Lucerne/Luzern In Switzerland Royalty-Free Stock Image

The twin towers of the church of St. Leodegar, which was named after the city's patron saint, sit on a small hill just above the lakefront. The church is popularly called the Hofkirche (German) and is known locally as the Hofchile (Swiss-German). Lucerne (Luzern or Lucerna) is a city in Switzerland. It is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and seat of the district with the same name. Its location is on the shore of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstattersee) within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps. Lucerne is considered first as a tourist destination. Around 750 the Benedictine Monastery of St. Leodegar was founded here. In the middle of the 9th century the area had become known as Luceria. In 1178 Lucerne acquired its independence from the jurisdiction of Murbach Abbey, and the founding of the city proper probably occurred this same year. The city gained importance as a strategically located gateway for the growing commerce from Gotthard trade route.