Chaplin's World

Chaplin left the United States in 1952 for a visit to London, had his re-entry permit revoked while at sea during the McCarthy period, and settled at the Manoir de Ban above Vevey with his family - he lived here for twenty-five years until his death in 1977 and is buried in the village. The museum, opened in 2016, is in two halves: the manor itself, restored and furnished as the family had it, with the rooms, the terrace and the park; and a purpose-built studio next door holding reconstructed sets from the films, with waxworks and interactive material. The split is worth knowing, since the house is a genuine historical interior and the studio is an entertainment.

What you actually see

• The manor as the family had it - furnished rooms, terrace and park.
• A studio of film sets - reconstructions and waxworks in a separate building.
• The exile that brought him here - the revoked permit of 1952.
• A park with lake views - the grounds he lived in for twenty-five years.

When to go

All year. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Tickets are timed and busy periods sell out. The studio half is a staged attraction rather than a museum, which divides visitors. It is uphill from Vevey and needs a bus. Prices are high for a family.

Nearby

Vevey is below; Montreux and Chillon are along the lake.