nearby St. Peter’s Chapel. Beyond its age and charm, what sets the bridge apart is the series of triangular paintings beneath the roof. They couldn’t be publicly funded, so the paintings were donated by local benefactors, whose coats of arms you can see in the corners of each panel. Created in the 17th century, the artworks depict scenes from the lives of saints and key moments from Lucerne’s history. In 1993, disaster unfortunately struck. A devastating fire tore through the bridge, destroying 86 of the original 111 paintings, which were lost forever. The country watched, heartbroken, as one of its beloved symbols went up in flames. A decision was made to rebuild the Chapel Bridge, and restoration was completed eight months later. Take your time crossing this extraordinary piece of heritage—one that came close to disappearing forever.