From Kreuzlingen to Zurich

Latest NewsTravelIn Search of NijinskySwitserlandPhotoproject

Apr 19

The Bellevue Institute

April 14 |2025

I arrived at Hotel 6 in Kreuzlingen around 3:00 PM. After settling in, I walked to the Venenklinik Bellevue — formerly the Bellevue Institute, once a large psychiatric hospital spanning over 10 hectares. There, I spoke with Verena Kurland, who turned out to be incredibly knowledgeable about the site’s history. She showed me two folders filled with archival material, which offered a fascinating glimpse into the clinic's past. Apparently, some of the original patient files have been preserved and are now housed at the University of Tübingen in Germany. Verena kindly shared an email address belonging to the family of the clinic’s founder. They own historical photographs of the Bellevue grounds, and I’ve already reached out to them.

I was able to enter the two remaining buildings that still face the street they are. Aside from some modern office spaces, there wasn’t much left of the original interior — but I did manage to take photos of the old elevator, the staircase, and the beautiful glass tunnel that connects the two buildings. Everyone I met there was incredibly friendly and helpful.

From someone in one of the buildings, I received a phone number for a local Kreuzlingen resident who reportedly has a significant private archive related to the Bellevue buildings. It also seems that more documents might be found at the city archives in Konstanz, just across the border in Germany.

April 15 | 2025

This morning, I received a message from Andreas Binswanger — a relative of the Bellevue clinic's founder. He sent me some information along with an old newspaper article. I started the day with a walk to Lake Constance (Bodensee), crossing briefly into Konstanz, Germany. While there, I visited the Leica Gallery and was deeply inspired by the work of photographer Milena Schilling.

Back at the hotel, I took some time to reply to emails and plan my next steps. I had initially planned to head to Zurich tomorrow, but I’m now considering staying another night in Kreuzlingen. The newspaper article Andreas sent mentioned Professor Dr. med. Klaus Hoffmann. I’m not sure what his exact connection to Vaslav Nijinsky is, but the article stated he once gave a lecture about him. I managed to find his email address and just reached out to see if he might be open to meeting. Interestingly, it seems he also lives here in Kreuzlingen.

He also sent me some old photos of the interior and buildings from around the time (1919) Vaslav Nijinsky was admitted there.

*The glass tunnel connects two buildings (1919)*

April 16 |2025

This morning I received a reply from Professor A. Hirschmueller at the University of Tübingen, where the archive of the clinic is kept. He kindly referred me to a colleague, and I contacted her later that evening. I spent the rest of the day walking through the city, visited a beautiful old cathedral and taking photos guided by intuition. I’ve now booked my trip to Zurich and St. Moritz. Since accommodation in St. Moritz wasn’t available before the 20th, I’ll stay an extra day in Zurich—something I hadn’t planned, but I’m curious to see how that shift might shape the journey.

April 17 | 2025

Today I realized something striking: on my way to the hotel in Kreuzlingen, coming from the station, I had unknowingly walked right through the institute grounds. Now, on my way back, I pass through it again—but this time, fully aware of where I am. I’m sitting at the station now, waiting for the train to my next destination, holding that quiet awareness with me.