The Nightwatchman Walk with Ralf in Lucerne, Switzerland

If you find yourself in Lucerne, Switzerland (and I highly recommend that you do!), be sure to put the Nightwatchman Walk on your itinerary.

Lucerne is located in central Switzerland. Situated on a beautiful lake and surrounded by majestic mountains, Lucerne is the ideal picturesque Swiss town.

We recently spent 3 days in Lucerne during our week-long European adventure. Everyone in our party of 6 fell in love with Switzerland. And one of our favorite activities was the Nightwatchman Walk with Ralf.

Strolling Through Old Town

Our tour began at Rosengart Platz, which is right next to the famous wooden Chapel Bridge that crosses into Old Town.

Here we learned about the role of the Nightwatchman, common weapons used in Medieval times, and intriguing facts and tales about life in Lucerne long ago.

Our tour group of 11 then followed Ralf, winding through Old Town and stopping at key sights, including Kornmarkt and Brandgässli Alley and the window of a medieval pharmacy. We also crossed over both the Reussbrücke and the famed Chapel Bridge.

Throughout the walk, Ralf presented each of us with 3 postcards to better illustrate Lucerne’s history. These were unexpected and much appreciated souvenirs of our time with Ralf.

Ralf even provided refreshment as he pulled out cups and filled one for each of us from an ornate fountain in the center of an open plaza.

No need to buy bottled water in Switzerland!

Clear spring water flows from thousands of decorative fountains all over the country, and tourists and locals alike are encouraged to drink up!

Ralf, the Nightwatchman

“History always keeps repeating. If you want to know about the future, learn history.”
Ralf, the Nightwatchman

Lucerne is an enchanting town, but the highlight of the Nightwatchman Walk is Ralf himself. Ralf’s knowledge of Swiss history is impressive, and his passion for Old Town Lucerne is intoxicating.

Ralf pointing out the official measurements on a historic building

Dressed in traditional Nightwatchman garb, Ralf can frequently be seen guiding small groups down quaint alleys and through historic plazas as he crisscrosses the Reuss River.

Ralf regales his followers with noteworthy facts about key leaders from Lucerne’s past, interesting tales of crime and punishment, and timeless legends passed down from generation to generation.

Along the way he points out key landmarks and hidden features in Lucerne’s architecture that tourists would undoubtedly fail to notice without the aid of a knowledgeable and engaging guide.

Ralf satisfied our curiosities by thoughtfully answering questions throughout the walk. And he offered suggestions of additional not-to-be missed sights in Lucerne…that we surely would have missed without his informative and passionate recommendations!

Knowing Ralf would not steer us wrong, the next day we climbed to the top of one of the towers along the wall around the city for breathtaking views of Lucerne.

We also returned to the building erected by the unlucky mason to venture inside and gaze at Jacob von Wyl’s intriguing painting series, The Dance of the Death. We recalled Ralf’s vivid description of each figure’s encounter with death as we admired the beauty of the original artwork.

Thank you, Ralf, for adding these memorable components to our visit to Lucerne!

Medieval Times Meets Modern Day Technology

While the Nightwatchman Walk is packed with history, Ralf adds a touch of modern day technology to his medieval stories.

At various stops along the tour, Ralf quickly sets up his portable slideshow and illuminates the side of historic buildings with photos that greatly enhance his teachings.

These illustrations bring history to life and capture your attention as you envision noble leaders and gasp at the gruesome forms of torture that were used to punish a variety of sins.

We were all thankful to be living in a modern, somewhat more civilized time!

Walk With Me

Get a glimpse of Ralf’s Swiss charm and his depth of medieval history in these video clips from our walk with the Nightwatchman.

Now plan YOUR trip to Lucerne, and schedule your own walk with the Nightwatchman. You won’t regret it!

What You Need To Know

Ralf offers both public and private tours. Small group public tours are offered in English on Tuesdays and Thursdays after sunset from April through October.

Make your reservation and pay online at https://www.nightwatchman.ch/.

Prices are listed in the local currency, the Swiss Franc, but the exchange rate for 1 Swiss Franc is about the same as 1 U.S. dollar. Approximately $25 for adults and $15 for ages 13-19. (I suggest bringing along a few Swiss Francs to provide a well-earned tip to Ralf at the end of your walk!)

Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather as the Nightwatchman Walk covers about 1 mile of the town (mostly cobblestone) and goes on no matter what the weather has in store.

If you would like to schedule a private tour with Ralf, contact him via email at ralf@citytrip.ch.

I hope you get the chance to join Ralf on a Nightwatchman walk soon! And if you do, please share your experience with me in the comments below.