1.5-Hour Small-Group Nightwatchman Walk in Medieval Lucerne

As the tour starts you hear the fire horn followed by the invocation pray. The Nightwatchman introduces himself and tells you about his hard life in the middle ages. You have a detailed look into the Martiniplan, the first city map of Lucerne, dating from 1597. You see the route on the map and you will discover that many of the buildings on the map are still here today.

Did you know that the Water Tower was built long before the Chapel Bridge? In fact the Water Tower was built in the late 13th Century and the Chapel Bridge dates back to the 14th Century. You see pictures of the inside of the Water Tower and hear about the torture chamber, the dungeon and the secret room.

Right next to the Chapel Bridge you see St. Peter’s Chapel, the first church in town dating back to the 12 Century. You walk round the corner to Kapellplatz and hear about live in Middle Ages in the blooming Republic of Lucerne. Walking through the Furrengasse you learn about its Ghost and the Toggelis around him.

You arrive at the square at the town hall and see the Lucerne Foot and Elle on the Tower of the Town Hall. You hear the story of the "Giant of Reiden". In the Brandgässli Alley you get to know about the Riot of Lucerne before you continue to the former fish market, known today as the wine market.

While listening to what the Nightwatchman has to say, you enjoy a glass of the best water Lucerne. Then you pass the lower wine market, where once the pillory was located.

Right at the riverside square called “Zöpfli”, you hear about law and order in old Lucerne. You learn about the methods of prosecution, interrogation and corporal punishment of the Middle Ages in Lucerne.

You pass the bridge “Reussbrücke” which goes back to the 12th Century. Then you continue alongside the House of Ludwig Pfyffer, called the “Swiss King”. A few steps further you arrive at the breathtaking medieval pharmacy window of the “Alte Suidtersche Apotheke”. The Nightwatchman tells you more about the house and the location.

As you continue the Nightwatchman shows you some “guardian Demons”. You stop at the legendary house of Lux Ritter and you hear why the first two floors look different than the third one. Then you hear the story of “Hans von Trient”, the unlucky stonemason.

Another Highlight is the presentation of the seven paintings of the Dance of Death. You will see the pictures projected on a house wall and you hear details about from your Guide.

You pass the Church of the Jesuits, the first baroque building in Switzerland. You have a stop to get another view of the town hall and hear details about the architecture of that building. You cross the Chapel Bridge and see the paintings. At the end of the bridge you reach the starting point, where the tour ends.