Even the most casual movie fan knows a few things about Charlie Chaplin: He was a brilliant comedian and filmmaker, had multiple wives and children (four and 11, respectively), and, in 1952, was exiled from America pending an investigation by Immigration Services.
Rather than fight for the right to return to Hollywood, Chaplin chose to live out his remaining years in Switzerland, where he and his fourth (and final) wife Oona purchased Manoir de Ban, a neoclassical mansion in Corsier-sur-Vevey, on the banks of Lake Geneva. Now, Chaplin’s beloved home and grounds have been converted into Chaplin’s World, the first-ever museum dedicated to his work.
Originally conceived of in 2000, Chaplin’s World is the brainchild of Swiss architect Philippe Meylan and Quebec-based museographer (and lifelong Chaplin fan) Yves Durand, whose singular goal was to construct a place that would allow visitors to discover the man behind the movies. As such, the museum’s two main attractions are the Manoir and the Studio.
In the Manoir, guests are introduced to Chaplin, the family man as they learn about the Chaplins’ life in Switzerland (and the events that brought them there). The home has been restaged with many of its original furnishings and personal items, including photographs and family mementos (like a sketch of Oona), with each room focused on a particular facet of Chaplin’s personal life. The dining room, for example, pays tribute to the family’s everyday routines and the many Hollywood celebrities who visited with them.
The interactive studio gives Chaplin fans the opportunity to step into the shoes of the noted comedian—first with a montage of clips from the more than half-century he spent writing, directing, and acting in movies, followed by access to recreated scenes and sets from his most famous films, while wax figures of Chaplin’s famous co-stars look on. Step inside the cabin from The Gold Rush in the midst of a simulated blizzard, sit in the barber'snytimes chair from The Great Dictator, or get stuck in the cogs of the newfangled machine from Modern Times—all of which make it feel like more of a theme park.
Outside, guests can wander the home’s expansive grounds; there are more than 10 acres of green space, with picturesque views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. There’s also an onsite restaurant, The Tramp, but (thankfully) no feeding machine. If you’re planning to spend the night, The Modern Times Hotel is nearby.