When Nietzsche met Annemarie Schwarzenbach

Keynote speech August 1, 2025

In Sils, kindred spirits often meet. Recently, this led to an inspiring dialogue between the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and the writer Annemarie Schwarzenbach. Impossible? No – it happened as part of a staged reading.

Coincidence or intention? Of all days, it was on August 1st, the Swiss National Day, that a remarkable encounter took place in Sils. Friedrich Nietzsche left his narrow philosopher’s retreat at Via da Marias 67 to go for a walk – naturally with his umbrella. Lost in thought, he almost bumped into Annemarie Schwarzenbach: “O human, take care!” she replied to the philosopher. And so begins a fictional dialogue between two very different summer guests in Sils.