From Baar, it was back on the train into Lucerne. We loved exploring Lucerne’s medieval Old Town, including a visit to the Musegg Wall (the old town wall). We even took a relaxing stroll along the top—publicly accessible via several of the towers—before finishing up with a local beer in a pub.
Where We Have Been - Europe - Switzerland
Europe had been on our bucket list for years before we finally made it there. From the moment we arrived, the history captured us—walking streets people have walked for centuries, standing in places we’d only ever seen in movies or read about in books, and realising how much of the world’s story is layered into everyday life. It’s a place we never seem to get enough of, and it now sits very high on our list of destinations.
If you’d like to follow our journey in order, here’s our route—based simply on where we stayed: Rome, Florence, Nice, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Zurich, Venice, Milan, Athens, Istanbul.
After a brief stop in Zurich, where we squeezed in a quick walk around, we hopped back on the train to enjoy the scenery as we travelled on to Baar—Carolyn’s grandparents’ hometown on her mother’s side, and something of a pilgrimage site for her family.
From Baar, we strolled up to see the old family home and visit the family church, where Carolyn’s mum had hidden a few family mementos years earlier.
Path to the the Family Home and Church near Baar
C @ The Family Church near Baar
The Alter of the Family Church near Baar
C @ The Family Church near Baar
C @ The Family Church near Baar
C @ The Family Home near Baar
The Family Home near Baar
Lucerne Old Town
Lucerne Old Town
The Musegg Wall
A Musegg Wall Tower
Inside Tower of the Musegg Wall
On Top of the Musegg Wall
View from the top of the Musegg Wall
A Musegg Wall Tower
After soaking up the Old Town’s medieval charm, we made our way to the city’s most famous landmark.
The Water Tower (Wasserturm) and the attached Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) are an absolute must-visit. Together, they form Lucerne’s most recognisable landmark. The triangular paintings tucked into the apex of the bridge’s roof beams—depicting scenes from Lucerne’s history—are fascinating to wander beneath and study as you cross.
The Water Tower and attached Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge)
Artwork on the Chapel Bridge
Artwork on the Chapel Bridge
The Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), Water Tower and Old Town
A visit to Lucerne wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Lion Monument—the Lion of Lucerne—resting in his lair in a quiet, idyllic park right in the heart of the city. Carved directly into a rock face, this striking 10-by-6-metre sculpture (unveiled in 1821) was created in honour of the Swiss Guards who died during the Storming of the Tuileries in Paris in 1792.
The Lion of Lucerne
While in Lucerne we took the opportunity to venture up Mount Pilatus. We took the aerial cable car up as the cogwheel railway—the steepest rack railway in the world—was closed due to the weather. We were a little disappointed to not be able to ride the railway but the cable car ride itself was unforgettable, rising steadily over ridgelines with heart-stopping drop-offs plunging away beneath us. Below, clouds drifted through the valleys; above, the mountains disappeared into snow.
Mt Pilatus Cable Car
C on Mt Pilatus Cable Car
Mt Pilatus Cable Car
Perched alone at 1,864 metres above sea level, the neo-Gothic Klimsenhorn Chapel stood forlorn in the snow, its pillars and ridge turret stark against the white landscape.
Klimsenhorn Chapel
At the summit, we lingered over the expansive views as snow fell softly around us, braving the icy walkways, tunnels and arches—separated from sheer drops of hundreds of metres by little more than a couple of wire ropes in some places.
C in Ice Walkway Tunnel
C in Ice Walkway
Pilatus Kulm Mountain Station
D going crazy – Mt Pilatus
Tip: If possible, catch a train with panoramic windows (or a panorama roof) so you can soak up the views as you travel through the Swiss Alps.
Highlight: Without a doubt, Carolyn getting to visit her grandparents’ home and the family church near Baar.
Memory: The cable car ride up to Mt Pilatus—spotting the tiny Klimsenhorn Chapel sitting alone on a distant ridgeline—then wandering the icy walkway and caves, with nothing more than a simple double wire-rope barrier between us and some very big drops.
Closing thought: We’re really glad we visited Switzerland, especially because of the family connection. But compared to much of the rest of Europe, it can feel a little more sanitised and carefully curated.
We’ve been lucky over the years to travel more than many—though nowhere near as much as we still aspire to. The world is a big place, and there are so many destinations left to discover: places we haven’t seen yet, places we want to explore more thoroughly, and old favourites we can’t wait to reconnect with.
Elsewhere on Crows on the Go, you’ll find:
• more about our travels and the places we’ve been
• our thoughts (and, in some cases, tips) on those destinations
• the places that have become “special” to us
• and more!