Lucerne is a city in central Switzerland with a population of 60,274 inhabitants (31 December 2003), the capital of the canton of Lucerne. The city is situated on Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee).
There is a foundation document of the city, but it is mentioned in 840 as "Luciaria", the name comes from a monastery of St. Leodegar, founded around the year 730.