STORIES FROM LUCERNE Media Kit Lucerne – Lake Lucerne Region Summer/Autumn 2021 CONTENT Editorial 1 Facts and curiosities 2 Tourism history: a brief overview 3 News 4 Events and festivals 5 Anniversaries 6 Tell-Trail Hiking in the footsteps of William Tell 7 Stories along the Tell-Trail 8 Record-breaking region 11 The world in Lucerne 12 Information for media professionals Media and research trips 14 Information about filmproduction and drone flights 16 Contact information 17 Stories from Lucerne Front cover Spectacular Wagenleis wind gap – part of stage 5 of the “Tell-Trail” Media Kit, August 2021 © Switzerland Tourism EDITORIAL Welcome... Dear Media Professionals The Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region finally has its own long-distance footpath in the shape of the new “Tell- Trail”. Starting this summer, hiking enthusiasts can follow in William Tell’s footsteps in eight stages. 2021 – a year that offers compelling stories and much to talk about – also finds us celebrating proud anniver- saries and re-openings of time-honoured hotels, cableways and mountain railways. Delve into our la- test news and stimulating short stories surrounding the “Tell-Trail” for inspiration for your next blog, ar- ticle or website copy. Sibylle Gerardi, Head of Corporate Communications & PR ...to the heart of Switzerland. Lucerne -Lake Lucerne 1 FACTS AND CURIOSITIES Sursee Einsiedeln Lucerne Weggis Schwyz Hoch-Ybrig Vitznau Entlebuch Stoos Stans Sarnen The City. Altdorf Engelberg Melchsee-Frutt The Lake. The Mountains. Andermatt The Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region lies in the heart of 5 seasons Switzerland; within it, the city of Lucerne is a cultural Carnival, where winter meets spring, is seen as the stronghold. Nowhere will you find more to see and do fifth season in this tradition-conscious region in the than here, a city nestling in a magnificent landscape heart of Switzerland. characterised by mountains and water. Here are some facts, records and curiosities to spark your interest: 3,912,377 visitors booked accommodation in the region in 2019, just un- 684,219 people der half in the city of Lucerne. In 2020 the numbers called the Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region home in were down around 45 percent owing to the global 2019. pandemic. 5 cantons - 52.5 degrees Celsius Lucerne, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Uri are was the temperature recorded on 7 February 1991 at all located on Lake Lucerne. Glattalp in Canton Schwyz. A record low! 394 km2 74 forts and castles is the size of the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, are a reminder of the splendour of times past. Switzerland’s first such reserve. 57 kilometres 266 mountain cableways and railways is the length of the twin-bore Gotthard Base Tunnel, provide access to the mountains around Lake Lucerne the world’s longest railway tunnel. Completed in 2017, – including some record holders. its portals are in Canton Uri and the south of the Alps. Pole position 46° 48› 4» N, 8° 13› 36» E BAK Economics has identified Lucerne as the alpine The geographical centre point of Switzerland is on the region’s most successful summer destination on many Älggialp in Canton Obwalden. occasions. 2 TOURISM HISTORY FROM SIMPLE FISHING VILLAGE TO POPULAR HOLIDAY DESTINATION Hospitality with tradition Inauguration of the Goldener Adler The upper strata of European society began acqui- 1815 in Küssnacht am Rigi, the first hotel ring a taste for the Alps in the 1760s: mountaineering to be built by Lake Lucerne. and hiking soon became de rigueur in these circles. Visitors also discovered the region around Lake Lu- Launch of the first paddle steamer cerne, which became popular for its scenic lands- 1837 to see service on Lake Lucerne, the capes. Lucerne city’s first phase as a tourist destina- Stadt Luzern. tion began in 1835 with the opening of the Hotel Schwanen, where steamships started docking not Inauguration of Lucerne’s first rail- long afterwards. 1856 way station built of timber. The arrival of the railways in 1852 made it possible The Vitznau-Rigi Railway, Europe’s for the European elite to converge on Lucerne. Previ- 1871 first mountain railway, commences ously medieval in character, it began its transforma- operations. tion into a modern city oriented towards the lake with the construction of spacious hotels and waterside 1910 The year that overnight stays promenades. Visitor numbers increased steadily from peaked at 192,532, an annual figure the mid-19th century. The inauguration of Europe’s Lucerne was destined not to expe- first mountain rack railway in 1871 saw tourists start rience again until the 1950s. converging on the peaks around Lake Lucerne. Visi- tors would often stay for weeks, and famous perso- The collapse of tourism caused by nalities attracted to Lucerne helped cement the city’s 1916 the war led to the closure of hotels international reputation. – a pattern that repeated itself in the 1930s and after. The third phase of the region’s tourism history coinci- ded with the global economic boom at the turn of the One of the region’s first ski lifts century. It was destined not to last: The First World 1938 goes into service in Oberiberg – the War caused tourism to collapse in 1914, and the ups- ensuing decades witness a skiing wing in Lucerne’s fortunes at the end of hostilities boom. came to another abrupt halt with the outbreak of the Second World War. Many hotels had to close. Ceremonial inauguration of the 1959 Swiss Museum of Transport. A spirit of optimism emerged following the difficult war years. Lucerne positioned itself with various cul- 1998 Inauguration of the KKL Luzern with tural and sporting events such as the event series its overhanging roof. now feted as the Lucerne Festival, and the World Ro- wing Championships on Lake Rot. 1959 witnessed 2001 Following a referendum, the Entle- the inauguration of the Swiss Museum of Transport buch is awarded the UNESCO “Bios- (destined to become the country’s most visited mu- phere” label. Today, the valley is a seum), with further museum openings to follow. The model of sustainability for other regi- 1970s and 1980s saw Lucerne develop as an interna- ons. tional holiday destination, which has resulted in today›s broad mix of overseas visitors. 2015 The Gästival “guest festival” celeb- rates 200 years of hospitality in the The inauguration of architect Jean Nouvel’s KKL Lu- region, with a floating stage in the zern culture and convention centre in 1998 coincided shape of a water lily as the central with Lucerne increasingly positioning itself as a festi- attraction. val and congress city and a quality-focused tourism destination. Thanks to its privileged location on the lake in the immediate vicinity of the surrounding mountains, Lucerne was promoted as “Switzerland in a nutshell”. Some milestones in 200 years of 3 tourism history. NEWS Rigi Festspiel now in summer 2022 Hotel Kempinski Palace Engelberg The “Rigi – Queen of the Mountains” show has had to The first 5-star hotel in Engelberg opened in June be put back a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 2021: The Kempinski Palace Engelberg offers 129 sty- Promising to be one of the highlights marking the lish guest rooms and suites, a first-class restaurant 150th anniversary of Rigi Bahnen company (which and a bar. The new building is skilfully integrated into operates the mountains cableways and railways), it the existing fabric dating from 1904, resulting in a will now take place between 3 and 7 August 2022. The thought-through combination of old-time nostalgia open-air show presents the story of life on the moun- and modern zeitgeist. tain in a musically entertaining way. www.kempinski.com/engelberg www.rigi-festspiel.ch New MTB trail at Marbachegg Winteruniversiade Lucerne 2021 This summer finds the Lucerne-Lake Lucerne region From December 11 to 21, 2021, the Lucerne-Lake Lu- adding yet another mountain biking attraction to its list cerne region will host the Winter Universiade 2021. of activities. A new MTB jump trail that’s designed to The program includes competitions in ten sports ta- complement the existing flow trail was built at Marba- king place at seven venues. Around 1,600 student ath- chegg in the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch. The new letes between the ages of 17 and 25 from more than trail is the first in Switzerland having MTB’ers pulled 540 universities in 50 countries are expected to take up by a drag lift. The opening took place in August part in the event. 2021. www.winteruniversiade2021.ch www.marbachegg.ch Campus DAS MORGEN Renovation Glacier Garden The Weggis Vitznau Rigi region is enriched by a The Glacier Garden Lucerne has been extensively re- unique offer. In March 2022, the Campus DAS MOR- novated and expanded. A major highlight is the new GEN will open in Vitznau. The Campus combines the “Felsenwelt” rock visitor experience and the Som- Neuro Campus Hotel – a purely digital hotel –, three merau expansion, both inaugurated in July 2021. The restaurants with different concepts, a unique roof- Schweizerhaus historical residence complete with a top lounge and an open marketplace as a meeting new bistro and museum shop already opened in Sep- place. tember 2020. Caption from left to right: www.dasmorgen.ch www.gletschergarten.ch Flow trail Marbachegg, Winteruniversiade, “Felsenwelt” rock visitor experience at Glacier Garden. 4 EVENTS AND FESTIVALS ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS IN SPORT, MUSIC UND CULTURE SPORT MUSIC CULTURE May April January Lucerne Regatta Stanser Musiktage Lilu Light Festival Lucerne (World Rowing Cup III) www.stansermusiktage.ch www.lichtfestivalluzern.ch www.lucerneregatta.com May