Visit Chapel Bridge Lucerne: Kapellbrücke and Medieval Swiss Heritage

History and Significance

The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) was built around 1360 as part of Lucerne's fortifications. Its name comes from the nearby St. Peter's Chapel on the right bank of the Reuss River. The bridge is Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge still standing and the second-longest covered wooden bridge in Europe (after the bridge in Bad Säckingen, Germany).

Originally, the bridge was 279 meters long, but in the 19th century it was shortened by 74 meters due to the construction of an embankment. Today, its length is 205 meters.

The Water Tower (Wasserturm)

The Water Tower was built around 1300 – before the bridge itself. With a height of 43 meters and an octagonal shape, it is one of the most photographed landmarks in Switzerland.

Historical uses:

•Prison - For criminals

•Torture chamber - Medieval period

•Archive - Document storage

•Treasury - Valuables storage

•Today: Souvenir shop and artillery guild headquarters (not open to visitors)

The Triangular Paintings

Between 1614 and 1624, local Catholic artist Hans Heinrich Wägmann created a cycle of 158 triangular paintings in the gables of the bridge. The paintings depict:

1.History of the Swiss Confederation

2.Lucerne's patron saints - St. Leger and St. Maurice

3.Scenes from Lucerne's history

These paintings are unique in the world – nowhere else is there such a collection of paintings in a covered bridge.

The 1993 Fire

On August 18, 1993, around 2:00 AM, the Chapel Bridge was engulfed by a devastating fire. The cause was likely a discarded cigarette.

Damage:

•86 of 111 paintings destroyed (partially or completely)

•78 meters of the bridge burned

•Water Tower survived undamaged

Global reaction:

•Donations from around the world

•International media coverage

•Symbol of Swiss heritage

Reconstruction:

•Began immediately after the fire

•Completed on April 14, 1994 (only 8 months!)

•Cost: CHF 3.4 million

•30 paintings restored, 17 recreated from photographs

Today, 62 paintings are visible on the bridge, some of which are partially burned – a testament to the tragedy.

📋 Practical Information

How to Reach Chapel Bridge

Address: Kapellbrücke, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland

From Lucerne Train Station:

•Walk: 5 minutes

•Follow signs to "Altstadt" (Old Town)

From Zurich Airport:

•Train: 1 hour to Lucerne

•Then 5-minute walk

With TripTransfer:

•Direct transfer from airport/hotel

•Drop-off directly in old town

•No worries about parking and public transport

Parking:

•Parking Altstadt (nearby)

•Parking Kesselturm (5 min walk)

Opening Hours

Chapel Bridge:

•24 hours a day, 365 days a year

•Free access

•Wheelchair accessible

•Free WiFi on the bridge

Water Tower:

•Not open to visitors

•Can be photographed from outside