LUCERNE, 10-serre, (Fr. lfi-sarne), Swit zerland, the capital of the canton of Lucerne, and one of the three seats of the Swiss Diet, on an acclivity at the northwest end of Lake Lucerne. The Reuss, which issues from the lake and flows through the town, is crossed by five bridges, two of which are covered and orna mented with curious mediaeval paintings, in cluding a Danse Macabre. The town retains its feudal walls and watch-towers, and with the neighboring mountains, including the Pilatus and Rigi, is noted for its picturesque features and scenic beauties, making it a much-frequented tourist centre. Lucerne is well-built, has regu lar, clean streets, electrically lighted and tra versed by street railroads, a town-hall, with val uable stained glass of the 14th century, Jesuit college, now the government building; a 15th century parish church, with two slender towers; a Gothic Protestant church ; Ursuline convent, with handsome church; a museum and cantonal library of 90,000 volumes; large town hospital, poorhouse, deanery, arsenal, a new International Museum of War and Peace, mint, casino, etc.;
and besides the college or lyceum, several well conducted educational establishments. The water supply is obtained from springs on Mount Pilatus, 14 miles off. An interesting monument is the 'Lion of designed by Thor waldsen, in memory of the Swiss guards who fell in Paris in 1792 while defending the Tuile ries, and hewn out of the solid rock. Lucerne has some transit trade, but the manufactures are unimportant; it depends chiefly on the im portant tourist traffic, accommodating annually 250,000 visitors. Pop. about 41,500. Lucerne was founded in A.D. 750. It was at one time under the Austrian yoke; but it has belonged to the Swiss Confederation since 1332. During the Ref ormation period it was a stronghold of Catholi cism, and such it has remained. Under the Helvetic Republic it was the seat of the central government, and it led in the Sonderbund War, but was captured by the Federals in 1847.