Centre Dürrenmatt Neuchâtel


The Centre Dürrenmatt Neuchâtel exhibits Friedrich Dürrenmatt's paintings and drawings. It is a part of Swiss National Library, just like Swiss Literary Archives, which has a close cooperation with CDN.
The Centre Dürrenmatt, which was opened in the September 2000 in the upper Neuchâtel, is located in the first Dürrenmatt's residential place in 1952. The Swiss architect Mario Botta was assigned to rebuild the house.
As a place for discussion and research, CDN supports critical debates about Dürrenmatt's artistic and literary works. Beside the temporary exhibition, the permanent exhibition "Friedrich Dürrenmatt, writer and painter" is open for public visit. Readings, concerts, colloquiums and debates take place regularly in the CDN. Apart from numerous exhibits of his literary works and rare exhibited paintings, the CDN offers a wide view over the Lake Neuchâtel and also the Bernese Alps.

History

In 1952, Friedrich Dürrenmatt moved to his house in the upper part of the city, where he lived and worked until his death on 14 December 1990. He took his life beyond the Röstigraben as a theme in one of his works, especially the reality that he lived in the francophone part of Switzerland since 1952, but he wrote in German language. After his death, his former house was adapted and expanded for being used as a museum. The museum was opened officially in September 2000.

Previous exhibitions