On the road with Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote that “walking animates and enlivens my spirits". The philosopher and writer spent his life wandering across Europe. Here, swissinfo.ch retraces his steps through Switzerland.

This content was published on June 28, 2012 - 11:00

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Through images past and present, the journey heads from Geneva, where Rousseau was born in 1712, to Môtiers in canton Neuchâtel and St Pierre island on Lake Biel, places he stayed between 1762 and 1765 before leaving Switzerland for good.

(Isabelle Eichenberger, swissinfo.ch. Images: Rolf Amiet, swissinfo.ch / © Musée Môtiers Rousseau / Agence Martienne)

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Rousseau finally becomes Swiss

This content was published on Jun 28, 2012 “Who else could have been celebrated by so many different events? It shows people are still interested,” Yvette Jaggi, former president of the Swiss Arts Council told swissinfo.ch. “The individual and his writings still speak to us today.” The official recognition of Rousseau came as a welcome surprise to some, such as Guillaume Chenevière, former…

A writer with global appeal

This content was published on Jun 28, 2012 France, Italy, England, Russia, the United States, Brazil, Benin, China, Japan… No, it’s not a football tournament draw. These are just some of the countries that are paying homage to Rousseau in this 300th anniversary year. It’s no wonder then, at Switzerland’s initiative, his works were added last year to Unesco’s Memory of the World…

On the road with Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote that “walking animates and enlivens my spirits". The philosopher and writer spent his life wandering across Europe. Here, swissinfo.ch retraces his steps through Switzerland.

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