Charlie Chaplin Home - Corsier-sur-Vevey

Charlie Chaplin's home is on Route de Fenil in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.  It was here the famed comic moved in 1953, and spent the last twenty-four years of his life, until his death in 1977.  1952 was a pivitol year for Chaplin, one which would see his fame quickly eroded in the public eye.  In September he left for England, and the world premiere of his latest film, Limelight, in London.  Long a target for the House Unamerican Activities Committee because of his stand against the persecution of communists and his refusal to become an American citizen, he was denied re-entry into the country by attorney general James P. McGranery shortly after his boat left New York.  Rather than turning the incident into even more of a scandal than it had become, and tired of the atmosphere of  hate in the country, Chaplin cut ties with the US and remained in Europe.  Limelight was well recieved in Europe but barely saw the light of day in communist fearing America.  It would be twenty years before it officially premiered there.  Chaplin set his sights on Switzerland and in late 1952 he and his wife, Oona, and their children settled here, eventually purchasing this home, Manoir de Ban in January of 1953.  The neoclassical mansion, designed by noted local architect Philippe Franel, dates back to1840, when it was constructed on an existing farm at this site called Champ de Ban.  After a succession of ten owners, Chaplin purchased the property in December of 1952 and began renovations.  The finished mansion would include 19 rooms on three floors, plus a wine celler which was converted into his personal archives.  Over the course of the next few years Chaplin sold his home and studio in California, along with his shares in United Artists, the company he had helped form in 1919 and transported much of his furniture from California to his new home here at the mansion.  His film credits during his time in Switzerland were limited to two films, A King In New York (1957) and A Countess From Hong Kong (1967).  Neither film proved very successful and after Countess Chaplin hung up his spurs, devoting his remaining years to re-editing and scoring his earlier films.  Ill health plagued him in the coming years, but he was on hand for the 1972 Academy Awards show, where he was presented with an honorary Oscar in his first trip back to Los Angeles in twenty years.  He died here at Manoir du Ban on December 25, 1977 after suffering a stroke during his sleep.  His former home is now run as a museum called Chaplin's World.  Manoir de Ban has been listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance.          

 Submit photo(s) for this home.