Chaplin's World: First Museum Dedicated to Charlie Chaplin Opens in Switzerland

Chaplin's World, the first museum entirely dedicated to Charlie Chaplin, opened today in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. Located on the shores of Lake Geneva, the museum occupies the Manoir de Ban, the residence where Chaplin lived from his exile from the United States in 1952 until his death on Christmas night 1977. The museum is divided into two sections: the historic Manoir de Ban, showcasing original and reconstructed furnishings with contributions from the Chaplin family, focuses on Chaplin the man; and The Studio, a new wing housing a 150-seat cinema and interactive multimedia sets replicating Hollywood film sets from his over 80 short and feature films. The exhibition design, by François Confino—renowned for the National Museum of Cinema and the Automobile Museum in Turin, and the Wine Museum in Barolo—was executed by Bodino Engineering Srl of Turin. Conceived by Canadian cultural entrepreneur Yves Durand and architect Philippe Meylan, the project was realized for the French company By Grévin, known for wax museums and theme parks. The museum spans 3,000 square meters within a 6-hectare park.