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Chapel Bridge

Chapel Bridge and Water Tower

What would Lucerne be without the two?

The world-famous Chapel Bridge with its water tower is an integral part of Lucerne's cityscape.

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The Chapel Bridge –
the glamorous one

It is the poster child for tourism in Lucerne. There is one event that has marked the Chapel Bridge more than any other – the catastrophic fire of 1993.

The Chapel Bridge with the Water Tower is undeniably Lucerne’s most prominent landmark. It is a popular subject for photographs and part of everyday life for many locals. Approximately 13,800 people cross it every day to move back and forward between the Old Town and New Town. The Chapel Bridge also had a dual function in the 14th century: it was not just a pedestrian walkway over the Reuss, but also part of the city’s fortifications. This explains its unusual route across the Reuss and higher parapets on the side facing the lake. In combination with the city walls and the Court Bridge, it formed an impressive line of defense.

Named after the chapel

The Chapel Bridge takes its name from St Peter’s Chapel on the right bank of the Reuss. When built, it connected the chapel to the Freienhof, which is no longer in existence, on the left bank of the river. It is not known exactly when the Chapel Bridge was built. An indirect reference was made to it in 1347, though it was actually only mentioned for the first time in 1367. Dendrochronological (tree-ring dating) analysis of cross-beams and corbels indicate that it was built no earlier than 1356. The Water Tower already existed by this time.

Chronology of the Chapel Bridge

1367

Mentioned for the first time

Around 1614 to 1624

Creation of the cycle of paintings

1833

Shortened for the first time on the left bank of the Reuss

1835/36

Shortened for the second time due to the construction of embankments

1838

Shortened for the third time, creating today’s bridgehead

The situation around 1835: the Chapel Bridge has already been shortened once and, due to the construction of embankments, stands to be shortened again - on both sides of the Reuss.
The situation around 1835: the Chapel Bridge has already been shortened once and, due to the construction of embankments, stands to be shortened again – on both sides of the Reuss.

Successful protests against demolition

Originally, the Chapel Bridge was 279 meters long, but over time it became shorter. Initially, this was because of the construction of an embankment on the left bank of the Reuss. From 1833 onwards, it was shortened several times. The current angled bridgehead dates from 1838. When the Rathausquai (Town Hall Quay) was built on the right bank of the Reuss in 1898, the Chapel Bridge lost another 15 meters. Rumors that the Chapel Bridge could be pulled down following the construction of the Rathaussteg (a footbridge over the Reuss between the Town Hall and the Lucerne Theatre) caused uproar, especially in England. In those days, many English tourists travelled to Lucerne to see the Chapel Bridge and stroll along it. Pulling down this landmark would have deeply upset the English. Both tourists and locals successfully protested against the proposed demolition plans – the Chapel Bridge was saved. Today, it has a length of 205 meters.

Flames and floods destroy paintings

The Chapel Bridge’s cycle of paintings has a tragic history. The original 158 triangular paintings, which are mounted in the gables of the bridge, were created from 1614 onwards. They depict scenes from Swiss history and legends surrounding the patron saints of Lucerne, St Leger and St Maurice. When the high waters of 1741 caused parts of the Chapel Bridge to collapse, some paintings were lost to the flood water. However, the greatest loss was caused by the bridge fire of 1993: of the 111 original paintings on the bridge, 86 of them were burned either partially or beyond recognition.

1862

Construction of the kiosk on the bridge

1898

Shortened on the right bank of the Reuss

1913

The Chapel Bridge is placed under a Federal monument preservation order

1968/69

The bridge is completely taken down and rebuilt

1993

A great fire destroys around two-thirds of the bridge

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The Chapel Bridge’s cycle of paintings

Art in the gables, partially destroyed

Most of the Chapel Bridge’s triangular paintings succumbed to the fire of 1993. However, you can still admire the artworks here.

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