City-countryside-lake

We start our evening tour by heading eastwards out of Schwanenplatz. Along Haldenstrasse there's time to warm up and admire the mighty hotel buildings. Continue on the road until you reach the Dietschiberg railway crossing, where the lower terminus of the former Dietschiberg funicular railway still stands. We'll encounter the upper terminus in due course. The road winds its way up the slope in wide curves through the Bellerive quarter and its majestic houses in generously proportioned grounds. At the Leumatt bus stop we cross the main road and continue upwards on Gerlisbergstrasse. After the steep section at the start, we keep to the left in the first hairpin bend and enter the forest. A look back is rewarded with the mesmerising panorama of the Central Swiss Alps. On a wide forest path we gain further altitude until we reach a valley basin at the end of this stretch of forest. In front of the Lindenfeldweid farm we fork right and continue to pedal hard to enjoy the panorama of the Central Swiss Alps a little later: the Rigi, Bürgenstock, Buochserhorn, Brisen, Titlis, Stanserhorn and Pilatus, to name but a few, rise imposingly behind Lake Lucerne.

 

Once again we ride into a stretch of forest: these constant changes between meadow and forest will be a feature of the whole tour – including during the next section, in which we ride along the golf course on the Dietschiberg and, with a little luck, admire the slowly sinking sun above the Napf. At the end of the gravel path we encounter the upper terminus of the erstwhile Dietschibergbahn funicular railway. It carried visitors to Lucerne's local mountain, the Kleine Rigi, between 1912 and 1978.

 

On the subsequent descent it's worth stopping now and then to admire the fabulous views of the city, the lake basin and the Pilatus. In the north and west we see the hills of the Napf, as well as Lake Sempach and the Seetal region. A visit to these areas is highly recommended, be it on two wheels or two legs.

 

Above the Schlössli Utenberg manor house we turn to the right to gain some height after a short dip, as a result of which we enjoy a striking view to the north of the hilly terrain of Canton Lucerne. If the air is clear we can see the first Jura foothills in the far north. If we focus on the immediate surroundings, we have an overview of the conglomeration municipalities in the north of Lucerne.

 

We continue our trip and soon reach the Wesemlin quarter through a small stretch of forest. Passing the Wesemlin monastery, we ride via the Lion Monument to Löwenplatz and the Bourbaki panorama. Anyone with an interest in history could stop here and visit the impressive painting-in-the-round dating from 1881: this depicts a scene from the Franco-Prussian War and the first deployment of the Red Cross.

 

The bar on the ground floor of the building serves refreshing drinks.

 

On the way back to Schwanenplatz we tackle another short climb to the Musegg schoolhouse. This mighty building hides our view of the Musegg Wall somewhat, but we're able to catch occasional views of the city's fortifications. We finally get back to our starting point at Schwanenplatz via the Old Town.