Lake Lucerne
Discover the heart of Switzerland in Lake Lucerne, a place of unmatched natural beauty – gleaming sapphire waters, staggering cliffs of limestone, and lush rolling hillsides and meadows. Often described as "Switzerland in miniature," Lake Lucerne offers the greatest scenic diversity in the country and easy access to neighboring mountain excursions. Actually called the Lake of the Four Cantons by the Swiss (Vierwaldstattersee in German), the lake offers a variety of water sports and a many visitors enjoy exploring the lake by paddle steamer.
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Lion Monument
Created around 1819 by Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen, the Lion Monument of Lucerne (Lowendenkmal) is one of the world s most famous monuments. The dying beast was carved out of natural rock and commemorates the Swiss soldiers who fell in the line of duty during the French Revolution in 1792 in the Battle of Tuileries. Author Mark Twain recounted the sculpture as the "saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world."
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Mt. Titlis
At 10,000 feet above sea level, Mt. Titlis is the highest peak and viewpoint in Central Switzerland. This magnificent glacier (and the only one in the country) is accessible via cable car, which offers magnificent panoramas across valleys and soaring peaks to the gem-like lakes below.
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Chapel Bridge
Lucerne s iconic kapellbrucke, or Chapel Bridge, was once the oldest roofed wooden bridge in Europe. Dating back to the 14th century, this landmark crosses the Reuss River in the Old Town. Though most of the current bridge was reconstructed after a fire in 1993, the octagonal water tower remains original. The bridge is especially noted for its extraordinary painted roof panels created in 1614 by Heinrich Wagmann, which portrays significant events in Swiss history and mythology.
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