The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) is the covered wooden footbridge that crosses the river Reuss at an angle in the centre of Lucerne, with the stone Water Tower standing in the water beside it. It has been there since the 14th century and is often called the oldest covered wooden bridge in Europe, but much of what you walk on today dates from 1994: on the night of 18 August 1993 a fire destroyed most of the bridge and many of its 17th-century paintings.
The Chapel Bridge at a glance
- Where: across the Reuss where it leaves Lake Lucerne, from the Luzerner Theater on the left bank to St Peter's Chapel on the right bank.
- Built: around the middle of the 14th century; it is first mentioned in 1367, and tree-ring dating suggests its timbers were felled no earlier than 1356. Rebuilt after the fire and reopened on 14 April 1994.
- What it is today: a public footbridge about 205 metres long and the best-known sight in Lucerne. Originally it was about 279 metres long and part of the city's defences on the lake side.
- Time needed: 15 minutes to cross slowly and look at the paintings, more if you stop for photos from both banks.
From city defence to rebuilt landmark
The bridge was built as part of Lucerne's fortifications, closing the town off from the lake together with the Water Tower and the Hofbrücke, a second covered bridge further upstream that has since disappeared. It takes its name from St Peter's Chapel at its northern end. In the early 17th century the city clerk Renward Cysat drew up a programme of paintings for the bridge: from about 1614 triangular panels were fitted into the roof gables, showing scenes from Swiss history and the lives of Lucerne's patron saints, St Leodegar and St Maurice. Wealthy citizens each sponsored one or more panels. Many were painted by Hans Heinrich Wägmann. Embankment works in the 19th century later shortened it by about 70 metres.
On the night of 18 August 1993 fire broke out, probably from a carelessly discarded cigarette. Only the two ends of the bridge and the Water Tower survived. Of the 111 original paintings hanging on the bridge, 86 burned completely; about 25 were saved or restored. The city decided on the same day to rebuild, and the bridge reopened to pedestrians eight months later, on 14 April 1994. Some gaps in the painting cycle were later filled with panels that had been in storage at the time of the fire.
What to look for
- The painted gables: look up as you walk. The triangular panels sit under the roof, and the sequence of Swiss history and saints' legends runs along the bridge.
- The difference between old and new: the paintings that survived the fire stand out from the gaps and later panels, and the wooden structure of the middle section is from 1993–1994.
- The Water Tower (Wasserturm): an octagonal stone tower about 34.5 metres high, built around 1290–1300, before the bridge itself.
- The angled line of the bridge, which follows the old defensive line rather than the shortest way across the river.
- The flower boxes along the outside of the bridge, which give it its colourful look from the riverbanks in summer.
The Water Tower: archive, treasury and prison
The Water Tower is older than the bridge and served first as a lookout over shipping on the lake. From the 14th century it held the city archive, which only moved out in 1919, and the state treasure and war booty were kept in its upper room. Until the end of the 18th century it was also a prison: prisoners were lowered into the dungeon on a seat and hauled back up when they had served their time. Today the tower is not open to the public.
Tips for your visit
- Come early in the morning: by mid-morning the bridge fills with tour groups, especially in summer.
- For the classic photo of the bridge and the Water Tower, stand on the Rathausquai on the right bank or by the Jesuit Church on the left bank.
- Look at the paintings from both directions: some panels are on the side facing you only when you walk the other way.
- Combine it with the Spreuer Bridge, the second covered bridge downstream, and walk back along the river to compare the two.
Nearby
- Jesuit Church: the white Baroque church on the left bank of the Reuss, with a bright, richly decorated interior.
- Spreuer Bridge: Lucerne's other covered wooden bridge, with a cycle of Dance of Death paintings by Kaspar Meglinger from the 17th century.
- Musegg Wall: the medieval town wall on the hill above the old town, with its row of towers; the Zyt Tower clock is allowed to strike one minute before all the other clocks in town.
- St Peter's Chapel: the chapel at the right-bank end of the bridge that gave it its name.
See Lucerne with World City Trail
Our Lucerne scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 59 minutes of walking. It includes the Jesuit Church, the Spreuer Bridge and the Nölli Tower on the Musegg Wall. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Chinese.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Lucerne.
Play the Lucerne scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Lucerne →
Play the outdoor escape game in Lucerne →
Facts checked in October 2026.