Lucerne, Switzerland – Roadtrip – Summer 2015

Lucerne was the final destination of our journey; from there, we started heading back, taking a slightly more northerly route.

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Lucerne was the final destination of our journey; from there, we started heading back, taking a slightly more northerly route. And, as usual, our journey to Lucerne was not just for the sake of it, but to attend the Blue Balls Festival, where Mando Diao and Gary Clark were performing.

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Lucerne (Luzern) is the main city in the central part of Switzerland, which dates back to the 7th century and rightfully belongs to one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The most atmospheric cluster of medieval buildings in the Old Town is compactly located along the northern bank of the Reuss River, between the cobbled squares of Muhlenplatz, Weinmarkt, Hirschenplatz, and Kornmarkt, surrounded by colorful medieval facades. Kappelbrücke is the wooden ancient bridge known as the Chapel Bridge. The name comes from Kapella, a church located on one side of the bridge. The bridge’s length is 170 meters. It was built in 1333 and is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. Under the bridge’s roof, there are over 100 paintings by Heinrich Wägmann depicting the most significant moments in Switzerland’s history.

On August 18, 1993, a fire broke out on the bridge, causing severe damage to many paintings and the bridge itself. The bridge was restored, but you can still see charred and blackened drawings, which were left unrefurbished as a memorial to the loss. The tower (Wasserturm) of the bridge remains in its original state and has served as an arsenal and a prison in the past.

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Lucerne also turned out to be the most expensive city of our journey, with a night in even the simplest hotel costing around 200€, and the prices for parking and food were accordingly high.

During the festival, the city transforms into an art venue, hosting not only music concerts but also photo, video, and street art exhibitions. There are film screenings, meetings, and discussions held in various locations throughout the city, and crowds of young people move between these events. Additionally, numerous food courts offering street food from various countries and traditions are set up.

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