Introduction
Map of Rizal's Heritage Trail
Rizal in Switzerland
Schaffhausen
Basel
Bern
Lausanne
Lake Geneva
Geneva
Some Filipino Links
About the Authors

Rizal in Switzerland

June 2-3, 1887: Schaffhausen

After visiting several cities in southern Germany (Munich, Nuremberg, Ulm, Stuttgart), Rizal proceeded by train to Schaffhausen on June 2, 1887. He took lodging at the Hotel Mueller, located at Bahnhofstrasse 28.

Schaffhausen is a small Swiss town on the Rhine river near the German border. Rizal visited the top attraction of Schaffhausen, the Rheinfall (Rhine Falls), which is considered as the largest waterfalls in Central Europe. The waterfalls measure 150 meters wide and 22 meters deep. The Rheinfall is visited by thousands of tourists every year.

On the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. Rizal in 1961, a memorial plaque was installed on the front facade of the Hotel Muller on December 20, 1961 by H.E. Tomas de Castro, Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland, with the following inscription:

JOSE RIZAL
(1861-1896)
National Hero of the Philippines.
Rizal, with Dr. Maximo Viola,
Stayed at Hotel Muller, 2-3 June 1887

June 3-4, 1887: Basel

On June 3, 1887, Rizal left Schaffhausen by train for Basel, a river port on the Rhine near the borders of France and Germany. He stayed overnight in Basel, which is well-known for its centuries-old university, founded in 1460. Rizal toured the city and visited the historic Bayrische Bierhalle, where he drank a glass of beer. The old building of the Bayrische Bierhalle located in the town center is still existing and presently serves as a Chinese restaurant.
During his stay in Basel, Rizal sent a short letter dated June 3, 1887 to Blumentritt informing the latter of his arrival in Basel.

June 4-6, 1887: Bern, Lausanne, Lake Geneva

   The following day, June 4, 1887, Rizal departed for Bern, the federal capital of Switzerland since 1848. He booked at the Hotel Schweizerhof, located opposite the main railroad station of Bern. Hotel Schweizerhof is still existing and is presently regarded as one of the top hotels in Switzerland. Unfortunately, up to now there is no Rizal marker on the hotel.
   Bern, founded in 1191, is considered as one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe. The old town center, with arcades composed of beautiful shop-windows, several attractive fountains, dating back to the 16th century, gothic cathedral, old town hall (Rathaus), Parliament, Clock Tower with astronomical clock, museums, libraries, etc., has been declared by the UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.
   After an overnight stay in Bern, Rizal continued his journey to Lausanne, a tourist center on the right bank of Lake Geneva. Having seen the interesting sights in Lausanne, Rizal boarded a steamer bound for Geneva.
   Lake Geneva (also called Lac Leman in French and Genfersee in German), is the largest lake north of the Alps. It lies between Switzerland and France. It is more than ninety kilometers long and around fifteen kilometers wide at its center. Geneva is situated at the southern tip of Lake Geneva, close to the border of France.

June 6-21, 1887: Geneva

   Rizal arrived in the beautiful city of Geneva on June 6, 1887. He took lodging at the Pension Bel-air, a boarding house on Rue du Rhone 3, situated in the center of the city, just a few meters away from the left bank of Lake Geneva.
   Immediately upon arrival in Geneva, Rizal sent a letter to Blumentritt, together with his two photographs, one intended for Blumentritt and the other one for Mr. Eberhard Eysert, who entertained him during his previous visit to Vienna.
   Geneva, during the time of Rizal, was the center of the religious movement called the Reformation. The Geneva Convention, which established the rules for the humane treatment of prisoners of war and of the sick, the wounded, and the dead in battle, was signed in Geneva in 1864. As a result of this treaty or agreement, Geneva was made the headquarters of the International Red Cross.
   In the course of his memorable stay in Geneva, Rizal celebrated his 26th birthday anniversary on June 19, 1887.
    After a sojourn of around two weeks in Geneva, Rizal departed by train on June 21, 1887 bound for Turin, Italy.
   In remembrance of Rizal’s memorable sojourn in Geneva, a memorial plaque has been installed by the Philippine Embassy in Bern in 1961 on the front facade of the former pension house at Rue du Rhone 3, on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary.

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