Steamboats and Lac Léman

Swiss lakes are home of a number of large steamships. On Lake Lucerne, five paddle steamers are still in service: Uri (built in 1901, 800 passengers), Unterwalden (1902, 800 passengers), Schiller (1906, 900 passengers), Gallia (1913, 900 passengers, fastest paddle-wheeler on European lakes) and Stadt Luzern (1928, 1200 passengers, last steamship built for a Swiss lake). There are also five steamers as well as some old steamships converted to diesel-powered paddlewheelers on Lake Geneva, two steamers on Lake Zurich and single ones on other lakes.

A company named CGN, owns the world's biggest fleet, (in terms of passengers capacity), of Belle Epoque ships. These ships have been sailing on one of the most beautiful Central European lakes, Lac Lèman, for 139 years, with their paddle wheels rhythm.

CGN was formed in 1873 as a result of a merger between three navigation companies, which brought together the vessels 'Helvétie', 'Léman', 'Aigle' and later the 'Flèche'.

Shipping operations on the lake steadily became more closely associated with the railways (1870). This alliance highlighted the predominance that tourism was to have throughout the Lake Geneva area. Efforts continued to increase the size of the fleet, while maintaining the comfort and speed of transport. The range of destinations and the number of kilometres travelled also increased.

Then came the "Belle-Epoque", a real high point in tourism. Hotels, palaces and railways became the symbols of a period in which luxury was the order of the day. Local transport was no longer of interest; a new chapter had begun.

 

That all came to an end with the start of the First World War. Worldwide conflict and the drop in tourist numbers hit the company hard. 

The boats travel across Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) criss-crossing between France and Switzerland.  From the lake one can see the terraced vineyards of Lavaux and discover the magnificient landscape. 

La Suisse was commissioned in 1910 and has a capacity of 850 passengers.  It also seats 254 passengers for dinner. 


The Montreux was commissioned in 1904.  It holds 560 passengers and seats 152. 

Château Chillon

 Château Chillon is a castle that dates back more than 1000 years.  It is located on the shore of Lac Léman, just outside the city of Montreux, Switzerland. The castle was built on a rocky island because it provided both natural protection and was a strategic location.  The castle sits at the crossroads of the passage between northern and southern Europe. 

The castle consists of 100 independent buildings that were gradually connected to become the building as it stands now.

The oldest parts of the castle have not been definitively dated, but the first written record of the castle is in 1160 or 1005. From the mid 12th century, the castle was home to the Counts of Savoy, and it was greatly expanded in the 13th century by Pietro II. The Castle was never taken in a siege, but did change hands through treaties.

It was made popular by Lord Byron, who wrote the poem The Prisoner Of Chillon (1816) about François de Bonivard, a Genevois monk and politician who was imprisoned there from 1530 to 1536; Byron also carved his name on a pillar of the dungeon. The castle is one of the settings in Henry James's novella Daisy Miller (1878).

In June 1819, Lord Byron and his friend Percy Bysshe Shelley were sailing on Lake Geneva and stopped to visit the Château Chillion.  After touring the castle (and walking through the dungeon in which Bonivard was imprisoned), Byron was inspired by Bonivard's story and composed The Sonnet of Chillon.  Because of torrential rainfall, Byron and his companion rested at a hotel in Ouchy following their tour. In late June or early July, Byron composed the longer fable.  The work was probably completed by 2 July 1816. Following his return to England, The Prisoner of Chillion was first published as The Prisoner of Chillon and Other Poems by John Murray on 5 December 1816.   Click here to read  "The Prisoner of Chillon"

The history of Chillon was influenced by three major periods: the Savoy Period, the Bernese Period, and the Vaudois Period.