Frankenstein and The Vampyre

Duration
4-hours
Group Size
1 - 6
Location
Geneva and Cologny

Tour Overview

Step into the world of the young Romantics on this immersive 4-hour walking tour through Geneva, tracing the real places, landscapes, and stories that inspired Mary Shelley’s legendary novel Frankenstein. Explore the city and lakeside settings connected to Victor Frankenstein and the dramatic events of the novel, while uncovering the fascinating lives of Mary Shelley, her radical intellectual parents, Lord Byron, and John Polidori during the famous “Year Without a Summer” of 1816. Discover how the creative circle of young Romantic poets transformed a stormy summer in Geneva into the birth of both modern science fiction and vampire literature, inspiring classics such as The Vampyre and shaping Gothic storytelling for generations to come.

Tour Highlights

  • Key points of interest related to British Romantic poets
  • Key points of interest in Geneva Old Town related to Frankenstein
  • Key points of interest in Geneva parks related to Frankenstein
  • Boat trip across the lake (Mouette)
  • Villa Diodati and Byron’s Rock, Cologny
  • Walk through Geneva’s most prestigious residential area
  • Panoramic view of Geneva city, lake, Jura mountains

What to Expect

The tour involves taking public transport buses and boats with some long stretches of walking and some areas with steep cobblestone streets and stairways visiting mostly outdoor sites. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

NOTE: A shorter 2-hour version of the tour is available excluding boat trip, Cologny, Villa Diodati, Panoramic Views