SHERLOCK HOLMES
MUSEUM - MEIRINGEN
Reichenbach Falls and the Final Problem of the "Englisherhof"
In
1891, author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has become weary of creating stories
for his character, Sherlock Holmes. He wanted to spend his time writing
more serious work than the detective fictions he’d been publishing
in serial form since his famous “Consulting Detective" had first
appeared in "A Study In Scarlet" in 1887. Following a tour to
Switzerland when Arthur Conan Doyle stayed in a small mountain village
at the foot of steep cliffs where the Reichenbach River tumbles in torrents
of
misty
spray
down the Reichenbach Falls into the Aare River, the author came up with
the demise of his character. In a last adventure called “The Final
Problem” Holmes would follow his nemesis Dr. Moriarty to Switzerland.
Holmes, along with ever faithful companion Dr. Watson, would uncover clues
at the “Englishcherhof Hotel” near the falls. Holmes and Moriarty
would soon grapple and tumble together into the roiling cauldron, never
to be seen – or be read of – again. But Arthur Conan Doyle
had a bigger problem. His character was much too popular to die. Following
a waterfall of fan mail, he resurrected Sherlock Holmes in 1903 for
several further cases. In the new Sherlock Holmes movie, Reichenbach Falls
is presented as flowing under a castle in the mountain side. I'm sorry
to disappoint, but this film castle only exists in a special effects studio.
On
May 4th, the anniversary of the fictional detective’s fictional
faux demise members of the London based International Holmes Society
make a pilgrimage to the site of the literary confrontation at Reichenbach
Falls. However, year round other fans of Holmes or just the curious visitor
to central Switzerland can visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meirengen,
and even stay at the fictitiously named, but very real “Englischer
Hof” hotel, actually the Park Hotel du Savage.
The
Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen Switzerland is located in a small church,
more a chapel really, a short walk, virtually at the end of the
Meirengen rail station. The cornerstone of the museum was laid by Doyle's
granddaughter in 1987 on the centennial anniversary of the publishing of
the first novel. A statue of Holmes sits contemplatively on a bench in
the small park next
to the
museum,
as
if
sizing up the skiers
and hikers
or motorbikes that may pass. The little church is quite interesting in
itself in a Swiss sort of gingerbread style with short pointed steeple. 
The
Museum entrance is in the front where a portrait of Conan Doyle tells you
that you’re in the right place. A spiral wooden stair takes you
down into the basement of this noticeably very small and focused museum.
One narrow room displays artifacts of the author’s time in and items
relating to the Sherlock Holmes’ stories, including a bust of the
detective he used to decoy his enemies. The primary feature of the unique
little museum is a full sized imagined replica of the Holmes and Watson
rooms at 221B Baker Street (see Sherlock
Holmes Museum Baker Street), behind
a wall of glass. An audio guide gives details and tidbits of the Holmes
and
Doyle
case.
The
Park Hotel Du Savage is just behind the museum and evokes the grand époque
of the 1880’s when it was built. A stop on the European “grand
tour”, the hotel retains its romantic period charm with a Art Deco
interior and a plaque on the Victorian porch announcing that Arthur Conan
Doyle, who had stayed there, renaming it the “Englishcherhof” for
his story. Only an Englishman would name a Swiss hotel for Englishmen,
but
it rang true for Doyle’s home audience. It remains a 3 star hotel
of old world elegance with a bar where Doyle liked to tip a glass of an
evening. If you stay at the hotel, you get a discount for visiting the
museum, though should you be traveling with a Swiss Rail Pass the museum
is free (as most all Switzerland museums with a Swiss Pass). The Reichenbach
Falls can be reached by a small funicular tram about a 15 minute walk or
short town bus ride from the museum and hotel.
Meiringen is a stop on the main rail and Golden Pass line between Lucerne
and Interlaken, about 20 minutes from the city between the lakes that is
the gateway to the Jungfrau region, and about an hour from Lucerne or 15 minutes from Brienz (see Rothorn Railway Brienz). Meiringen
is a popular and lesser known spot for winter sports, cross country skiing
and summer Alps hiking. The museum can easily be visited on an hour stopover
between trains on a Swiss rail trip, or stay for lunch at the restaurant
on Conan Doyle lane. To stay for a night or longer aside from the historic
Park du Savage Hotel, there is the Sport
Hotel Sherlock Holmes, a
bit more budget and decidedly more modern affair a few streets away near
the Hasliberg ski lifts or the
Alpin
Sherpa
Hotel catering
to
the sports crowd in summer and winter. © Bargain
Travel Europe
Find a deal at Parkhotel du Sauvage
Search best travel deals in Swiss Alps on TripAdvisor
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.
SEE ALSO:
SHERLOCK HOLMES PUB LONDON
GRINDELWALD - SWISS WORLD SNOW FESTIVAL
