Sherlock Holmes and the Reichenbach Falls

During our holiday in Switzerland we visited the Reichenbach Falls, scene of the struggle to the (apparent) death between Sherlock Holmes and his deadly rival Professor Moriarty, as told in The Final Problem.

An X on the cliff face even  marks the spot where he is said to have fallen into the abyss below. An ancient cog railway carries tourists up to a viewing area and steps further up to the falls, where the obligatory figure of Sherlock Holmes awaits. You just can't avoid poking your head through the cut out! In nearby Meiringen the legendary detective is ever present, with  hotels, shops  and bars named after him,  and the Sherlock Holmes museum in the little church next to Conan Doyle Place.

Inside are artefacts from the era in which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle based his stories as well as Memorabilia including the British stamps issued in 1993. These feature illustrations by Sydney Paget of some of the better know tales, including The Hound of the Baskervilles, and of course The Final Problem (in which Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson go to Switzerland. The Rooms at 221B Baker Street, which Sherlock Holmes and his colleague Dr John Watson rented from Mrs Hudson are also faithfully reproduced with furnishings, pictures and decorations from the period.  More information about the museum  in Meiringen,  and the Sherlock Holmes stories can be found on www.sherlockholmes.ch

Correspondence addressed to Sherlock Holmes  is still received from all over the world!