The second Tolkien Tagung in Zurich, Switzerland – another amazing conference
2025 saw the first edition of the Tolkien Tagung Schweiz in Zurich (see my report) and 2026 it returned to the beautiful Asien-Orient-Institut at the University of Zurich again. And yes, it was another amazing conference. Here’s my quick write-up!
As most of my trips this one was quite the fun ride with the Deutsche Bahn. Given that I arrived in Zurich on time I had no complaints at all – and I even managed to visit the rather lovely Mannheim Lounge I had not seen before. I will make an extra effort to get there with a full first class ticket next time.
After my timely arrival at Zürich central railway station (or simply Zurich HB) I went on my merry way to my accommodation of choice, the Green Marmot Capsule Hotel beside the Großmünster. I have become a huge fan of the concept of the capsule hotel so I was very much looking forward how this one would work out. It was my third one so far and the first one without something like a door to seal behind you – it had just a curtain.
But I need not have worried. The human brain is pretty dumb and the moment you pull the curtain it immediately accepts that nobody could come in and you are in a perfectly private and safe space. I slept like a log on both nights.
To my great dismay I had brought the sniffles, the coughles and all sorts of other ailments with me. I did my very best to pump myself full of medication and behave in a considerate manner – I needed a siesta on Saturday as I was absolutely exhausted so missed two talks instead of coughing wildly throughout – but managed to be back for Judith Klinger’s excellent one: Elendil – Leading through Echoes.
As it is with all great events the day was over way too quickly – and at the speakers’ and organizational team luncheon I sat together with a bunch of people willing to consider writing a musical based on Middle-earth. Having said this, it is a huge secret and we will not be giving away anything… much. Not yet, my preciousss!
With close to a hundred visitors present and about 200 participants online this conference was another success and I can only hope we’ll hear about the third edition soon as third time pays for all, as they say!
[And I should really do a write-up of the talk I had wanted to do: Gandalf, the perfect mentor for the underarchievers?]
My thanks go out to Lauterbrunnen Tourism who kindly invited me to participate in this conference and the organisational team for having me – it has been an absolute pleasure!
(Ignoring the sniffles, of course!)
More photos with my Instagram post.
