Lucerne

Historians suggest that Lucerne was founded during the time of the Roman Empire or even earlier in the place where the Royce River flows from Lake Firvaldstetki , there was already a small settlement. The monastery of St. Leodegar named Hof was founded at the beginning of the VIII century , and the first annalistic mention of it dates back to 840 . Around the bridge over Royce (Roisbrücke), which connected the monastery with the farms located to the south, a trading village grew over time, which occupied a rather important place in the region. In 1178, this church parish passed from the monastery of St. Leodegar im Hof ​​to Lucerne, and it is this act of history that is considered as the act of founding the city.

The opening of the St. Gotthard Pass in 1220 served as a new impetus for the development of the city. During this period, the first fortress wall was erected, fortified with towers.

The year 1332 was a significant date in the history of Switzerland: for the first time, permanent equality was established between urban and rural settlements, which played an important role in the formation of the union of the cantons. Probably only with the entry of Lucerne was the existence of the young Swiss Confederation ensured. This momentous event gave the city an impetus in development, and Lucerne soon turned into a city-state.

In 1386, the victory won by the Swiss Confederation at Zempach helped Lucerne to finally free itself from Austrian oppression and thus contributed to the formation of the territorial state of Lucerne. At the end of the XVIII century, the city-state was completely ruled by the patrician , which consisted of only 29 of these named genera.

Being the first city to join the Swiss Confederation, Lucerne has long occupied a special place in it, which, along with the favorable geographical position of the city, it would seem, should have made it the capital of Switzerland. However, the canton of Lucerne was headed by Sonderbund , who was defeated in 1847 , and its inhabitants voted against the adoption of the federal constitution in 1848 , so that Bern eventually became the capital of Switzerland. Thus, in the mid-19th century, Lucerne lost its influence and significance in the political sense, but subsequently, thanks to the development of tourism, this city became the cultural center of all of Switzerland. Lev Tolstoy in his story “Lucerne” (1857) quoting from a guide to Switzerland, named after the English publisher John Merrey stated ^[1] :

Lucerne is rich in sights and it is worth exploring on foot, because the Old Town is a small pedestrian zone. Many buildings are decorated with frescoes or paintings telling about the purpose of a particular building or about the historical events due to which the building was built.

Lucerne's “calling card” is the Wasserturm tower and the Kapelbrücke bridge.

Near the train station is the Center for Culture and Congresses (KKL). The building itself, completed in 1999 by the French architect, winner of the Pritzker Prize, Jean Nouvel , is an example of modern architecture and design. On the fourth floor of the center is the Kunstmuseum - the Museum of Art of Lucerne. The center itself, the square and the promenade near it are often a platform for exhibitions, concerts, festivals.

" The Dying Lion " - the work of the Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen , is one of the world-famous sculptures. This monument was erected in honor of the Swiss Guard soldiers who died during the storming of the Tuileries Palace on August 10, 1792, protecting the life of the French king. Mark Twain described this monument as "the saddest and most touching stone sculpture in the world."

A significant section of the medieval wall of the Museuggmauer (built around 1400, 870 meters long) with eight high towers has been preserved in Lucerne. Three of them are open to the public. The clock of one of the towers has the privilege of ringing every hour one minute earlier than all other city clocks. In Switzerland, there are now almost no cities with medieval walls, and this is another distinguishing feature of Lucerne.

Near the Jesuit Church is the Knight's Palace. Initially, this Renaissance building belonged to the Jesuit Order, and since 1804 it became the seat of the city administration. Its courtyard with a Tuscan colonnade is a real corner of sunny Italy.

Lucerne is a predominantly Catholic city, unlike nearby Bern and Zurich , where Protestantism dominates: its three most famous churches - Franciscan , Jesuit and St. Leodegard - belong to the Catholic community of the city.

Lucerne has the largest transport museum in Europe.

Lucerne is connected by rail with all major cities in Switzerland. The nearest international airport is 70 km in Zurich .

• Peter Bixel (b. 1935) is a Swiss and German writer and journalist.

•   Chicago ( born Chicago ), Illinois , USA ( 1998 ) ^[2]

• Website of the city of Lucerne
• A collection of open letters and photos of Lucerne at the beginning of the century
• Lucerne International Website