Sergei Rachmaninoff, one of the greatest composers, conductors and pianists of the 20th century, acquired the property in a beautiful location directly on Lake Lucerne in 1930. He commissioned the architects Alfred Möri and Karl Friedrich Krebs to build the villa, including the outbuilding and boathouse. The then ultra-modern buildings in the New Building style were constructed between 1931 and 1933.
Together with his beloved wife Natalja, the world-famous artist spent formative years in the Lucerne Riviera region, composing key works such as the Paganini Variations, the 3rd symphony op. 44 and the Corelli Variations.
"Senar" is an acronym consisting of the names of the couple: Sergei + Natalja Rachmaninoff. Over the years, this building has gained artistic, architectural and cultural significance. Sergei Rachmaninoff's original concert grand piano also stands in his studio, lending the property a special aura.
For Sergei Rachmaninoff and his family, this was a place to recharge their batteries, to arrive and a place of encounter and inspiration with the arts. It is a place where Lucerne's architectural, cultural and musical history come together and are told.
Visit to the Villa Senar
The villa has been a public venue for music and culture since April 2022. The Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation organizes various events and concerts in the Villa Senar. The Canton of Lucerne, as the owner of the property, looks after the extensive park. Be inspired, as Sergei Rachmaninoff once was, by the unique setting between Lake Lucerne and the mountains of Central Switzerland. Immerse yourself in the life of a renowned artist, Hollywood star and family man.
Public occasions, events and guided tours
The Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation coordinates the cultural events. The program & tickets are available on the website.
Park & small terrace café
The Villa Senar is surrounded by two hectares of parkland with a wide variety of old trees and extensive green spaces. The park is open to the public from Thursday to Sunday from 12 noon to 5 pm from 15 May to 31 October. Please note that there are closed days on which the park is not accessible.
In good weather, the terrace café is open on Sundays from 1 to 5 pm from June to September. It offers a small selection of drinks and food.
Good to know
Openings
The park is open from May 15 to October 31 from Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 5 pm.
Villa Senar
The villa can only be visited on public occasions or on request.
Target group
Individual guests
Groups
Adults
Tip
Important notice
Directions & Parking facilities
Villa Senar and the park are not open all the time. Current information is published on the website www.rachmaninoff.ch.
Arrival by public transport or on foot is recommended. There are no or very few parking spaces available. These are reserved for people with reduced mobility.
Arrival by boat
Hertenstein boat stop. It is a 15-minute walk from the Hertenstein boat stop to Villa Senar. Follow the signs "Rachmaninoff Villa Senar".
Lidobus
At times it is also possible to arrive and depart by Lidobus.
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