The Pilatus Legend – or How the Mountain Got Its Name

A Mountain of Legends

Mount Pilatus strongly stimulated the imagination of the people in Switzerland early on. This was because it seemingly rose gently from the flatlands, but then suddenly jutted steeply upwards in massive rock formations.

© Lucerne Tourism / Ivo Scholz | Switzerland Tourism

The ancients called it "Fractus mons" (broken mountain) or Frakmont. They considered it nothing more than a split and broken-up mighty hill.

Since the people of antiquity could not explain the elemental forces that once split the mountain, they saw in them the work of evil powers. Because fire, water, storms, and lightning had always terrified the residents, they believed that these forces were causing mischief on the mountain. In the ignorance of the Middle Ages, one thing was clear: spirits lived there. In the stories, one heard of dragons, ghosts, spirits, hobgoblins (Herdmännlein), and mischievous dwarves (Toggelis); even the Türst and the Sträggele caused trouble there.

Lucerne Schilling Chronicle, 1513, Folio 89r, page 177. A heavy thunderstorm flooded the Krienbach stream. Debris (scree and wood) tore away the protective barrier and the bridge between the Barfüßertor (Barefoot Gate) and the Ketzerturm (Heretics' Tower) and caused great damage in the small town of Lucerne on June 24, 1473.

The Historical Fear of Pilatus

To properly understand the Pilatus legend, one had to empathize with the fears of the Lucerne population. Until about 150 years ago, the city was repeatedly affected by severe floods of the Krienbach stream. During thunderstorms on Pilatus, this stream swelled rapidly and carried large amounts of water and debris, which often flooded the entire small town. For example, in 1566, the barracks and the Spreuer Bridge were torn away.

According to the legend, a student from Salamanca spread this story about the curse of Pilatus in Lucerne. For the residents at the time, this legend was a plausible explanation for the destructive fury of the mountain. The danger ended only about 150 years ago, when the Krienbach was diverted and most of its water flowed into the Kleine Emme river near Malters. Today, the harmless remnants of the stream flow under Burgerstrasse at the needle dam into the Reuss river.

Ulrich Gutersohn (1862–1946), the Corporation Building, 1885. The Krienbach stream is in the center, with Pilatus in the background.

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The Pilatus Legend – The Judgment and the Curse

The legend said the mountain was the final resting place of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who had unjustly condemned Jesus Christ.

The sick Emperor Tiberius in Rome sent his servant Albanus to Jerusalem to bring the healer Jesus Christ to him. Albanus met the governor Pilate there, who did not want to give him an answer because he had unjustly condemned Jesus to death. Albanus found the woman Veronica. She told him about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Veronica possessed the veil that she had offered to Jesus on his path of suffering for him to wipe his face, and upon which the image of Jesus was miraculously imprinted.

Veronica accompanied Albanus to Rome. When the Emperor saw the cloth and looked at it devoutly, he was immediately healed of all his ailments.

The healed Emperor had Pilate brought to Rome to punish him. When Pilate appeared before the Emperor for the first time, he was wearing Jesus' garment. Although Tiberius wanted to condemn him, his anger vanished every time, and he could not harm Pilate. The Emperor knew nothing of the protective power of the holy robe. He had Pilate taken back to the dungeon.

On the second day, Pilate appeared before the Emperor again, and the anger disappeared again. Tiberius could not judge him again. Then Tiberius turned to Veronica and asked for advice. She realized that Pilate was wearing the holy robe of Jesus Christ. Veronica advised the Emperor to have Pilate take off the garment.

On the third day, the Emperor had Pilate remove the robe. As soon as Pilate had taken off the robe, the Emperor's wrath returned, and Tiberius sentenced him to death.

Pilate evaded the execution: Back in the dungeon, he killed himself with a knife.

The Spirit in the Mountain Lake

The corpse of Pilate caused great thunderstorms and terrible things wherever it was buried. Therefore, it was first thrown into the Tiber in Rome, but even there, the body could not be left because of the bad weather. Then the body was brought to the city of Lausanne and thrown into the Rhône river. Again, the devils returned and caused mischief.

Finally, the corpse was taken to the mountain near Lucerne and thrown into a lake. This mountain was called Fräkmünd, and the lake is called Pilatus Lake. People believed that if someone disturbed the spirit of Pilatus, it would bring terrible thunderstorms with hail and thunder.

How Not to Disturb the Spirit

People believed that the spirit of Pilatus was allowed to rise up in the middle of the lake once a year, namely on Good Friday. Then he sat enthroned on his judgment seat in Roman governor's attire. For the rest of the time, he remained quiet and peaceful in the water—provided he was left undisturbed.

He was not allowed to be provoked under any circumstances. As soon as someone spoke loudly by the lake, called out his name, or threw wood and stones into the water, his wrath would break out: The sky turned black, lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled. Terrible storms and destruction fell upon the region of Lucerne.

For this reason, it was subsequently strictly forbidden to climb the mountain out of curiosity or recklessness.

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The Fight Against Superstition

So much for the legend.

It is historically documented that it was forbidden to climb Mount Pilatus. Only the shepherds were allowed to stay there. The shepherds and herdsmen on the alpine pasture were sworn and obligated by the government not to let anyone go up to the Pilatus Lake.

The prohibitions were taken very seriously:

• Already in 1387, six clergymen were imprisoned and expelled just because they wanted to visit the notorious lake.
• In 1564, two men were imprisoned because a heavy thunderstorm broke out over the mountain after their forbidden excursion to the lake.

But this superstition lost its power, mainly through the work of the Lucerne city parish priest Johannes Müller. In 1585, Müller climbed up to the lake with a large escort. He demonstratively challenged the spirit of Pilatus by throwing stones into the shallow water and instructing people to wade into the lake. Nothing happened, however: Neither a storm nor bad weather broke out, and the sky remained cloudlessly clear.

To finally put an end to this popular belief, which was recognized as nonsense, the Lucerne Council decided to abolish all prohibitions. Furthermore, the Council ordered the lake to be drained in 1594.

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Today We Know: Where the Name Pilatus Comes From

The name Pilatus does not derive from Pontius Pilate.

It stems from Latin:

• Latin: Pileus means "the cap."
• Derived: Pileatus means "the one wearing a cap."

The mountain was named this because it often wears a cloud cap. There is also a proverb about this that every Lucerner knows:

Hat der Pilatus einen Hut, (If Pilatus wears a cap,)
wird das Wetter sicher gut. (the weather will surely be good.)
Hat der Pilatus einen Degen, (If Pilatus wears a sword/dagger,)
wirds bestimmt regnen. (it will certainly rain.)
Hat der Pilatus eine Kappe, (If Pilatus wears a hood/bonnet,)
wird das Wetter Knappe (instabil). (the weather will be unstable/scarce.)

Ulrich Gutersohn (1862–1946), the weather proverb, 1900. On Good Friday, Pilatus is enthroned on the judgment seat.

The Pilatus Lake is now dried up but is still marked on every map, including on Google Maps.

For the sources please refer to the German version of this post.

The Theft of the State Treasury

The Safest Place in Lucerne

Lucerne, 1758. The Golden Time of the Republic was coming to its autumn. Wars and bad harvests in Europe meant that the soldier contracts, which the city lived from, were paid slowly. This made the state treasury, the heart of the Lucerne Republic, even more important.

It was stored in the safest place you could think of: in the upper room of the Water Tower. The Reuss river flowed around it, and you could only reach it over the Chapel Bridge or by boat.

Chapel Bridge, Water Tower around 1833, lithograph by Charles-Rodolphe Weibel-Comtesse, colored

The Hole in the Attic

But no lock is safe from those who have the key. It began years before, an idea from the chaplain Beat Spengler, who was a student then. Together with his fellow student Ludwig Ales and the city employee Josef Anton Stalder, who kept the keys to the tower, they made the plan.

From the attic, they used a rope to go down into the treasure room. They drilled holes into the iron-bound chests, took gold and silver coins, and cleverly filled the bags with sand and stones until the weight was exactly right. Sometimes there were checks, but they only weighed the chests and did not check inside. They fell for the trick.

The Loan with Bad Consequences

For years, nobody found out about the theft. The theft became routine. Stalder told the new city servant Frölin about it, and soon a whole group of people knew: Stalder’s wife Maria and his daughter Veronika, Frölin’s wife Anna Maria Breitenmoser and her brother Alois, Stalder’s maid Elisabeth Bachmann, and a man named Nicolaus Schumacher.

The cheat was only found out when the Teutonic Order (Deutschritterorden) asked for a loan of 100,000 florins. The Great Council agreed on December 1, 1758.

Sand instead of Guilders

The next day, December 2, the councilmen opened the treasure room in the tower to get the loan. The quiet in the room turned to pure horror. When they wanted to count the coins for the loan, they found bags full of stones and sand. 50,000 guilders were missing – today that would be worth several million Swiss Francs.

The Hunt

The Council of Lucerne acted very hard. A hunt was started. They quickly thought it was their own employees. Josef Anton Stalder was arrested when he was trying to run away. But the city servant Frölin escaped at first.

The two clergymen, Spengler and Ales, also fled over Lake Constance. Stalder’s maid, Elisabeth Bachmann, went to Milan as soon as she heard her master was arrested. Alois Breitenmoser was also gone.

Through questioning, with and without torture, the whole conspiracy was found out. Frölin was finally found among soldiers in Hessen (Germany) and brought back to Lucerne.

The Price of Betrayal

The judgments in spring 1759 were merciless and were meant to scare others.

• Josef Anton Stalder, the leader and a citizen of the city, was punished cruelly: his right hand was cut off, he was strangled on a post, and his body was quartered and put on the wheel.
• Anna Breitenmoser was beheaded.
• Jost Ignaz Frölin and Nicolaus Schumacher were hanged.

Only Stalder’s daughter, Veronika Stalder, did not get the death penalty. She was the only one who showed real regret and was sentenced to life in chains.

Sentenced and Disappeared

The executioner carried out the sentences. Chaplain Spengler, the man with the idea, later died in a monastery in Vienna in church asylum. Ludwig Ales, the organist, disappeared and was never seen again.

Two other conspirators were never caught: Alois Breitenmoser and the maid Elisabeth Bachmann. What happened to them is still unknown today. We only know that Breitenmoser fled early and Bachmann made it to Milan.

For the sources please refer to the German version of this post.

The Legend of the Lucerne War Horns

A painting on the Chapel Bridge (panel Nr. 25) once showed a famous Lucerne legend: The Emperor Charlemagne giving special "Harsthörner" (war horns) to warriors from Lucerne to honor them. (Please note: This original painting was unfortunately destroyed in the 1993 Chapel Bridge fire and is no longer on the bridge.)

The legend says that in 778, warriors from Lucerne joined Charlemagne’s army in Spain. They bravely saved his nephew, Roland, in a battle. As a "thank you" for their loyalty and courage, the emperor gave them the special war horns, a great privilege.

Charlemagne awards the war horns to the Lucerners, Image: zentralgut.ch

What was this "Harsthorn"?

It was a signal horn made from the horn of an auroch (a big, wild bull). Its deep sound was a psychological weapon in battle. It was used to motivate the own troops and frighten the enemies. It was an important symbol of honor, like a flag. The man who carried it had to be one of the strongest and would protect it with his life.

Legend vs. Reality

The paintings on the Chapel Bridge were made in the 17th century, a time when people often mixed history and legends.

The reality of this story is different. The famous battle, known as the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, was in 811, not 778. It was against the Basques, not the Saracens. And it was a terrible defeat for Charlemagne; his nephew Roland actually died there.

At that time, Lucerne was just a small fishing village. It was not a city and did not have an army to send to Spain.

So, why does this painting exist? Myths like this were important. They gave the city prestige and connected Lucerne to famous historical figures like Charlemagne. It made the city's history seem older and more important.

But the horns were real symbols of Lucerne's military. You can see them pictured in the famous Diebold Schilling Chronicle, an illustrated history book from the Middle Ages.

The Lucerne war horns and the Uri Bull, Lucerne Schilling Folio 99v, p. 200, detail

What happened to the real horns?

The story of the horns is also turbulent. Troops from Bern captured two of Lucerne's war horns in 1712. These horns were later lost in Bern during the French invasion (the time of Napoleon) in 1798.

But other original horns are safe. The Historical Museum (Historisches Museum) in Lucerne keeps them, and you can see one of them on display.

The war horn in the Historical Museum Lucerne, Photo: 12Nov25

Perhaps the most heroic figure of a horn blower is the "Uristier" (the Uri Bull) from the canton of Uri. 

Battle of Marignano 1515, the loss of the Uri Bull, Karl Jauslin (1842-1904) around 1895, colorized.

You can find the sources for this post on the German version.

The Giant of Reiden

A Lucerne Legend and the Real Story Behind It

A famous painting on Lucerne's Chapel Bridge (Panel No. 1) shows an old city legend. It pictures a giant man with a tree trunk standing next to a normal-sized man.

The Giant of Reiden, shown on panel no. 1 of the Chapel Bridge | Image: Zentralgut.ch

A Giant for the Whole City

The story is this: In 1577, an oak tree fell during a storm near the town of Reiden. When workers cleared it, they found huge bones.

Early "scholars" studied the bones. They calculated that they belonged to a giant who was almost 5 meters (16 "Werck Schuh") tall.

The discovery became an important matter for the city. One of the largest bones was brought to Lucerne and put on display in the City Hall (Rathaus) as proof. The city hired a painter, Hans Heinrich Wägmann, to paint the giant on the City Hall tower.

The city clerk, Renward Cysat, wanted a better opinion. He asked the famous doctor Felix Platter from Basel. In 1584, Platter announced his own calculation: the giant must have been 5.6 meters tall!

This "proof" made the people of Lucerne proud. The discovery of the giant fit perfectly with the city's other important symbol: the "Wild Man" (Wilder Mann). The Wild Man is the supporter of Lucerne's coat of arms and can be seen in many places (like the Hotel Wilder Mann, the Wild Man Fountain, the paintings on the Clock Tower and the Historical Museum ... ).

The Giant of Reiden now served as "proof" of this heritage and supported the ideal of Lucerne's people, who saw themselves as wild, free, and independent.

The Giant of Reiden by Johann Leopold Cysat, Vierwaldstaettersee, 1661.

A Scholar Solves the Riddle

For more than 200 years, people admired the bone in the City Hall. But then came the Age of Enlightenment.

The government of Lucerne wanted to know the scientific truth. They sent some of the bones to the best expert at the time: Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, a famous scholar in Germany.

Blumenbach studied the pieces and sent his clear diagnosis back to Lucerne: It was not a giant. It was a mammoth!

This solved the mystery. The "Giant of Reiden" is now known as the first scientifically recognized mammoth discovery in Switzerland.

Today, the "giant bones" are on display at the Lucerne Nature Museum (Natur-Museum Luzern).

Bones of the Giant of Reiden, photo taken at the Lucerne Nature Museum

Sources are listed in the German version

The Executioner's Code

The pulling up' (Strappado) or the Rack, Central Library Zurich

Just like any good craftsman, the executioner tried to do a "clean" job. When it came to torture, he was only allowed to go as far as it was useful—he wasn't supposed to kill them. The executioner had to be extremely careful that the tortured prisoners didn't die, so they could still be brought to their "real" punishment.

If necessary, he even had to patch them up, which is how he gained medical knowledge.

While doctors at the time were forbidden from dissecting bodies, executioners learned a lot about anatomy and healing. They passed this knowledge on to their sons.

Lucerne Schilling, 1513, Folio 210r (P.425). A servant in Bellinzona, who wanted
to betray the city to the French, is cruelly disemboweled and quartered (1500).

In 1782, a "Master" Leonard Vollmar, who beheaded Anna Göldi (the last "witch") in Glarus, asked permission to bring his 19-year-old son along, "who would like to learn how the thing is done."

The highest and most "honorable" job for an executioner was the art of beheading by sword.

This had to be done in one single strike, cutting the head completely from the body—so clean that a wagon wheel could supposedly roll through the gap. The executioners' sons practiced this on animals.

A good executioner understood the seriousness of his job and performed it factually, seriously, and according to a fixed ritual.

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The Big Moment

The Beheading of St. Maurice, detail from the Martini Plan, 1597.

Picture this: Hundreds of people are watching the execution. The judge, the executioner, and the condemned person are standing high up on the scaffold.
The executioner places his hand on the condemned person’s shoulder and tells him to kneel.

Then he stands behind him, takes a step, and raises the execution sword.

This is the executioner's moment.
Hundreds of eyes are focused on him.
Dead silence.

He breathes out deeply, his muscles tense, adrenaline shoots through his body.
He looks at the judge.
A nod.

Then

Sssfffffft.
An almost silent whistle cuts the air.
Thwack.
A short, wet sound. The body slumps.
Thud – – Thud – Thud.
The dull sound of the severed head rolling across the scaffold.

The crowd screams and cheers. For the executioner, it's a rush.
Now he is the king—for one moment, the absolute superstar.
He enjoys this moment, knowing full well that in the next second, he will once again be the most dishonorable of the dishonorable: the outlaw, the outcast.

The Execution Place Sentimatt in Lucerne

In the beginning, as serfs of the Hofkloster (monastery), we got our judgement at the Marienbrunnen (Mary's fountain) by the stairs of today's Hofkirche.

From the middle of the 13th century, the Habsburgs allowed us to hold court ourselves. This happened at the lower fish market (unterer Fischmarkt), by the court linden tree.

Later, the first town hall of Lucerne (the building before today's Hotel Des Balances) became the court place. The executions happened at the Sentimatt execution place.

Location of the Sentimatt Execution Place

It was between Dammstrasse and Sentimatt 1, directly at the Reuss river, outside the old city walls.
Today, there is a parking lot there. On the left is the University of Teacher Education (Pädagogische Hochschule), on the right a concrete wall, and behind it the Sonnenberg tunnel.

Exact location of the Sentimatt execution place, Schumacher plan overlaid on Google Maps.
Old pink=Execution place, Red=Kallenberg (Scaffold)

The Sentimatt Execution Place on the Schumacher Plan

On the Schumacher Plan from 1790, you can see the execution place very clearly:

• A fenced property outside the city walls.
• A main house with three floors, and other small buildings.
• A garden with trees (probably apple trees).
• A closed-off area with a hole – probably to put the dead bodies in.
• A round, high place in the middle of the area: the Kallenberg.

Explanation: The Kallenberg is a scaffold made of stone. It is the round or eight-sided platform (the "stage") where the bloody executions, like beheadings or the "breaking on the wheel", happened.

Who lived in the main house, we don't know. Probably the family of the executioner and his servants. But the building looks very big. 

Sentimatt Execution Place on the Schumacher Plan

Picture in the Diebold Schilling Chronicle

In the Diebold Schilling Chronicle, you can also see the Sentimatt execution place. You see it with the Reuss river and in the background (behind the smoke) the Musegg walls.

Diebold Schilling Chronik 1513, Folio 174v (352) - Wikimedia

Second Execution Place from the Middle of the 16th Century

Around 1562, Lucerne made another execution place. It was near the Emmen-Bridge – at the place where the Reuss and Emme rivers flow together, on the left river side.

From this time, the Sentimatt was used only for executioins with the sword.

The Story of Turst

The Story of Türst – As Told by Night Watchman Ralf

On the heights of Mount Pilatus, a ghostly figure roams—a creature that is part "wild man," part "spirit," part "warrior," and part "god." This being, called Türst, causes great trouble for the alpine herdsmen and torments their cattle in many ways. His power is strongest when the herdsmen stray from a godly life. He is a fearsome hunter from the underworld.

At nightfall, Türst prepares for the hunt. He drives the poor cattle before him, scaring and confusing them so much that they run wildly in all directions. Sometimes, they even leap down into the valley, forcing the herdsmen to struggle to bring them back up. The cows remain without milk for a long time after such encounters.

When Türst approaches, he blows a powerful hunting horn. Every animal that hears it must come and stand before him. He is often accompanied by a pack of hellish dogs, all of which have only three legs. Leading the pack is a massive dog with a single eye in the middle of its forehead. This dog jumps ahead, with the entire pack stumbling behind it, constantly falling over due to their missing legs. In the middle of it all is Türst, part hunter, part spirit, part ghost, and part warrior.

The Wild Hunt

The barking of the dogs sounds eerie—hollow, muffled, and unnatural. It terrifies the cattle, causing them to flee towards humans in fear. The herdsmen have their hands full whenever Türst appears. This happens in the Alps of Pilatus, on the meadows of the mountain.

In winter, when the cold sets in, Türst and his pack sometimes descend into the valleys. Sometimes, Türst even reaches the city of Lucerne. People say that when the wind blows fiercely through the streets on cold nights, you should be cautious and listen carefully—because Türst announces himself with a chilling call:

"Out of the way! Out of the way! Three steps to the side—or else!"

If you hear this, you must step three steps to the right immediately. If you don’t, Türst and his pack will run you over, and you will be transformed into a three-legged dog, doomed to run with his ghostly pack forever.

Among the pack, there are big and small dogs, always led by the one-eyed leader. The smallest dogs sometimes struggle to keep up and fall behind. One story tells of a time when Türst and his pack were passing St. Peter’s Chapel in Lucerne. A tiny three-legged dog kept stumbling and was left behind. Türst and his pack vanished into the night, leaving the little dog behind, whimpering.

A kind-hearted sacristan (a church caretaker) saw the poor creature and took pity on it. He brought it into his home, fed it, and gave it water. The little dog stayed there for the entire day.

But as night fell, a great commotion broke out in the square outside the chapel. There was loud barking, shouting, and suddenly—a knock at the door.

The sacristan hesitated. Who could it be?

When he opened the door, he saw the massive one-eyed dog standing before him. It spoke in a deep voice:

"Give us Gregorli. Give us Gregorli. We will not harm you. You were kind to Gregorli. You fed him and gave him water. So we will not hurt you. But now, give us Gregorli."

The sacristan gently picked up the little dog and handed it over. Türst and his pack disappeared into the darkness.

And that is the legend of Türst.

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Source

Based on "Luzerner Sagen" (Lucerne Legends), collected and told by Kuno Müller (with slight modifications by Nightwatchman Ralf)

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When Odin became Türst     

The Lucerne Visitor Card

The Lucerne Visitor Card is a thoughtful welcome gift for overnight guests staying in a hotel in the city. Previously known as the "Guest Card," it offers great benefits to make your stay more enjoyable.

What is it?

First and foremost, it's a free transport pass for buses and trains in Zone 10, which covers Lucerne and its surrounding areas (excluding boats).

© VBL AG, Public Bus Transportation Lucerne

What is Zone 10?

Zone 10 includes the entire city of Lucerne and nearby districts. If your hotel is located within the city, your Visitor Card is valid for travel in this zone.

Will I get the Visitor Card if I stay in an Airbnb or similiar?

No, the Visitor Card is offered exclusively for guests staying in a hotel within the city limits.

How long is the Visitor Card valid?

It is valid from your arrival day until your departure day.

When do I receive my Visitor Card?

You will receive it shortly before arrival by email from your hotel or upon check-in at the reception. Each hotel room is issued one card, which includes the number of guests staying in the room.

Can I use public transport for free on my arrival day before I get the Visitor Card?

Yes! Your hotel booking in a Lucerne city hotel allows you to travel for free to your hotel on the day of arrival. Should a Controller ask for your ticket show him your hotel booking on your cell or print.

Do I have to validate my bus ticket on the Visitor Card, or do I have to show it to the Bus Driver?

No, don't bother the Driver by showing him your Visitor Card. He does not want to see that. Just have it with you. Should a Controller come and ask for it, then you show it.

Popular Public Transport Routes for Visitors

• From Lucerne train station to your hotel.

• From your hotel to the Lion Monument.

• A trip to Mount Pilatus, taking the bus to Kriens.

• Visiting the Swiss Museum of Transport, located slightly outside the city center.

• A train ride to Hergiswil to explore the famous glass factory, Glasi Hergiswil.

• And many more possibilities!

What else is included?

• Free Wi-Fi access in the city of Lucerne.

• Discounts and special offers at various attractions and shops.

[Lucerne Visitor Card - official Website]

[Zone 10 Map]

The best water of Lucerne

Historical Center - map

The Best Water in Lucerne: Fresh from the Historic Fountains

The purest and best-tasting water in Lucerne can be found in the fountains of the historic old town. Unlike the houses and hotels, which receive their water through pressure pipes, these fountains have their own independent water supply, dating back to the Middle Ages.

The First Fountains of Lucerne

Wooden fountain on the Weinmarkt, 1332

Some of Lucerne’s earliest fountains were located at Fischmarkt Square (now Weinmarkt), Hirschenplatz, the junction of Eisengasse and Schlossergasse, and Hertensteinstrasse near the Einhorn restaurant.

One of the most remarkable—and possibly the oldest—fountain in Lucerne stands at Weinmarkt. As early as 1332, when Lucerne joined the Swiss Confederation, a wooden fountain stood in this square, as depicted in the Diebold Schilling Chronicle.

The current stone fountain at Weinmarkt was completed in 1494 by Konrad Lux from Basel. As recognition for his craftsmanship, he was granted citizenship of Lucerne. The original fountain base is now exhibited in the Historical Museum, while a faithful replica remains in the square.

Atop the fountain stands Saint Maurice, the city's patron saint. The six armored warriors at the base represent a historic military drill, once a mandatory event in old Lucerne. Twice a year, all citizens were required to own weapons and present them for inspection.

What Makes Lucerne’s Fountain Water So Special?

The city’s household and hotel water supply comes from two pressure pipes, which carry a mix of lake, groundwater, and spring water—ensuring high quality.

However, the water from the historic fountains is even better. It is pure spring water sourced from the slopes of Mount Pilatus, near the legendary Pilatussee. Since the Middle Ages, this water has flowed naturally along the Krienbach crest and beneath the Reussbrücke bridge into the old town.

While other cities, like Zurich, historically relied on lake and river water, Lucerne has always enjoyed pristine spring water.

Lucerne’s fountain water rivals premium bottled brands like Evian or San Pellegrino—but with an eco-friendly advantage: no long transport routes.

Another unique feature is its silence. Unlike pressured tap water, it flows naturally, without artificial force. Water enthusiasts say that quiet water should be drunk in quiet surroundings, allowing its calm energy to refresh both body and mind.

A Precious Resource That Must Be Protected

Lucerne’s free drinking water is an invaluable gift that must be preserved. Water should not be a commodity. Unfortunately, this is not the case everywhere.

Support the Lucerne-based non-profit "Wasser für Wasser" (Water for Water), which advocates for free access to clean drinking water. Use the Lucerne Fountain Guide to find your nearest fountain and enjoy some of the finest water in the world—for free!