Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) and Wasserturm

The Kapellbrücke, or Chapel Bridge, is the best-known landmark of Lucerne in central Switzerland. The covered wooden footbridge crosses the Reuss river at the edge of the Old Town and runs for roughly 204 to 205 metres, making it one of the oldest surviving roofed wooden bridges in Europe by reputation, with a first documentation in 1367. An octagonal stone tower, the Wasserturm, stands in the water beside the walkway and has served over the centuries as a watchtower, archive and prison. Visitors walk the full length of the bridge in a few minutes, but most spend 20 to 30 minutes because the interior is the real attraction. Under the roof, triangular gable paintings hang from the rafters and illustrate scenes from Lucerne and Swiss history, along with the patron saints of the city. On 18 August 1993 a fire destroyed most of the bridge and many of the paintings; it was rebuilt and reopened on 14 April 1994, so much of the timber and several panels are modern replacements. The bridge is pedestrian-only and sits about three minutes on foot from Bahnhof Luzern, reached across the Seebrücke or the Bahnhofbrücke. Good photo angles include the view from the Seebrücke looking upstream, the Rathausquai on the north bank, and the Jesuitenkirche side of the river, where the tower and the bridge line up against the water. Swans and the reflection of the tower are common subjects in calm weather. Crowds peak from late morning to late afternoon in summer, when day-trip groups cross in both directions and stopping to read the paintings becomes difficult. Early morning and the hours after dark are the quietest, and evening lighting gives the structure a warm glow on the river. Entry is free at all hours, so the bridge combines easily with a walk through the Old Town, a visit to the Spreuerbrücke further downstream, and a lake cruise from the nearby landing stages in Luzern.