(Redirected from Chapel Bridge)
Kapellbrücke and Wasserturm
The 'Kapellbrücke' ("'Chapel Bridge'" in
German) is a 204 m (670 ft) long
bridge crossing the
Reuss River in the city of
Lucerne in
Switzerland. It is the oldest wooden bridge in
Europe, and one of Switzerland's main tourist attractions.
The
covered bridge, constructed in
1333, was designed to help protect the city of Lucerne from attacks. Inside the bridge are a series of paintings from the 17th century depicting events from Luzern's history. Much of the bridge, and the majority of these paintings, were destroyed in a
1993 fire, though it was quickly rebuilt.
Adjoining the bridge is the 140 feet tall Wasserturm (Water Tower), an octagonal tower made from
brick, which has served as a
prison,
torture chamber, watchtower and
treasury. Today the tower, which is part of the city wall, is used as the guild hall of the artillery association. The tower and the bridge are Lucerne's trademark and form the most photographed monument in the country.
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