Trifel Castle and Lucerne

I'm really struggling to catch up with the blog!

You can see Trifel Castle from Ray & Anna's apartment.  It's major claim to fame is that Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in it for several months during the period he had been seized and held for ransom on his return from the Crusaders.

The castle is constructed of red sandstone and has been rebuilt several times.  Most notably under the orders of Hitler who visited it once.  I took few photos during our visit as I mostly used the 360 camera and will edit the recordings on my return home.

In a slightly more westerly direction is a large rock famous for the frequent number of rock climbers who scale it.

 

Whilst we were at its base five foreign climbers appeared and started preparing to scale it.

With the bike repaired (new rear wheel and internally geared hub) I headed south passing through Basel to reach Lucerne. 

My return on the Eurovelo 15 route takes me through Basel so I didn't spend much time there on the way south.

It was late by the time I reached lucerne and rather than search for a campsite I opted for a hostel dormitory bed in the city.  I didn't realise it would be mixed sex.  Two males… four females!  It was a very hot night (I mean the temperature) and sleep proved to be difficult.

After a shower I had a wander around the centre of the city.  It's the second time I've been here and not much has changed in the interim period.

The hostel was very central and located in a former prison.  For slightly more money you could spend a night in a cell.

Chapel Bridge.  A landmark 1300s wooden bridge with grand stone water tower & a roof decorated with 17th-century art.

Northern entrance to the bridge on the right of the photo.

The River Reuss.  Exit point for Lake Lucerne.

Downstream from the Chapel Bridge is another wooden bridge.  

Spreuerbrücke Bridge. It is a 15th-century, wooden covered pedestrian bridge featuring a series of paintings with a death motif In the apex of the roof gables

Tomorrow I'm taking the ferry on Lake Lucerne.