Water-soluble calix[4]arenes 10a,b with chromophores ("antenna") attached to the lower rim via a short spacer are described. In the neutral lanthanide complexes of 10a,b photoexcitation of the antenna induces lanthanide emission via intramolecular energy transfer. Calix[4]arene 10b with a chrysene moiety as sensitizer shows strong lanthanide emission for Eu(3+) with an excitation maximum at lambda = 363 nm.