In truth close to a century ago, Les Jardins de Warnery of today was the delightfully named guesthouse, “La Printanière”, a connotation of spring no doubt inspired by its setting — overlooking a welcoming green on which one might take one’s ease and situated in a neighbourhood conducive to leisurely walks.

In the aftermath of the 1917 October revolution it made welcome a Russian ballet fleeing the ensuing repressions finally becoming, in the years that followed, a family guesthouse for scholars eager for the opportunity to work and flourish in convivial surroundings. One imagines their vigorous verbal exchanges with, come nightfall, glass in hand sprawled on the lawn, ideas tumbling out in quick succession.

The building as it now stands was transformed in 1983 to its current status of furnished accommodation welcoming families holidaying in Switzerland, cultural celebrities from the neighbouring theatres or, by virtue of its proximity, members of internationally respected academic establishments such as the IMD, EPFL, UNIL … Though today’s habitués are, by nature, more discreet they are drawn to a source of inspiration that remains as it ever was.