Rachmaninoff's Villa Senar in Lucerne is Now Open to the Public

The Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation will open the Bauhaus villa and its grounds for public viewing during several weekends in May

Villa Senar, which was the Swiss summer house of the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, is to be opened up for the public for a variety of dates.

The house, which stands on the banks of Lake Lucerne, was built in 1930 in the Bauhaus style. It is named for both Rachmaninoff and his wife — "Senar" being made up of "Se" (from Sergei), "Na" (from Natalia), and a final R for Rachmaninoff. The couple used the villa as a summer house between 1933 and 1939, and the space retains Rachnaminov's original grand piano.

In 2022, both the land and the house were purchased by the Canton of Lucerne for use as a cultural center. The Canton is working alongside the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation to make the house open to the public at certain times, so that people can get a glimpse into the composer's life.

In general, the house is only open by appointment — but there are several provisional dates in May 2023 when the Foundation will open the house to the public. They are:

• Sunday May 14, 11:00am to 6:00pm
• Saturday May 20, 11:00am to 6:00pm
• Sunday May 21, 11:00am to 6:00pm
• Sunday May 28, 11:00am to 4:00pm
  

You can find out more on Villa Senar's website.