Setting the scene

Previous Next

Filming at the Gotthard Pass for the international production On the Trail of Hannibal (2005). (Keystone/Karl Mathis) Keystone

James Bond, in the form of Sean Connery, negotiates the Furka Pass in his Aston Martin in Goldfinger (1964). Five other Bond films have been filmed in Switzerland. (Keystone/courtesy Everett Collection) Keystone

Between takes on Espion, lève-toi (Spy, wake up) outside Zurich University in 1981. From left to right: director Yves Boisset, actors Michel Piccoli and Lino Ventura. (Keystone/Niklaus Stauss) Keystone

When Steven Spielberg needed unspoilt villages to recreate post-war Germany for Band of Brothers (2001), he chose Switzerland. Episode 10 of the television mini-series was almost entirely shot in the Interlaken-Brienz area. (Alpine Films/filmlocation.ch) Alpine Films/filmlocation.ch

Bollywood stars Mohan Babu and Rani Mukerji blend in by Lake Thun in 2001. (RDB) RDB

German actors Florian Lukas and Benno Fürmann prepare to hang around on the north face of the Eiger in Nordwand (2008). (RDB) RDB

Clint Eastwood and George Kennedy befriend a local on the set of The Eiger Sanction (1974). (cinetext) cinetext

James Bond (George Lazenby) surrounded by beautiful scenery - and the Swiss Alps - at the top of the Schilthorn in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). (RDB) RDB

Matt Damon and Amanda Peet discuss geopolitics on a Geneva bench in Syriana (2005). Damon also travelled to Switzerland for The Bourne Identity (2002) and The Informant! (2009). (cinetext) cinetext

Alain Delon leathers up in Geneva in Girl on a Motorcycle (1967). (RDB) RDB

Sophia Loren gets her bearings at Basel station during The Cassandra Crossing (1976). (RDB) RDB

Filming a scene from the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995) in the Bernese Oberland. GoldenEye also featured the famous bungee jump from the Verzasca Dam in Ticino. (RDB) RDB

In Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), images of the snowy alpine scenery of Grindelwald were used for the planet of Alderaan. (filmlocation.ch) filmlocation.ch

• Picture 1
• Picture 2
• Picture 3
• Picture 4
• Picture 5
• Picture 6
• Picture 7
• Picture 8
• Picture 9
• Picture 10
• Picture 11
• Picture 12
• Picture 13

Switzerland has been the backdrop for a wide range of films.

The chances are that your favourite actor has at some time appeared in front of the camera somewhere in Switzerland.