Tuesday, June 10, 2008

More Photos of Lucerne, Switzerland (May 28-30, 2008)

Another photo of Lucerne's medieval Old Town on the north bank of the Reuss River, with the Chapel Bridge in the foreground
The Hofkirche, an example of late Renaissance Swiss architecture. The original 12th century church was destroyed by fire, leaving only the pointed towers, which were incorporated into the 17th century reconstruction.
The ornate Baroque interior and colorful stuccowork of the 17th century Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier, on the south bank of the Reuss
Beautiful Lake Lucerne, with one of its many swans
The Lowendenkmal (lion monument), a monument to the Swiss Guards of Louis XVI of France, who defended the Palais des Tuileries when it was stormed by revolutionaries in 1792. The monument was carved out of the sandstone cliff face by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorwaldsen in the early 1800s.
Not far from Lucerne, the world's steepest cogwheel railway (at a 48 degree gradient) links Alpnachstad at lake level with the 2132m high summit of Mount Pilatus. You can just see the red rail car in the bottom left of the photo.
A gondola provides alternative transport (and spectacular views) to/from the summit of Mt. Pilatus

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