The tour starts with the sound of the fire horn and the call of the night watchman. And then it begins! The night watchman tells stories about his life as a poor man and about other “dishonest” jobs. With the 400-year-old Martini map, he shows you the route of the walk and the sights of Old Lucerne. Many of these places still exist today, and you will see some of them during the tour.
You start at Lucerne’s famous landmarks — the Water Tower and the Chapel Bridge. The night watchman talks about the inside of the tower, the prison, the old torture room, and the guard’s work at the top.
At Kapellplatz, you will learn about life in medieval times and about the growing city and republic of Lucerne. Then you walk through Furrengasse, where people once believed ghosts and goblins lived.
At Kornmarkt, you will see the Town Hall, the tower with its lookouts, and the Guildhall “zur Pfistern.” You will also see the old Lucerne foot and ell (old measuring units) and hear the story of the Giant of Reiden.
In Brandgässli, you’ll hear the legend of the “Night of Murder.” Then the tour continues to Weinmarkt, where Easter plays were once performed. You will hear the “Poem of Death” from Cenodoxus, a play performed in Lucerne in 1609.
Next is Lower Weinmarkt, Lucerne’s first courthouse. At
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The tour starts with the sound of the fire horn and the call of the night watchman. And then it begins! The night watchman tells stories about his life as a poor man and about other “dishonest” jobs. With the 400-year-old Martini map, he shows you the route of the walk and the sights of Old Lucerne. Many of these places still exist today, and you will see some of them during the tour.
You start at Lucerne’s famous landmarks — the Water Tower and the Chapel Bridge. The night watchman talks about the inside of the tower, the prison, the old torture room, and the guard’s work at the top.
At Kapellplatz, you will learn about life in medieval times and about the growing city and republic of Lucerne. Then you walk through Furrengasse, where people once believed ghosts and goblins lived.
At Kornmarkt, you will see the Town Hall, the tower with its lookouts, and the Guildhall “zur Pfistern.” You will also see the old Lucerne foot and ell (old measuring units) and hear the story of the Giant of Reiden.
In Brandgässli, you’ll hear the legend of the “Night of Murder.” Then the tour continues to Weinmarkt, where Easter plays were once performed. You will hear the “Poem of Death” from Cenodoxus, a play performed in Lucerne in 1609.
Next is Lower Weinmarkt, Lucerne’s first courthouse. At Zöpfli, near the river, you will learn about law and order and the hard justice of the Middle Ages — including old methods of questioning and punishment.
The tour then crosses Lucerne’s first bridge to the window of the old Suidter Pharmacy.
After that, you visit the Ritter Palace and hear the story of Giovanni Lynzo, also called Hans of Trient.
One of the highlights is the picture and story show of the seven-part “Dance of Death” by Jakob von Wyl.
Finally, you pass the Jesuit Church and walk back over the Chapel Bridge, where you can look closely at a few paintings. At the end of the bridge, the tour finishes.
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