Visiting Audrey Hepburn’s Home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland
Visiting Audrey Hepburn’s Home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland
It had always been somewhere in the back of my mind that Audrey Hepburn’s home, La Paisible, was in Switzerland. So last week, when I was trying to map out our drive from Munich to Provence, and actually looked at a map (geography not being my strong suit), I realized that her home in Tolochenaz, Switzerland was smack-dab in the middle of our drive. I couldn’t believe it. We had to go. So we did! Here’s a peek…
Plus, get the look:
Tolochenaz is a quaint town just outside of Morges, Switzerland (a small town on Lake Geneva near Lausanne).
It’s only 0.62 square miles big with about 1700 residents, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
We saw barely a soul on the street, aside from two little boys kicking around a soccer ball.
While there is a bust of Audrey in the tiny town square and a few small plaques paying tribute to her, there is nothing else.
Nothing garish. It’s all very simple.
We were the only people there, no tourists, no crowds.
It was such a rare treat to stroll the same streets Audrey herself walked.
For the special day I wore Audrey-inspired pieces: a timeless trench coat, a classic dress, a silk scarf, flats, and black sunglasses.
Details below…
GET THE LOOK
You instantly understood why it was her escape and why she nicknamed her home there La Paisible (meaning “peaceful” in French).
Here’s a peek at the charming ivy-covered 18th century farmhouse that Audrey called home for 30 years.
La Paisible sits directly on a country road and this is the view just across the street.
I was surprised that Audrey’s home was on a main country road. It’s just beyond this stone wall, but not hidden behind gates the way most celebrities have their homes today.
After strolling the streets of Tolochenaz and glimpsing the place she called home for 30 years, we then made our way over to Audrey’s final resting place, Tolochenaz Cemetery.
I had mixed feelings about going, but wanted to pay my respects. In all honesty, it was a very moving experience and I’m having a hard time putting it into words.
Both the cemetery and Audrey’s grave are both so simple and modest. She is among locals in the town she loved most.
If you’d like to visit Audrey’s final resting place, this is the address:
Chemin des Plantees, Tolochenaz, Morges 1131, Switzerland
*Please note that this is not a tourist attraction, but a very simple and quaint cemetery.
If you’d like to bring flowers for Audrey, we found a lovely flower shop in Morges called Vertiges Fleurs at Rue Louis de Savoie, 12.
Rest in peace sweet Audrey and thank you for all you have given me and the world.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and reading.
Any questions or comments about visiting Audrey Hepburn’s home Tolochenaz, Switzerland?
I invite you to leave them below. And if you have been, I’d love to hear xo.
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GET MY AUDREY HEPBURN-INSPIRED LOOK
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what a wonderful post!
Thanks so much, darling!
This is such a lovely post, what a beautiful little town. Your outfit is perfect and so very Audrey.
prosecco in the park
So sweet, thank you! It was an amazing experience and I could not recommend it more.
audrey is so pretty
Sei stata una donna stupenda sia dentro che fuori.
Hello. Just want to compliment you on the updates, photos and details, and you look like Audrey Hepburn. Enjoy your travels and stay safe.
Love!
Thank you, Amy!
You kind of look like her. 🙂 Such a talent. I hope to visit one day.
Thank you Rob, so lovely of you to say!
Lovely post. We visited Audreys home town and grave ourselves last July 2014 and like you could just imagine her walking the quiet streets. It is a beautiful quaint little village and so very quiet. I wish I did something like this, what a fantastic way to relive your memories
i live to far to go visit but i wish i could one and soon with my family
hi
Hi Kelly. What a grand contribution. Thanks to you I now know where Audrey’s home is located. It may be that it took me a while to find it as it appears that the soft blue colour has been painted over on the exterior of her home. My husband and I are planning a move to Évian France in retirement which would mean that I could gaze over Lake Geneva to her resting place. For now, we can plan to visit Audrey’s home and resting place very soon. Thank you again for your lovely display of your journey. Kind Regards, Tessa
I went there in 2013. It was so moving… Did you meet Mrs MaÏer?
Beautiful post. My husband and I will be visiting Tolochenaz in a month and just like you plan to pay tribute to one of the most wonderful, elegant and classy women. Love your photos and beautiful outfits. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience and a recommendation where to purchase flowers.
It was beautiful. This made my day. Thankyou
This is a wonderful tribute to Audrey. Your outfit is perfect. The town looks beautiful – I must visit there one day.
J’ai toujours eu tendre secret pour Audrey Hepburn 🙂 J’irai un jour me recueillir sur sa tombe …
Fabulous and Audrey-esc . Just lovely Golightly !
Thank you for your interesting post. Have always loved Audrey. Hope to visit Tolochenaz and grave this June (2018).
It is ‘soul’ not sole in your text. A typo.
Siempre estaré enamorado de ti
Perfection post…touching and delightful. Thank you.
My husband and I plan on visiting next summer. Is the home open for tours? Is there anything else you recommend seeing/doing in the area? Thank you!
Hi — no, the Hepburn sons sold the house a few years ago, and it is now privately owned. I read a few years ago that the town had an “Audrey Hepburn” museum/exhibit (very simple), but Sean Ferrer sued them and I think they had to shut it down. I think it was very simple and well done, and they meant well…
Thanks for the post and info. I must visit one day
Just came upon your blog and saw this previous post. Beautifully done. Gave me chills.
What a wonderful idea you had, so tasteful, thoughtful and made me smile, thank you. Bless!
Lovely post. I visited here with my ex wife in 2004. Audrey was her hero and I can see why, my ex even looks like Audrey which was a bit odd.
Audrey was such a wonderful/beautiful woman who worked tirelessly for children and the United Nations.
This area is stunning and we visited her grave to pay our respects too. Thank you for the pictures Kelly.
Paul (Brighton)
I wrote AUDREY STYLE (which the Hepburn family helped with) and WHAT WOULD AUDREY DO? really enjoyed your post. I think AH would, too!
It’s a nice post but you are just posing
hello kelly i am scottish and holidayed in ouchy for a week so i could spend a day in tolochenaz.audreys house was just majestic and i went to the museum about her and then i also had mixed feelings over going to the cemetery.wanted to knock on the front door of la paisible but was not brave enough.my best holiday was in that place as audrey was my shining star and sunshine.
I loved your pictures! I have to say that I’m very disappointed in myself. My ex fiancé and I had visited his dad and step mom in Switzerland in may of 2001. They lived in Lausanne at the time and I had no idea how close is was to where Audrey lived. I’m sad that I didn’t get to experience this and wish I could go back. When is saw thar you wrote Lausanne, my jaw hit the floor. Maybe someday I will make the trip again!
I never get tired of watching Roman Holiday. Such a lovely actress
Hello, I’ll be staying in the center of Lausanne. How do I go to the Tolochenaz Cemetery? Do I need to rent a car or can I go by bus? thanks
I enjoyed the beautiful comments. Please share as much as possible on this page for the many visitors and fans.
il n’aurait jamais une autre Audrey….she was simply the greatest!
A very lovely lady with a heart of gold. Thanks for the tour of Ms. Hepburns town and grave site!
Loved your post. I have been a fan of Audrey for years. Thank you for sharing your visit with all of us.
Your site is well done. I am a Audrey Hepburn admirer for what she had done with UNICEF. Her movies were just marvelous and it was somgracious of Gregory Peck to insist she get equal billing for ‘Roman Holiday’, her first movie. He recognized her talent and humanity. Thank you, again, for your site.
Enjoyed reading about your visit and seeing the wonderful photographs. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing. Your outfit and photos are a nice tribute, they really capture the feeling of Audrey’s favorite place.
I love Audrey Hepburn. So do millions of others.
Lovely remembrance. She always struck me as a very simple person who somehow got caught up in all the glam and glitz that is Hollywood yet remained true to herself and her simplicity. She narrated a film called Gardens of The World. I believe it was a documentary and mine is a copy someone recorded. I believe she loved the gardens by the way she spoke about them in the film and looking at your photo of her grave somewhat Secours my thought about that.
i swear to god ive been there before
Hi Kelly.
This is Neil from York .England.
I commented on your wonderful pictures inTolochenaz a few years ago.
These pictures inspired me to go visit Geneva do the Geneva Marathon and go to Tolechenaz and pay my respects to Audrey Hepburn.
I had the most wonderful time it was very spiritual and very moving and memorable.
I have you to thank for that you motivated me to go see for myself and I am truly grateful.
My lovely daughter Lauren that Christmas bought me a book Audrey at home which is truly magnificent and I was delighted.
I am very much a technological dinosaur a humble Bricklayer exParatrooper I run for solace .however I emailed the Audrey Hepburn Estate just to say what a brilliant book this was and how much I enjoyed it ,imagine my surprise when a few months later Lucca Dotti replied with a very kind message.i was over the moon so happy walking round with a smile on my face for days.
There you go Kelly I thank you with all my heart wish you peace ,love and happiness good health to you and all.
Kind Regards
Neil x
All My Sisters there very lovely Sisters that I have I lost 1 at 15 Andra ,just lost my older Brother Perry . Any way 3 more Sisters Ona Cara & Mia . We have Parents that are stall alive. But it’s not about my Family they all Idmyer Audrey very well as I am for me. We all Miss her. Sadly hard for Her too go thure such bad pain. What a brave Lady she was too. All my Prayers too Her 2 Children & rest of the Family. Go too JW.org I’m shire you Mother wanted you too go here. You will see your Mother again.
This site has made so many people happy just to read about your adventures and see your photographs. I’ve made many such trips in my life to see where my inspirations have hailed from but that has never taken me to Switzerland. I still travel but not much abroad anymore; too old now to make that trip from San Diego, so seeing your posts puts a smile on my face.
Fabulous post. This is a visit I hope to make one day. You look like Audrey!
Bruce Shaw Roggy
I visited Audreys house & grave in 2004 & your pictures aren’t the house I saw. I’ve read all of the books about Audrey & the pictures of her house match mine, not yours. There was a 6ft wall around her house & it had huge back yard. My question, did she have 2 houses. No mention of 2 houses on the books. ????
The cemetery, house & square are on my local bus route, Miss Golightly (Kelly? Not Holly??) and I’ve lived in the area since the mid-80s when I performed in “La Nef Dans La Ville” which opened the Beausobre Theatre (Morges). That was the only time I met and talked to my near-neighbour, although there were several near-misses over the years. Tolochenaz is one of so many calm and pleasant Swiss villages where a surprising number of my profession (mostly Brits) have their final resting place… I presume mine will be at the other end of the 702 bus route…
A genuinely loving and dignified post. Audrey would approve. Remembering her today, the 26th anniversary of her death. She lives on in the hearts of those of us who love her.
My grandparents lived in the house nextdoor, “La Chaumine”, from 1955. I spent a lot of my childhood there until around 1966 when they sold their house to move to Lausanne. Audrey who stayed on was our neighbour for about 3 years. My mother has kept family albums and I also enjoy looking at photos taken nextdoor as I recognize the colour of the grass and the light! The locals left her in peace, which meant a lot to her.
Audrey Hepburn is my idol. I studied in Lausanne not knowing she lived not far from my school. I plan to take this beautiful and serene trip to experience the life she lived.
With much love and respect my dear Audrey, I miss you much. The heavens are yours now. I cherish you still….. and always will .
Thank you Kelly, I rarely get emotional about things, but this touched me !
Thank you for sharing this, Kelly! I wish someday I have a chance to visit her too. You such a stunning lady just like Audrey.
Ii saw it all with my own eyes!
Awesome!
Thanks, you too!
I went there in 1993 the year she died and took a picture that I still have
It’s a temporary wooden cross with her name on it and her name, you can see
The same old wall.behind it
Love this angel. The world won’t have another one like Audrey.
Lovely you made a very respectful and caring presentation. thank you.
I was just wondering if her home is still in the family or was it sold?
Dear Kelly G,
What a beautiful⚘ journey that I was blessed to find , thanks to you and your admiration of Audrey. You have helped me connect with the essence of life she left behind and few get to know. I had just seen a youtube video of the 14 things about Audrey Hepburn that most people do not know about her , and your lovely post here has been very satisfying for a delightful ending of her storybook life.
Be blessed for what you have accomplished here with love.
K Mitch
Hi Kelly,
_happy to have seen your photo on pinterest or instagram and deared to open it not knowing what I would come to see. I am so very happy now for you showing all the photos and telling about your tour to Audrey Hepburn´s home through 30 years in Tolochenaz, Schweiz.
I have allways been very fond of Audrey Hepburn as person and movie star. I still now and again see “Roman Holiday” and “my fair lady” on my DVD -at least once a year.
I have often been in Lausanne on business to visit our customer earlier “(la boutique danoise”) and once also for a few day´s of-as holiday in 1983. Did not know to have been so close — untill to day. Thank you very much…when, and if my way goes in that direction again… I would like to visit the Audrey Hepburn little “la paisible” town. Thanks again 🙂
Hello. Just want to compliment you on the updates, photos and details, and you look like Audrey Hepburn. Enjoy your travels and stay safe.
I went there on a rainy morning in November 1995. Saw her villa and her gravesite with a friend , who lived a few towns away. At that time, her exhibit was still there but when I went back in 2003, it was gone.
What a most touching tribute to a wonderful woman. Really enjoyed it! I’m a fan too.
I’ve visited in Vaud some years ago, so have a sense of the tranquility there. Thanks a million!
Like Audrey , you are very beautiful x
You look very nice in these pictures. Your resemblance to your muse makes me smile.
What an adorable post ❤️
Did you know there was a small museum in town but the sons closed it down in 2002 I think and then auctioned off all the contents and her otherbelongings 🙁 so sad
Oh no, I didn’t know that. That is sad.
Thank you for taking my walk to visit Ms Hepburn! I love it. I am too old to do it now my self. Wish I had some Givenchy to donate! Such a lovely woman whom I admired!
It’s a personal dream of mine to visit both Judy Garland’s house in Minnesota and Tolochenaz to pay my respect to the woman I admire the most, if I ever get the chance I’ll definitely leave some lilies or white tulips for her there. The fact that is so quiet is all the better, it’s the kind of walk I wanna do silently to absorb the environment.
Thanks for sharing, Marcos. Now I’m intrigued by visiting Judy Garland’s home!
We will be going there in June. Four of us. We are all in our 70’s. We all loved Audrey Hepburn’s movies. Just curious I know it’s a private residence but did they ever open it up for visitors?
Not to my knowledge, unfortunately. I hope you all have an incredibly lovely trip — it’s impossible not to!
I recently watched a documentary of Audrey Hepburn and I love her even more!! Thank you for your post!! I hope to visit one day.
Absolutely my pleasure! And I 100% recommend a visit.
I traveled to Switzerland in 2001 with my 87 year old mother and visited Audrey Hepburns grave and house. I have collected every book, movie and lots of memorabilia about Audrey Hepburn. I also have all 4 Audrey Hepburn Barbie Dolls. I live in Raytown Missouri USA. PS I found the first movie she was in in England, in a thrift store / on VHS & yes, I still have 3 working VHS players & use them to watch my 1000+ VHS collection. I am 77 years old & still roller skate weekly + bicycle + have ridden 3/4 of a million miles on 40 motorcycles I have owned. My my daily rider is a Honda NC700X & a BMWR1200RT for long trips. I just counted 28 books & 7 magazines I have about Audrey. I really Loved Audrey Hepburn, Bruce
You’re my hero! This sounds like you are living life right and I envy your Audrey collection! Your trip to Switzerland with your mom sounds so special and like memories to be cherished forever.
Loved seeing these two places Audrey lived plus the town and the cemetery . Doubt I will get there due to my age but so enjoyed your visit.
Thank you so much for the tour. I hope to go there one day since Andrey is my favorite actress ❤️ She was beautiful outside and inside.