City walk around historical Sursee in Canton Luzern

Sunday April 6, 2025 -- There were cold winds blowing from the northeast this day (it's the dreaded "Bise") and even though there was a lot of sunshine, we passed on the opportunity for a hike, and visited my cousin in the city of Sursee, located on the north end of Lake Sempach in Canton Luzern, and only an hour's travel time from our home. 

We did walk through the city though, one we have surprisingly not seen yet, and enjoyed some very nice sites, including city walls, town gates, town hall, several religious buildings, a river (Suhre) which passes right through the city. Best of all were the gardens at the former Capuchin Monastery with more varieties of daffodils than I knew existed! In the end, we walked about five kilometers!

And the air was so clear, that we had really superb views of the mountains on our trip back home. 

Our train heads up the west side of Lake Sempach, as the city of Sursee lies at the north end of this lake. 

The magnolias are currently in full bloom. This splendor lasts only a few days, unfortunately. 

Other lovely blossoming trees.

After a nice lunch and visit, we headed out for a walk into the old town of Sursee at 3:45 p.m. Here in town we were somewhat sheltered from the cold winds. 

This is the City Hall (Rathaus). 

Main street in old town Sursee (Rathausplatz). The bell-tower is from the parish church (St.George), but we did not go that way. 

Very typical old town features are the signs that hang outside of buildings, advertising the type of business that operates there!

Several of the buildings have decorations under the roof overhangs. 

The Suhre River flows right through the center of the old town. 

Crossing the Suhre River at Mühleplatz, the site of a former mill. 

The daffodils are currently in full bloom!

We passed via the "Diebenturm" (Thief-Tower, built 1682/83, also called "Hexenturm" or "Witches' Tower", originally the prison tower) and walked along a row of houses along the "Unterer Grabe". 

More magnificent flowering trees. 

We then walked to a second city tower called the "Untertor" or "Baslertor", and the "Schützenhaus" (Marksman's Clubhouse). 

Untertor and Schützenhaus were built in 1674 (resp.1679) at the site of an older, medieval city gate. 

The relief coat of arms which adorns the lower city gate dates from 1676. On the left is a popular restaurant called "Wirtshaus Wilder Mann", where is it apparently difficult to get reservations, as it is that popular! It has apparently also been a popular meeting place since 1495. 

A look back to the Schützenhaus as we cross the Suhre River again. 

Heading toward the former Capuchin Monastery, we see the tower of the St.George parish church on our right. 

This building is called Sankt-Urbanhof, originally the administration office for the Cistercian Monastery in St.Urban (built in 1596, although the original administration office was built in 1256), it is now a museum. 

On the right is the church building of the former Capuchin Monastery (dissolved in 1998) where we are headed to next. The cute little half-timbered building has a name: "Rothüsli" (= Little Red House)

The cross in front of the church is Late-Renaissance, erected in 1628!

Interior of the former Capuchin Monastery Church. The original monastery was grounded 1606, and received a new building and church in 1705. Meanwhile, the church building was expanded in 1936.

A look back at the monastery buildings as we walk through the huge gardens. What caught our eye were the many daffodils blooming here, and there were many different types. 

I spent a lot of time photographing all the various daffodils in the monastery gardens! I never knew there were so many different types! Especially the ones with the frilly trumpets were exquisite. 

On the website burgwelten.org, I found this sketch of what old town Sursee would have looked like in 1653. On the bottom right is the site of the Capuchin Monastery. 

On the way back to my cousin's house, we passed this very old building. Above the door is the date 1755 engraved in the lintel-piece. 

Passing a lovely villa

I'm always impressed when a building's roof has been totally covered with solar panels!

We saw a couple of these posts with the old systems of power lines! (Mostly they are underground here in Switzerland). 

Crossing the Suhre River again. 

To the north we see the bell-tower of the city's Evangelical church (and the Catholic Parish Church bell tower at the back on the right). 

This is approximately the path we walked through the city. 

At 6:15 p.m. we are back at the train station in Sursee for the one-hour trip home. 

On the train ride to Luzern, the lovely late afternoon lighting shows Mt.Pilatus in clear relief. 

To the southeast we have a really good view of Mt.Rigi

And a nice clear view of the Central Alps (You can just see the summit of Mt.Titlis on the right). 

Changing trains in Luzern, we now head along Lake Rotsee with this always fantastic view of Mt.Pilatus. 

A peek into the Schwyzer Alps, with the popular Mt. Fronalpstock. 

And finally the view of Mt.Rigi past Lake Zug. 

Location of Sursee within Switzerland.