Grand Tour Photo Spots in Lucerne – Lake Lucerne

Exactly 47 hairpin bends lead to the Grosser Mythen, here also referred to as ‘Matterhorn of Central Switzerland’. Every year, around 30,000 hikers enjoy the breathtaking panorama at 1,898 m.a.s.l. (6,227 ft). The view into the valley shows ‘Old Schwyz’, the cradle of the Swiss Confederacy, with Lake Lucerne in the south as well as lakes Lauerz and Zug with Rigi and Rossberg to the west. It comes at no surprise that the Schwyz landmark has been immortalised as a mural in the National Council Chamber of the Federal Palace.

Wyher Moated Castle is one of the finest historic buildings in the canton of Lucerne, with its earliest record dating back to 1304. For more than 350 years, its history was dominated by two families: the Feers of Lucerne and the Pfyffers of Altishofen. Later, the castle complex fell into disrepair, with a fire in 1963 marking a real low point. A foundation was set up to restore the castle with financial support from a group of benefactors. Today, the castle hosts numerous events and is a dream wedding venue.

In the distance you can see the Rütli meadow, the historic place where the forming of Switzerland is said to have occurred in 1291. With its 2,928 m (9,606 ft), the pyramidal peak of Urirotstock can be made out even farther in the back. The village of Seelisberg lies on a sunny terrace at 850 m.a.s.l. (2.788 ft), beneath the two mountains Niederbauen and Oberbauen. Lake Lucerne, in German literally ‘Four Forested Settlements Lake’, got its name because it is embedded in the four forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden and Nidwalden, and Lucerne.

The abbey of Saint Meinrad in Einsiedeln has attracted pilgrims for over 1,000 years. It was rebuilt over the centuries and, today, the 18th century baroque-style monastery forms the impressive centre of Einsiedeln. Besides the ‘Chapel of Mercy’ with its famous ‘Black Madonna’, the complex includes a high school, winery and stables for horse breeding. Attracted by the beautiful scenery and a variety of concerts, many nature and culture lovers enjoy visiting Einsiedeln.

The ship station Vitznau, built in 1912, is one of the most important architectural buildings around the Rigi massif. Every day, guests arrive by boat in order to visit the Rigi by taking Europe’s oldest mountain cogwheel railway, which was constructed in 1871. The turntable connects the two track directions, with the mountain track and the depot track meeting at an obtuse angle. It is the central point of any prospective trip to the Queen of the Mountains.

The Lucerne hotel icon, modelled after Neuschwanstein Castle, was built by Emil Vogt in 1888 in one of Switzerland’s finest hotel locations. Martyn Lawrence Bullard, a world-renown interior designer, has revived the historic charm of Château Gütsch, putting great emphasis on small details – from the stuccoed ceiling to the hand-painted wood panelling. Just as in years past, the view from the rooftops of the old town over Lake Lucerne and the mountains is still spectacular.

100 kilometres of Alpine peaks, 10 lakes: the view from CabriO, the world’s first convertible-style cable car with a roofless upper deck, is as fascinating as unique. It is, however, not the first innovation on Stanserhorn – the funicular already featured a novelty in 1893, as that was the first time clasp brakes were used. A ranger welcomes the visitors at the Stanserhorn summit to show them where the most beautiful flowers bloom and the marmots live. The revolving restaurant Rondorama is a further acme.

Hospental, the last village before heading south over the Gotthard Pass, enjoyed great prominence during the days of the muleteers. The tower once occupied by the lords of Hospental dominates the whole of Hospental. Because of its elevated position, the tower is clearly visible from many directions and thus shapes the landscape of the Ursern Valley. The tower is open to the public. Based on the dating of timbers used in the walls, it is assumed the tower was constructed in the 13th century.

The only 'mobile photo spot' on the Grand Tour of Switzerland. In 1928, Alois Waser-Bucher, an entrepreneur from Nidwald, took interest in the Beckenried–Gersau car ferry project and, subsequently, had a ferry constructed in Uerikon on Lake Zurich in 1929. On Whit Sunday 1930, the ferry service was opened with the motor vessel ‘Tellsprung’ (‘Tell’s Leap’) carrying 20 cars. In 1959, a local hotelier bought the ferry and had it extensively rebuilt by Bodan Wharf on Lake Constance. The new ferry, which can carry up to 45 cars, started its service on Whit Saturday 1964, and has been owned by the F&R Group Beckenried since 2016.