Mount Rigi (weather forecast | webpage wiki)
The Rigi - Queen of the Mountains - is a free-standing mountain in central Switzerland, not far
from the city of Lucerne. The striking shape of the mountain, with its characteristic antenna
on the summit, is clearly visible from everywhere. From the summit of Rigi Kulm [1'797 m a.s.l]
there is a fantastic, unique 360° panoramic view. In humanism - for the first time in 1479
by Albrecht von Bonstetten - the name Rigi was attributed to the Latin «Regina montium»
for “Queen of the Mountains”, which was intended to characterise the majesty and
beauty of the mountain. But from a linguistic point of view, this is untenable.
The cogwheel railway Vitznau - Rigi
was the first mountain railway in Europe! It was opened on May 21st, 1871.
Niklaus Riggenbach, an Alsatian-born
gifted Swiss railway engineer, planned and realised this fantastic master piece of mechanical
engineering, which was enabled by his invention of the Riggenbach cogwheel system locomotives,
which made it possible to build steep mountain railway lines.
Lucerne City (weather forecast | webpage wiki)
Lucerne is located right in the heart of Switzerland at the end of Lake Lucerne and is the
gateway to central Switzerland. This city is one of the major stops on any trip to Switzerland.
In addition to the unmistakable cityscape with the lake, Chapel Bridge and historic old town,
Lucerne offers many sights and shopping opportunities.
One of the best photo spots in Lucerne is probably the Lake Bridge right at the railway station.
The Musegg Wall - the well preserved historic city wall - with its nine towers offers a fantastic
view over the city to the lake and the surrounding mountains. The
Chapel Bridge, with its picture cycle,
is the undisputed landmark of Lucerne. A stroll through the beautiful old town leads across historic
squares such as the Wine Market or the Korn Market with the Town Hall, past many old houses with
facade paintings and finally ends at a amous monument: the
Lion Monument. It is the second landmark
of the City of Lucerne and a popular sight. The dying lion was sculpted directly out of the rock
of the cliff. The most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world - as
Mark Twain described it - commemorates the
Swiss guardsmen who died in 1792 during the French Revolution.
