ABOUT THE VENUE

The waters of the Rotsee are ideal for competitive rowing. The lake’s size and shape enable Olympic-style six-line racing over 2000 meters; its geographical position makes the course arguably the fairest in the world.

At the same time, the Rotsee is also a Nature Reserve with a rich variety of flora and fauna. Its shores are a year-round recreational area for large numbers of local residents.

How can all this best be combined? In 2010, Lucerne Regatta Association, the city and Canton of Lucerne and the lakeside town of Ebikon commissioned a study on “The Rotsee’s Rowing Future“. Its results demonstrate that the majority of interests are mutually compatible. The study, however, underlines the need for clearly defined “activity“ and “tranquility“ zones, as well as for a number of infrastructure investments. The common goal is clear: the Rotsee’s future is for sharing. To maintain its natural beauty and diversity, environmental considerations will play a central role at all times. Canton Lucerne has recently issued new conservation regulations for the lake area. This is based on the compromise successfully reached by rowing representatives and environmental organizations that will extend the lake’s permitted use for training and regattas.

The association called Naturarena Rotsee aims to renew the lake’s rowing facilities while sustainably maintaining the natural surroundings and their public enjoyment. The 2010 study listed 22 measures to achieve this goal. They fall into four main groups: Finishing Tower replacement, Rowing Centre reconstruction, pathway and shoreline landscaping, and the creation of rowing-related infrastructures.