If you have ever read about Sherlock Holmes, or know a little bit about his history you might have heard about Reichenbach Falls. If not, then you are in for a surprise.
In his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King advises fiction writers to: “Kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart.” Some of the reasons to murder a character include speeding up the pace of the plot and avoiding readers’ boredom. But what if you’re jealous of your protagonist?
It seems that’s what happened when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sent his character Sherlock Holmes plunging to his death from the top of Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen in Switzerland.
But perhaps there is more to the story than that.
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Sherlock Holmes History

The fictional character Sherlock Holmes was created by the Scottish writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The mastermind detective and his companion Dr. Watson first appeared in A Study in Scarlet, a novel published in 1887. But it wasn’t until 1891 that the duo became famous. The characters appeared in a short story published in a popular magazine and were an overnight success.
Holmes, the world’s first “consulting detective,” pursued criminals throughout London and continental Europe. He resided at 221B Baker Street in London, an apartment tended by his housekeeper Mrs. Hudon. He was untidy and suffered bouts of depression accompanied by violin playing, pipe smoking, and cocaine use.
Doyle was a British physician as well as a writer. He used Dr. Joseph Bell, his real-life professor at the University of Edinburgh Medical School as a prototype for his character by paralleling Dr. Bell’s skills in observation and deductive reasoning in diagnosing illness to gathering evidence in criminal cases.
In total, Conan Doyle penned 56 stories and 4 books featuring Sherlock Holmes. And then came the Reichenbach Falls!
Sherlock Holmes Died Near Meiringen
For two years following the popularity of his character, Doyle cranked out at least one Sherlock Holmes story every month. But the physician/writer grew tired of his character. He considered historical novels to be his best work and felt that detective Holmes distracted readers from his more serious works. By 1893, he despised his famous character.
That year, after writing 24 Sherlock Holmes stories, Doyle placed his character at the top of Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen, Switzerland in a short story titled “The Final Problem.” Holmes and his arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty, engage in a violent struggle. Both plunge over a cliff and fall to their deaths.
Upon finishing the story, Doyle wrote to his mother, “The gentleman vanishes, never to return!”
Arthur Conan Doyle
But Holmes fans weren’t happy. Thousands of readers canceled their subscriptions to the magazine that published Doyle’s stories. Londoners even mourned his death by wearing black arm bands. They wrote letters to Doyle complaining, but Doyle only snapped “Holmes is at the bottom of Reichenbach Falls, and there he stays.”
Doyle finally gave in and resurrected his character in 1903 and placed him in the story “The Adventure of the Empty House” after a US magazine offered him $5,000 per story. He claimed that Holmes didn’t really die and had only gone into hiding. His arch-enemy remained dead. Doyle continued to write Sherlock Holmes stories until 1927.
How to Get to Meiringen, Switzerland

Meiringen, Switzerland is a typical Bernese Oberland village. An excellent base for skiing, it’s situated at the base of four passes—the Grimsel, Brunig, Joch, and Susten.
If you’re coming to Meiringen from another country, Zurich airport is the most convenient to use. From there, Meiringen is 1.5 hours away by road. Alps2Alps and Ski-Lifts are low-cost services that will get you to your accommodation in Meiringen with door-to-door transfers by professional English-speaking drivers.
You can also rent a car through RentalCars.com and drive to Meiringen. From the airport, take the Zurich Nordring motorway. Follow the signs to Luzern, and then Interlaken as far as Brunigen. From there, signs will lead you to Meiringen.
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Another option to get to Meiringen is by rail. The journey is fast and enjoyable. The intercity trains run frequently between Zurich airport and Luzern. From Luzern, the regional Zentralbaum goes to Meiringen.
Visiting the Reichenbach Falls in Meiringen, Switzerland
Reichenbach Falls, the place where Sherlock Holmes fell to his decade-long “death”, is near Meiringen in the Haslital of the Berner Oberland. Although it’s not the highest or most spectacular waterfall in Switzerland, it’s one of the most famous.
Visitors come to the falls for the stunning scenery, the easy place to begin a hike in Reichenbach Valley, and the funicular ride to the top of the falls where Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty fell to their deaths after a violent struggle in The Final Problem. The spot where the fight took place is marked with a large, white star. A plaque stating “at this fearful place, Sherlock Holmes vanquished Professor Moriarty” is written in three languages.

The plaque is hard to see because it’s on a hard-to-reach ledge. Over the years, the waterfall has moved deeper into the mountain. Today it’s barely visible from where the fight took place. The ledge was much closer to the water a century ago.
However, the hotel where Doyle wrote the story is still standing. You’ll also see a Sherlock Holmes statue and signs describing the events leading to Holmes’ temporary death. You can also visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen

The town of Meiringen treats guests to a small museum on Conan Doyle Place dedicated to the famous fictional character. It features a model of the living room of Holmes’ 221B Baker Street residence and objects related to the characters. The room is typical of a London home at the end of the Victorian era.
Objects on display at the museum include Holmes’ last letter to Dr. Watson, a police report on Holmes’ struggle with his arch-enemy, train schedules from the time, and Dr. Watson’s military uniform.
The museum also has an easy-to-use audio guide in several languages. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 1:30 to 6 pm from May to mid-October. From December to April, it’s open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 4:30 to 6 pm.
Other Things to Do In & Around Meiringen
Besides the Sherlock Holmes Museum, the area around Meiringen has much to offer visitors. The picturesque landscape has natural wonders like gorges and waterfalls to marvel at, trails and slopes for hiking and skiing, and biking routes for cycling.
The area has 15 ski lifts, cross-country skiing routes, snowshoe trails, and three tobogganing tracks.
One of the most impressive places in the area is the Aare Gorge. It was formed over a long period of time when the force of the Aare River, the longest river in Switzerland, carved a deep groove in the limestone rock. The gorge is around 200 meters deep in some parts but is very narrow and only one meter wide at some points. It’s possible to hike the entire Aare gorge through a series of tunnels and walkways. The trek is easy and can be completed in less than an hour.
The Alpine Tower is another worthwhile attraction near Meiringen. Sitting high at 2,250 meters, it offers you panoramic views of over 400 peaks and the striking turquoise waters of Lake Brienz. It’s the starting point for a range of hiking trails and has an adventure playground to keep the kids busy.