Only 30 of the original 111 paintings survived the 1993 fire, and only 25 were successfully restored.
The interior paintings were originally commissioned in the 17th century by the city council and individual members of the community.
The Wasserturm has served as a prison, torture chamber, and treasury throughout its history.
The bridge's design incorporates the Wasserturm as a defensive bastion for the city's wall system.
During the reconstruction after the 1993 fire, timber was sourced from sustainable Swiss forests to match the original construction methods.
The 1993 fire was suspected to have been started by a discarded cigarette near one of the mooring boats.
The bridge is designed with a slight curve to resist the pressure of the Reuss river's current.
The triangular panels were historically intended to serve as moral instruction for citizens as they crossed the river.
The Kapellbrücke is a 14th-century wooden covered footbridge spanning the Reuss River in Lucerne, Switzerland. It is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, originally constructed in 1333 as part of the city's fortification system. The structure is famous for its interior triangular roof paintings, which depict scenes of Swiss history and the lives of Lucerne's patron saints, St. Leodegar and St. Maurice. Much of the bridge was destroyed by a major fire in 1993, which consumed most of the historic panels; it was subsequently reconstructed and reopened in 1994. The bridge connects the old town to the new part of the city on the opposite bank. Adjacent to the bridge stands the Wasserturm, an octagonal stone tower that predates the bridge itself by about 30 years. Today, the bridge serves as a pedestrian thoroughfare and a primary landmark for the city of Lucerne.
From the Seebrücke bridge looking back toward the Kapellbrücke with the Wasserturm in the foreground.
Walk the bridge during the early morning to avoid the largest crowds of tour groups.
Look up at the rafters to identify which paintings are original versus those that were replaced after the fire.
Visit the riverside area at night when the bridge is illuminated for a distinct architectural view.
Do not attempt to touch the historic paintings, as many are fragile or restored, and avoid stopping for photos directly in the middle of the flow of pedestrian traffic.
