Unterwalden, Historic paddle steamer and cultural property in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The Unterwalden is a paddle steamer measuring 62 meters long and designated as a Swiss cultural property of national significance. The vessel contains three elegant saloons on its main deck and accommodates up to 700 passengers.
The steamer was built in 1902 by Escher, Wyss & Cie, representing the shipbuilding techniques of that era. Over the following decades, it underwent multiple major maintenance and updates to preserve its operational capability.
The vessel embodies Swiss craftsmanship and represents how people once traveled across Swiss lakes for both practical transport and leisure. Walking through the preserved saloons, you see how passengers experienced lake journeys in earlier times.
The steamer departs from Lucerne's central dock, which has convenient railway connections and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should arrive with enough time before departure to board comfortably and explore the vessel.
The steamer has a lowerable chimney system that allows it to pass under the Acheregg Bridge and reach Lake Alpnach. This clever engineering solution lets the vessel extend its journey without having to reverse course.
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