In Love with Lucerne

The city has an interesting story to tell. In the Middle Ages, Lucerne was just a small fishing village that people rudely referred to as a 8216;little wooden stork8217;s nest8217;. However, its central location it is situated right in the belly of Switzerland made it a meeting point between the north and the south of the country and also between Northern and Southern Europe. The travellers brought with them merchandise and lucrative opportunities to the village, as well as immense exposure to various cultures8212;which explains Lucerne8217;s rich heritage.

But legend has it that the travel also allowed for romance to blossom between the northerners and southerners, and Lucerne was the favourite meeting place.You can8217;t escape the romantic buzz in Lucerne8217;s breeze8212;to use an age-old cliche, love is in its air.

The first day there, we took advantage of the city8217;s nearness to Mt Titlis, a favourite destination with Indians. It is one of the highest mountains in the country and can be reached from Engelberg, a tiny village resort at the foot of the mountain. Titlis is known for its cable car rides up to the mountain8212;in particular, the Rotair that rotates a scenic 360 degrees even as it climbs up the mountain. The Rotair is so popular with visiting Indians that it even has instructions in Hindi and Gujarati.

Our tour guide at Titlis was a Dutch lady called Lara. Besides, skiing the smooth slopes of Titlis and showing her favourite mountain to visitors, Lara8217;s move to Switzerland involved8212;you guessed it8212;love. She met her boyfriend a few years ago and moved countries.

I wasn8217;t surprised to hear more such love stories here. Like Lars and Anna, an old Swiss-German couple I met on a night at a pub. In their sixties, they fell in love with each other ten years ago, after both their respective marriages had failed. 8216;8216;We decided that if we wanted to stay together, we had to make sure we wouldn8217;t marry,8217;8217; chuckled Lars.

Lucerne8217;s strategic location an hour from Zurich and Bern also allows it entry to many mountains. The Pilatus that towers over the city8217;s backyard allows a breath-taking view of the Alps and the Swiss plateau. While Rigi, also known as the 8216;Queen of the Mountains8217;, is home to Europe8217;s first mountain railway built in 1871. Lucerne is also an hour away from Burgenstock, a magnificent mountain peninsula that8217;s a must for romantic travel. This is also where I met another couple; he had just proposed and they will marry at the end of this year.

Lucerne itself is filled with enthralling sights, such as its Culture and Convention Center the concert hall here competes with the best in the world. The Swiss Transport Museum is the most well-equipped and comprehensive transport museum in the world, with hundreds of old original vehicles. It also has the Hi Flyer, a cable-attached balloon that gives a bird8217;s eye view of the city, the lake and the surrounding mountains. The world famous Lion Mountain in the heart of the city was built in memory of Swiss mercenaries who died while protecting the French King at Tuileries in 1792.

A personal favourite is the city8217;s Old Town area, a unique shopping experience where popular international stores such as Morgan, H038;M and even The Body Shop are housed in old fresco-painted buildings. A walk through the area will guarantee you the smell of coffee and chocolate like most of Switzerland, Lucerne is home to tiny confectionery stores.

Lucerne also has a thriving night-life. Its pubs most of them are along the lakeside, nightclubs Mad Wall Street and The Loft are a must and its famous Casino Luzern ensured enough late nights.

The most photographed sight of Lucerne is its 700-year-old Chapel Bridge. This wooden bridge was built to protect the city and the wall that faces the river was tall enough for purposes of defence. In the 17th century, painted panels were hung beneath the bridge8217;s eaves telling the story of the city8217;s history. Now, it tells another story altogether8212;that of modern romances. Its panels are scratched with names of lovers8212;travellers and tourists declaring undying love for each other and the city.

Of course, I8217;ve left my mark, too.