The famous and breathtaking Chapel Bridge of Lucerne (Kapellbrücke)
It took me a while before I finally got to one of the most famous tourists destinations in Lucerne – the Chapel Bridge, yet it is an absolute must. The Chapel Bridge is a historical treasure. The bridge dates back to around 1360. It is 205 meters (originally 279 meters) long and has 62 (originally 158) paintings.
“The cycle of paintings was created in the 17th century and depicts the history of the Swiss Confederation as well as the patron saints of Lucerne, St Leger, and St Maurice. Following the construction of the embankment, the bridge was shortened several times during the 19th century.” – City of Lucerne (www.chapel-bridge.ch)
The glorious bridge, considered a national historical artifact, is regularly maintained, renovated, and well-cared about. Rough cleaning takes place daily. It takes a team of four people working for a week to clean the bridge completely. The general state of the wood and pierce is also checked regularly. Yet, despite all the forces put into preserving the bridge, on the 18th of August, 1993, the glorious bridge was caught on fire.
“Older Lucerners still remember the night of 17 August to 18 August 1993 very well. A fire that spread very rapidly destroyed around two-thirds of the 205-meter-long Chapel Bridge. A large part of the roof and supporting beams were incinerated. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown to this day. It is assumed that a carelessly discarded cigarette set a boat that was moored under the bridge on fire. The fire spread to the underside of the bridge and then to the roof beams of the Chapel Bridge.” – City of Lucerne (www.chapel-bridge.ch)
The devastating fire destroyed most of the bridge and 86 paintings. It took about 150 firefighters to put down the fire. The heartbreaking accident, considered a catastrophe for Lucerne, was taken seriously and addressed immediately. In only 8 months after the fire, the bridge was restored and open for visitors once again.
While the fire did take away from us priceless art pieces and part of Swiss history most of the paintings (destroyed and still existent) can be found on the official website – ChapelBridge.ch. The history is not lost. The Bridge of Lucerne website presents a gallery showcasing and explaining every painting. They also have audio tracks that serve as a guide while you’re on the bridge.
Despite the fire, the Chapel Bridge remains a fascinating historical destination to visit in Switzerland.
