The western shore of Lake Lucerne is home to the largest city in Switzerland, Lucerne. Once, the centre of the Catholic resistance during the Reformation, it is now one of the most important destinations for tourists in the country.

We begin our trip along the shore of Lake Lucerne at the Jesuit Church, a symbol of the old Swiss baroque and pass by the old town, the wooden Spreuer Bridge and the Musegg Wall, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the lake.

At the Schweizerhof Quay, where numerous ships arrive and depart from all day long, we board an excursion ship to a sheltered bay on the north bank of the lake. From here, a cogwheel railway leads directly up into the mountain landscape of the Rigi massif to breathtaking views over 13 lakes and countless mountains. On the route back to Lucerne, a stopver gives a glimpse into Swiss history at Küssnacht, reminiscent of Schiller's Wilhelm Tell and the foundings of the Confederation.

The next morning, the excursion boat leaves the jetties and slowly sails out of the big bay of Lucerne. The three mountain massifs Rigi, Pilatus und Bürgenstock are grouped around the lake, and look particularly inviting in the sunshine.

The Pilatus Railway, built in 1889, is the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. The first section of the route leads uphill past mountain meadows and forests with lake and mountain views, while the second section is a real adventure, at one point reaching a 48 percent gradient!

At the top, we enjoy a view across Glarus and the Bernese Alps. In the historic heart of Switzerland, around the breathtaking Lake Lucerne, mountains and lakes combine to form a fascinating and extraordinary landscape paradise.