Lucerne Carnival is a week-long of horror costumes
19 June 2016 - 02:00
The annual, monster-filled Lucerne Carnival is a strange combination of anarchy and Swiss-engineered order The swans of Lucerne speak French. That fact might strike you as a little implausible, given that the town is German-speaking. But there is a convincing historical explanation: the swans who mooch along the river Reuss are descended from a bevy of curvy, French birds given to the town by King Louis XIV in the mid-18th century, in gratitude for the services of his Swiss guards.
This article is reserved for Sunday Times subscribers.
A subscription gives you full digital access to all Sunday Times content.
Please visit SundayTimes.co.za in your desktop to view our latest subscription options.
Already subscribed? Simply sign in below.
Sign InQuestions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.