The Dragon Valley
A valley of crystal caves, moss meadows and golden light, deep inside the Dragon Mountain – and from there it is just a short flight across the lake to the city of Lucerne. Only those who have performed three kind deeds can see the entrance behind the waterfall. Then the path leads from the darkness of the cave into the warm light of the valley.
A world that really exists
Over 600 years ago, a farmer near Lucerne saw a dragon flying to Pilatus. The dragon dropped a glowing stone – the Dragon Stone. You can still visit it today at the Nature Museum Lucerne!
The old stories tell that the dragons flew back and forth between Pilatus and Rigi and were kind-hearted: they protected, they helped, they warmed. Spuki is one of them – and you meet him where Lucerne is most beautiful: on the Chapel Bridge, by the lake shore and at the Saturday market.
«Vor langer Zeit, so wird erzählt,
hat sich ein Drache uns vermählt.
Sein Stein, der leuchtet warm und weit –
für Herzensmut zu jeder Zeit.»
The Great Dragon Stone
In the heart of the valley rests the Great Dragon Stone. It glows in warm gold – and it glows brighter whenever a child somewhere in the world does something good, learns something new or is brave. Every adventure begins at dusk and ends at sunrise – just like the path from doubt to trust.
Around the Great Stone lie smaller stones in a circle – one for each dragon family. They say that every stone was once rough and jagged, but through years of kindness and care, they became smooth and warm to the touch. Each child who visits may hold a stone and feel its warmth – a reminder that we all grow smoother through good deeds.
To reach the Dragon Stone, one must climb the Spiral Path – a winding staircase carved into the mountain rock, turning ever upward. At each resting place, a small lantern lights the way. The dragons say: 'The path upward is never straight, but every step brings you closer to the light.'
By the way, its little sibling stone really does lie in the Nature Museum Lucerne. Go visit it – maybe it will wink at you.
Places of the Valley
The Sun Cliffs
Courage Makers
High up where the wind sings, young dragons practise flying. Whoever takes off for the first time here – or bravely tries again – is celebrated with the First Flight Festival.
The Crystal Lake
Heart Helpers
A quiet, crystal-clear lake reflecting the glow of the Dragon Stone. People meet here for glow-berry tea when someone needs comfort or a listening ear.
The Cloud Library
Knowledge Seekers
Two ancient fir trees guard the entrance like silent sentinels. Behind them: shelves of root-wood filled with stories, cared for by Granny Fluh. During the fog-soup season, when Pilatus is wrapped in clouds, stories are read aloud here every evening.
The Moss Forest
Nature Guardians
A path of light and dark stone slabs leads through soft moss beds, past glow-berry bushes and the four family flowers: Alpine Rose, Forget-me-not, Gentian and Edelweiss. On Flower Counting Day in spring, all new blossoms are counted here.
A Dragon in the Heart of Lucerne
Spuki lives at Pilatus, his relatives on the Rigi – but he loves being in the city most. On Saturdays he goes to the weekly market on the Reuss and buys fresh vegetables: crunchy carrots, Lucerne apples and of course glow-berries (secretly sold to him by market lady Rosa).
Afterwards he strolls across the Chapel Bridge, waves to the swans at Swan Square, climbs the Musegg Wall and counts the towers. If you look closely, you will find his traces everywhere in Lucerne.
«Am Samstag früh, am Reussufer,
da kauft der Spuki ein, juhee!
Ein Rüebli hier, ein Apfel dort –
der Markt ist Spukis Lieblingsort.»
Places you can visit
Spuki's world begins at your doorstep – and it looks just like the real Lucerne:
| Real Place in Lucerne | What Spuki does there |
|---|---|
| Pilatus (2132 m) | Spuki's home; inside the mountain lies the Dragon Valley |
| Rigi | Spuki's relatives live here – as in the legend, he often flies between the two mountains |
| Weekly market on the Reuss (Saturdays) | Buying fresh vegetables: carrots, apples, cheese – and a chat with market lady Rosa |
| Chapel Bridge & Water Tower | Spuki's favourite walk; the old paintings in the bridge hide clues |
| Lake Lucerne & Swan Square | Learning to swim with sea serpent Wella, greeting swans, admiring steamships |
| Musegg Wall with nine towers | Counting towers – Spuki's favourite number game |
| Old Town (Weinmarkt, Hirschenplatz) | Strolling through the painted alleys and having a snack |
| Nature Museum Lucerne | Visiting the real Dragon Stone – sibling stone of the Great Dragon Stone |
| Cog railway from Alpnachstad | The steepest cog railway in the world – Linda and Geri ride it up to Spuki |
| Glacier Garden & Lion Monument | Granny Fluh tells stories of ancient times when Lucerne was still under ice |
If you look closely, you will discover traces of the Dragon Valley everywhere in Lucerne.