Extraordinary exiles
Many of the world's leading writers, thinkers and personalities sought exile in Switzerland.
swissinfo.ch explored the places where historical figures such as Lenin, Einstein and Joyce found inspiration and sanctuary.
STORIES
Maestro blew alphorn for Switzerland
To mark 50 years of the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, swissinfo takes a closer look at the late Yehudi Menuhin, the musical genius who found a home in the Alps. ... »
The creation of the Lake Geneva monster
The idea for what is often claimed to be the first science fiction novel was born on the shores of Lake Geneva, during the "year without a summer". ... »
Swiss sanctuary of a very fair lady
The actress and humanitarian worker Audrey Hepburn, famed for her elegance, charm and kindness, spent the last 30 years of her life in a village near Lausanne. ... »
Lenin and the Swiss non-revolution
Lenin, the father of the Russian revolution, lived in Switzerland between 1914 and 1917 where he worked on his theories for a popular uprising. ... »
Charlie Chaplin's star on rise again
When Charlie Chaplin died at the age of 88 at his Swiss home, he left behind a legacy unparalleled in the history of cinema. ... »
Village honours Hermann Hesse, the painter
A village overlooking Lugano inspired literary genius Hermann Hesse. ... »
Mountains that block the sun
The prolific American writer, Patricia Highsmith, spent the last 14 years of her life in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. ... »
Sherlock Holmes success no mystery
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was so impressed by the Reichenbach Falls that he thought it an ideal place to kill off Sherlock Holmes. ... »
A sea of tranquillity and philosophy
Friedrich Nietzsche was one of a wealth of intellectuals, musicians and artists who found inspiration in the Swiss Alps. ... »
Walking in Einstein's footsteps
Albert Einstein came to Bern 104 years ago, a poor unemployed foreigner in his early 20s. ... »
In the footsteps of Hemingway and Nabokov
The walk begins as soon as one gets off the train at the Montreux station. ... »
Spirit of Joyce still roams Zurich
The Irish writer, James Joyce, was very much at home in Zurich – having lived and died in the city. ... »
