A LOVE LETTER TO LUCERNE

Lucerne lies at the heart of Switzerland, geographically and metaphorically. Here are some experiences which should headline your itinerary.

- Chumki Bharadwaj Photographs by BANDEEP SINGH

Lucerne is like that song in your head that pops up unexpectedly and the riff goes on loop; you may not be able to recall the lyrics but the melody remains a haunting memory. No wonder, the poet Ludwig Rellstab called Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ an ode to the shimmering reflections on Lake Lucerne (in pic), likening the first movement to a boat floating on its languid waters. From rock summits that soar into clouds offering views only birds are privy to and a storied lake that snakes around the town like a spool of memory, to an old town lovingly preserved like a parchment of history, the symphony of beauty and bounty is delightful. However, no story about Lucerne can be concluded without extolling its taste treasures: Bespoke chocolate boutiques that repackage sin, fabulous restaurants in cinematic settings, old hotels that carry tales; the amalgam of old and new comes together like the repose of a slow morning.

WHERE EAGLES DARE

Mount Pilatus