Lucerne and Potsdam are sister cities through a partnership agreement which was concluded just one year ago in 2002. Lucerne is the capital and center of the Lucerne canton and also the economic and cultural center for the central area of Switzerland. The city has 57,205 inhabitants and extends over an area of 24.15 square kilometers.
The history of Lucerne dates back to the 8th century. Its development from a little fishing village to a trading center for merchants along the Gotthard route into today's metropolis of tourism is reflected in the city's facade, in particular in some of the most famous sights of the city along the shore of the Lake Lucerne: the Kapell and Spreuer bridges, Wasserturm (water tower), the Pilatus, and recently, the modern culture and congress center.
The cultural life of Lucerne is characterized by the theater and the numerous municipal festivals. The most important one of these is the Lucerne Festival, which makes Lucerne one of the most significant festival locations in Europe. The turbulent Lucerne carnival has a long tradition and is also known far and wide. The great variety of cultural events, the city's appealing location between the lake and the mountains, the many opportunities for sports or recreation, as well as the historically important architecture, make Lucerne an interesting destination for holidays or outings in all seasons. Lucerne is a sporting city and not just for the rowing regattas on the Lake of Lucerne (Vierwaldstädter See).
The city's economy is defined by tourism, trade, businesses in the service industries, and healthcare. Recntly, major investments were made in the infrastructure serving culture and congresses. These developments have helped the city become a center of congresses and conferences, too. Lucerne has a rapidly developing university and is the home for technical colleges, a regional school (Kantonsschule), and a trade school. You may find more detailed information on the city under the web address: www.stadt-luzern.ch.
The Potsdam-Lucerne Friendship Group was created in October 2002. The group's objective is to make the sister-city partnership buzz with life. Birgit Müller is the spokeswoman for the friendship group. You can get in contact with her via the following email address: birgit.müller@rathaus.potsdam.de.
