The Beyond News

Lucerne  or Luzern (Swiss Standard German is a city in central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the district of the same name. With a population of approximately 82,000 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and a nexus of economics, transportation, culture, and media in the region. The city's urban area consists of 19 municipalities and towns with an overall population of about 220,000 people.Owing to its location on the shores of Lake Lucerne  and its outflow, the river Reuss, within sight of the mounts Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne has long been a destination for tourists. One of the city's famous landmarks is the Chapel Bridge  a wooden bridge first erected in the 14th century.The official language of Lucerne is the Swiss variety of Standard German, but the main spoken language is the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect.

Foods in  Lucerne  :

(1) Zopf Bread : 

Zopf (which translates to braid), is a famous Swiss bread that contains milk and butter to give it a lovely soft texture. In Switzerland, Zopf bread is traditionally eaten on Sundays as a treat for breakfast or brunch and is often served with jams, fruits and teas.

(2) Bündner Nusstorte :  

Also known as a “Swiss nut tart,” Bündner Nusstorte (or Engadiner Nusstorte), is a traditional dessert tart filled with delicious caramel and flavourful walnut filling. This true Swiss classic is often cut into pieces and served with coffee or tea. Care for a slice (or two)? 

(3) Cheese Fondue :  

When someone says cheese fondue, you instantly think of Switzerland food. For centuries, cheese fondue in Switzerland has been a staple item enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Dating back to the 18th century, fondue began in Switzerland as a way to use aged cheeses and breads to feed families during the winter months when fresh foods weren’t plentiful. As the cheeses and breads became stale they became harder to eat, so locals found that if they heated the cheeses with wines, garlics and seasonings, they could dip the bread into it and make it easier to eat.Today, fondue is enjoyed using a communal pot (also known as a caquelon) over a portable and heated stove and eaten by dipping bread cubes using long-stemmed forks.

(4) Rösti : 

Although a simple dish, rösti is absolutely delicious! Consisting of shredded potatoes and fried with butter until crispy and golden brown, rösti is often served at breakfast or as a side dish. Looking to add a little extra flavour? This iconic and national dish can often be paired with onions, spices, cheese, vegetable broth and more.

(5) Berner Platte : 

Berner platte is a traditional food platter and a Switzerland food staple. Consisting of various meats and sausages such as beef, smoked pork, beef tongue and more, it’s cooked with sauerkraut flavours and juniper and accompanied with potatoes, beans and sauerkraut.

(6) Swiss Chocolate :

In the 19th century, Swiss chocolate started to gain its reputation abroad and it has not slowed down since! So, why do Switzerland and chocolate go hand in hand? Well, Switzerland has prided itself on producing the finest quality of chocolate that is both world-renowned and affordable. Swiss chocolates make a great souvenir to give to your family and friends back home to enjoy, just try not to eat them all yourself before you get home!

Weather & geography in  Lucerne  :

In Luzern, the summers are comfortable, the winters are very cold, and it is wet and partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 27°F to 76°F and is rarely below 16°F or above 87°F.Based on the tourism score, the best time of year to visit Luzern for warm-weather activities is from late June to early September. Lucerne is located at the outfall of Lake Lucerne into the river Reuss, which flows from south-east to north-west. The city occupies both banks of the river and the lowest reach of the lake, with the city centre straddling the river immediately downstream of the outfall. The city's suburbs climb the hills to the north-east and south-west, and stretch out along the river and lake banks, whilst the recently added area of Littau is to the north-west.Besides this contiguous city area, the municipality also includes an exclave on the south shore of Lake Lucerne some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) away, comprising the northern slopes of the Bürgenstock. This section of the municipality is entirely surrounded by the lake and by land of the canton of Nidwalden. It does not contain any significant settlements, but the summit of the Bürgenstock is the highest point of the municipality.The municipality has an area of 29.1 square kilometers (11.2 sq mi). Of this area and as of 2009, 28.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while 22.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 47.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (2.1%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).

Per day Cost in  Lucerne  :

You should plan to spend around Sfr156 ($171) per day on your vacation in Lucerne, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, Sfr45 ($50) on meals for one day and Sfr9. 14 ($10) on local transportation.

History of  Lucerne  :

After the fall of the Roman Empire beginning in the 6th century, Germanic Alemannic peoples increased their influence on this area of present-day Switzerland.Around 750 the Benedictine Monastery of St. Leodegar was founded, which was later acquired by Murbach Abbey in Alsace in the middle of the 9th century, and by this time the area had become known as Luciaria.The origin of the name is uncertain, it is possibly derived from the Latin name of the pike, lucius, thus designating a pike fishing spot in the river Reuss. Derivation from the theonym Lugus has been suggested but is phonetically implausible. In any case, the name was associated by popular etymology with Latin lucerna "lantern" from an early time.In 1178 Lucerne acquired its independence from the jurisdiction of Murbach Abbey, and the founding of the city proper probably occurred that same year. The city gained importance as a strategically located gateway for the growing commerce from the Gotthard trade route.By 1290, Lucerne had become a self-sufficient city of reasonable size with about 3000 inhabitants. About this time King Rudolph I von Habsburg gained authority over the Monastery of St. Leodegar and its lands, including Lucerne. The populace was not content with the increasing Habsburg influence, and Lucerne allied with neighboring towns to seek independence from their rule. Along with Lucerne, the three other forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden formed the "eternal" Swiss Confederacy, known as the Eidgenossenschaft, on November 7, 1332.Later the cities of Zürich, Zug and Bern joined the alliance. With the help of these additions, the rule of Austria over the area came to an end. The issue was settled by Lucerne's victory over the Habsburgs in the Battle of Sempach in 1386. For Lucerne this victory ignited an era of expansion. The city shortly granted many rights to itself, rights which had been withheld by the Habsburgs until then. By this time the borders of Lucerne were approximately those of today.