Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal)
Denkmalstrasse 4, Lucerne, CHE
Carved into the low cliff face on the outskirts of the Old Town of Lucerne, the Lion Monument is the city’s most distinctive landmark. Described by Mark Twain as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world,” the giant sandstone sculpture depicts a dying lion resting in a shaded nook above a shimmering pond.
Hewn out of natural rock in 1821 under commission of Captain Carl Pfyffer von Altishofen, the (20 feet/6 meters high and 33 feet/10 meters long) Lion Monument commemorates the Swiss Guards who lost their lives guarding the Tuileries castle in Paris during the French Revolution. The lion’s paws rest on Fleur-de-Lis while a broken spear juts from his back, and an inscription that reads, “To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss.”
Travelers may explore Lion Monument during a half-day, full-day, private or group, walking and boating tours incorporating a lake cruise and a visit to popular attractions like Chapel Bridge, Swiss Transport Museum, and the Rosengart Collection. More extensive tours tag on a journey to Vitznau to ride the cog train up Mt. Rigi for spectacular Alpine views, or to ascend to the lofty summit of Mt. Titlis for an exhilarating ride on the Ice Flyer chairlift.
- Suitable for solo travelers, couples, families.
- Admission is free.
- Tours may include roundtrip hotel transfers. Check specific tours for details.
Lion Monument is located on Denkmalstrasse in Lucerne, a quick walk from the shores of Lake Lucerne. From the center of town, take northbound buses #1, #19, #23, or #24 and disembark at either the Löwenplatz or the Wesemlinrain stop, and walk a few minutes around the little lake to the monument.
Lion Monument is open year-round. Come at sunset to see the light cast a golden glow. Lucerne is a year-round destination, and with its proximity to the Alps, even the summers are pleasant. Peak season is from June to September, with July and August as the busiest and most expensive months. November through mid-April is ski season. Come in February or March for the carnival festival.
Next to Lion Monument is Glacier Garden, a set of Ice Age glacier potholes and fossils of mussels and palms, alive when the area was a subtropical sea region 20 million years ago. Climb the observation tower for a view of Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus, and walk through a mirror labyrinth built for the 1896 Swiss National Exhibition in Geneva. Interactive presentations bring to life the history of this place, where the world's oldest mountain chain lies.
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