Why go
A visitor may see standard German on signs and hear Swiss German in conversation. Knowing that distinction, and recognizing Lucerne's Catholic past, makes the names, churches and local traditions easier to place. It is a more useful introduction to the city than old population figures.
The full story
Lucerne lies in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Standard German is the official written language, while the local form of Swiss German is common in everyday speech. The difference can be noticeable even on a short visit: written information and spoken conversation do not always sound alike. Other languages are also part of the city's daily life. Religion forms another layer of Lucerne's background. The settlement grew around a monastery dedicated to St. Leodegar, and the city remained Catholic during the Swiss Reformation. That history helps explain the prominence of church life in the older city and the Catholic roots of Fasnacht, its carnival tradition. For a traveler, the useful point is cultural orientation: signs, speech and long-standing institutions reflect different layers of Lucerne's community.