The Tours
Old and "Mindere" Town Tour
Let a minstrel & bard from the Bailiwick of Gessler guide you through the old and minor town of Lucerne. Past buildings steeped in history, through old alleys and passages and into squares full of stories. Spots details that are often overlooked in everyday life. Hear anecdotes and stories from back then and get to know one or two bizarre people from the past.
(Duration approx. 90 minutes)
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Highlights:
- This is the perfect tour for people who don't know the city yet. It also contains a lot of details for people who are often in Lucerne or even come from Lucerne!
- Get to know the most important places in the city at that time and hear the legends and stories that were on everyone's lips in and around the city of Lucerne.
- Find out more about a very eccentric mayor who changed a building on the Kornmarkt for his benefit.
- The bard likes to play you songs on the instruments he brought with him. Maybe there will be an encore!
[Note: Be safe on foot, or let me know via the contact form so that I can adjust the route and running time.]
The Ratcatcher Tour
Accompany the Ratcatcher of Lucerne on his daily foray through the old, then foul-smelling, dark city and find out everything about dishonorable professions, murderers and criminals, justice and torture, as well as something about the plague and its development in Lucerne in 1628. Also go to the Sites of two old places of execution in Lucerne, which can no longer be recognized as those today. Scary, gruesome stories that you can listen to with your senses in the dark alleys and squares of the city.
(Duration approx. 120 minutes)
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Highlights:
- Visit the places where the infirmary and the city's old places of execution were once found. Also visit a place that is associated with the witch hunt.
- What were dishonorable professions and which ones included them besides rat catcher or executioner?
- Be part of a medieval trial yourself and follow the path of the condemned and get to know the instruments of justice.
- Also hear some “newer” stories about four spectacular Lucerne criminal cases and murderers.
[Note: Be safe on foot, or let me know via the contact form so that I can adjust the route and running time.]
Mercenary and
Fortification Tour
The Swiss Mercenary is back in the city and wants to retire after countless battles and with the money he has earned.
But he often tells of past adventures, fights, intrigues, greed and death. Stories that will occupy him until the end of his life. All the gold he has acquired will never help him break away from the memories of those bloody days.
It helps him the most when he passes on his history, the history of Lucerne's military system, to interested people and in doing so brings them closer to the city's old fortifications...
Be brave, dear folk
(Duration approx. 150 minutes)
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Highlights:
- Learn more about the wage system of the old Confederation and why the history of what was then old Lucerne is soaked in blood.
- What is a Swiss Mercenary? What distinguishes him from the famous Landsknechts?
- Let the Mercenary show you the weapons and equipment that defined the Swiss Mercenaries and find out why the crossbow was more popular than the bow.
- Go to the old sites of the former city fortifications.
- Visit the Musegg Wall, enter two towers and the battlement, while you can listen to the stories of the nine or even ten towers.
(only April to November)
- You are now part of a band of mercenaries, so there are assigned tasks. But there's no need to worry, you'll get your pay at the end of the tour!
[Note: Be safe on foot, or let me know via the contact form so that I can adjust the route and running time.]
The Tourguide Charakters
The Bard (Old- and "Mindere" Tour)
The bard is eloquent and open to any conversation, adventure or beer.
He likes all kinds of aesthetic and artistic things. On his tours he often points out the smallest details - so reserve a little more time than planned!
On his tour he goes through the entire old and new town of Lucerne. Find out more about certain buildings, people and let you
also show details that are often overlooked.
"Follow the blue feather, follow his lute playing, because the bard drinks and knows a lot!"
The Rat Catcher
Despised and avoided... and not just because of his smell, the Rat Catcher is not a pleasant companion.
Before he took up the dishonorable profession of rat catcher, he did other jobs... until an incident occurred. Sharp-tongued, cynical, sarcastic... that's how he can be. But no one can complain about his flute playing and his love for his rodent protégés.
Let him tell you about the dark sides of life back then. Things like diseases, bad old hygiene, criminals, justice and death!
"Don't raise your head in complete arrogance, or you will soon lose it!"
The Swiss Mercenary
Back from military service for the Dukes of Milan, the Swiss Mercenary goes to his hometown on Lake Lucerne. He is haunted by memories of the battlefields and the killing. Just for a few coins, he has murdered and pillaged in the service of others and is tired of mercenary work.
Without a decent job, the battle-hardened drunk takes over the post of city watchman and often marches between the old City Gates like the Bruchtor, Kriensertor, Baslertor and can often be found on the Museggmauer (City Wall).
He always has time for a long chat, whether about his time as a mercenary, about the old Swiss, the greedy lords, his arsenal of weapons or about the latest means of defense and attack.
If there's anything more dangerous than his halberd, it's his smell; the good man is addicted to southern wine...