Venite takes place beside Chapel Bridge from 17 to 20 December
Published on 11/14/2026 at 08:36 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSVenite programme and historic setting
- Luzern Tourismus lists Venite International Christmas Forum at Kapellplatz from 17 to 20 December 2026.
- Finland, Vietnam, Italy and Switzerland are among the countries presented beside St. Peter’s Chapel.
- The timber bridge reopened on 14 April 1994 after the 18 August 1993 fire.
- The Water Tower was built around 1290–1300 and rises 34.5 metres.
The Chapel Bridge (KapellbrĂĽcke) in Lucerne will stand beside the Venite International Christmas Forum from 17 to 20 December 2026. The public market takes place at Kapellplatz, beside the southern end of the historic crossing in Switzerland.
Venite brings an international market to Kapellplatz
Luzern Tourismus lists Venite International Christmas Forum as a four-day market from 17 to 20 December 2026. The venue is Kapellplatz, recorded in the listing as 6004 Luzern, placing the event beside the bridge and the Reuss waterfront.
The programme combines market stalls with cultural presentations. The official event page says countries including Finland, Vietnam, Italy and Switzerland present culinary specialities, while concerts take place in St Peter’s Chapel and on the square outside. The listing describes the event as public and part of Lucerne’s Advent and Christmas programme.
The 2026 market listing gives the dates, venue and an 11am start time. Details can be read alongside the Venite event page, which identifies the programme and location.
Venite meets a bridge rebuilt after fire
The market’s setting is closely tied to Lucerne’s best-known crossing. The timber bridge links the Lucerne Theatre on the south bank of the River Reuss with St Peter’s Chapel on Rathausquai, passing the Water Tower on its route.
A major section burned on 18 August 1993. Only the two bridgeheads and the Water Tower survived, while the remainder was rebuilt and reopened on 14 April 1994. This history means the 2026 market will occupy a square beside a structure whose present form reflects a documented reconstruction rather than an entirely original bridge.
The Water Tower predates the crossing and was built around 1290–1300. The octagonal tower is 34.5 metres high, has a circumference of 39 metres and formed part of Lucerne’s riverside fortifications. Its former uses included a lookout, archive, treasury and prison, while the bridge itself once served both as a foot crossing and as part of the town’s defences.
The official bridge history records the 1993 fire, the 1994 reopening and the surviving Water Tower. For Venite visitors, that creates a direct link between an international Advent programme on Kapellplatz and the rebuilt crossing immediately beside it.
Visiting Chapel Bridge: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Venite International Christmas Forum runs from 17 to 20 December 2026 at Kapellplatz, 6004 Luzern, beside the Chapel Bridge.
- The event is public, with international market presentations and concerts in St Peter’s Chapel and on the square.
- The bridge is in central Lucerne and links the theatre side of the River Reuss with St Peter’s Chapel on Rathausquai.
- The crossing is recorded as wheelchair accessible, but its historic setting includes a narrow timber bridge and the adjoining Water Tower.
Searching for Chapel Bridge on social platforms
These links open searches for Chapel Bridge on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Chapel Bridge
When does Venite take place at Chapel Bridge?
Venite International Christmas Forum takes place from 17 to 20 December 2026 at nearby Kapellplatz in Lucerne.
What is Chapel Bridge?
It is a timber crossing over the River Reuss that links the Lucerne Theatre with St Peter’s Chapel and passes the Water Tower.
Where is Chapel Bridge and how do you get there?
Chapel Bridge is in central Lucerne, beside the River Reuss and Kapellplatz in the city’s historic centre.
