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.