Description

STADT LUZEN STEAM PADDLE SHIP

FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY MUSEUM QUALITY SHIP MODEL

Dimension approx.: 30″ L x 7″ W x 15″ H
The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL SHIP KIT

When the Stadt Luzern entered service in 1928, she arrived not merely as another excursion steamer on Lake Lucerne, but as a statement of pride and modernity. Built at the Sachsenberg Rosslau shipyard in Germany, she was the last paddle steamer ever constructed for a Swiss lake—a final flourish of steam‑driven elegance at the close of the paddle era. Her designers gave her a distinctly maritime silhouette: a broad hull, sweeping decks, and a wide funnel reminiscent of the great ocean liners of the early 20th century. She immediately became the flagship of the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees (SGV).

Inside, the Stadt Luzern embodied the spirit of the interwar years. Her Art Deco saloon offered passengers a refined, modern atmosphere, while her powerful 3‑cylinder Sulzer steam engine turned her paddles with a steady, confident rhythm. At 63.65 meters long and 15.2 meters wide, displacing 415 tons, she could carry 1,200 passengers at nearly 30 km/h, making her one of the most capable and impressive lake steamers in Switzerland.

Over the decades, she became a stage for moments of national significance. In 1940, during the tense early years of World War II, she carried General Henri Guisan and the Swiss Army officer corps to the historic Rütli meadow for a wartime conference—an event that underscored Switzerland’s determination to defend its neutrality. In 1947, she hosted Evita Perón, completing a record‑setting run to Tellsplatte in 1 hour and 22 minutes. And in 1980, she welcomed Queen Elizabeth II during her state visit; the upper deck lounge was later renamed the Queen’s Salon in her honor.

By the 2010s, after more than eighty years of service, the Stadt Luzern required a comprehensive renewal. From 2018 to 2021, she underwent a major overhaul at Shiptec AG, a project costing 13.2 million CHF. The work was extensive: a new boiler, a full engine overhaul, and a complete interior restoration—from carpets and furniture to tables and kitchen fittings. Supported by SGV, the Dampferfreunde Vierwaldstättersee, and the canton of Lucerne’s preservation trust, the project returned the steamer to her original 1928 splendor while ensuring her long‑term future.

On 1 May 2021, the Stadt Luzern proudly re‑entered service. Today she sails as the jewel of Lake Lucerne, hosting Wine & Dine, Jazz & Steam, and other culinary cruises, as well as weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. Her polished brass, restored Art Deco interiors, and rhythmic paddlebeat make her one of the most atmospheric historic vessels in Switzerland.

For nearly a century, the Stadt Luzern has blended Swiss tradition, political history, and timeless elegance. She remains the centerpiece of the SGV fleet—a living monument to the golden age of steam on Lake Lucerne.