Villa Diodati - Geneva

Villa Diodati is located on Chemin de Ruth in Cologny, Switzerland, along Lake Geneva.  Originally known as Villa Belle Rive and constructed in 1710 the mansion is now famous for its association with Lord Byron and Mary Shelley.  In April of 1816 Byron fled England amid scandal and by May had arrived in Geneva.  In June he rented the villa from the Diodati family and remained here until November, along with his personal physician John Polidori.  Also in Geneva at the time was Percy Shelley and his soon to be wife Mary Godwin, along with Mary's stepsister Claire Clairmont, whom Byron had had an affair with back in England, and was now pregnant with his child.  The Shelleys were staying at Maison Chapuis, just down the hill from Byron.  Tradition says that the five holed up in the villa for three days in June when the weather turned stormy.  During this time they turned to reading horror tales to pass the time and soon Byron suggested that they each write their own ghostly tale.  Two classics of Gothic horror would be written as a response to his challenge.  Mary Shelley's most famous work, Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, had its genesis during these wet, summer days in June, eventually being published in January 1818.  John Polidori also wrote "The Vampyre" during these storm filled days.  The story first saw publication in April 1819 and is considered the forerunner of all modern vampire tales.  Although not related to the challenge, Byron completed the third canto of his narrative poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage while living here.  There is a plaque commemorating Byron on the outside wall of the building along Chemin de Ruth, although this building, closest to the street, is not in actuality Villa Diodati.  The villa is located just further down the hillside and can be seen from the nearby park.              

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