The mysterious Villa Patumbah

Editor Adrian Schräder

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No knights, but dragons: Gustavo has butler Johann show him the most magnificent house in town.

An ancient house in Zurich? Big and mighty like a castle? "And we can go in there?" Gustavo's thoughts take him back to the Middle Ages in a flash. He talks about knights and horses and, judging by his bouncing movements, he is already in the middle of a sword fight for life and death. "Is there armour and weapons there too?" he asks. "Let's see!" his recording assistant and father tries not to let his enthusiasm wane too much, "Let's see!"

The name "Villa Patumbah" naturally fires the imagination. And you don't get a guided tour from a "real" butler every day. The so-called theatre tours with butler Johann take place on the first Sunday of every month during the winter months. You can take part from the age of six - but Gustavo is the only child among the 21 participants on this Sunday in February. So full imagination ahead - and back to the topic at hand: "But why isn't it called Patumbah Castle then, if perhaps the knights lived here?" insists the young critic.

On arrival at the villa, he immediately falls in love with the ceiling of the garden room, on which playing cards are painted. And he is irritated that the toilet doesn't look at all old-fashioned. He even discovers a shower: "It wasn't here when the knights were here."

Well, as we quickly learn from Johann, the history of the property unfortunately "only" goes back to the 19th century. Carl Fürchtegott Grob, who became rich growing tobacco in Sumatra, had it built here in the Riesbach neighbourhood. No knights then.

But the disappointment is limited. There are many stories. The butler captivates Gustavo with his tales from the very first minute and practically enlists him as his squire: He is repeatedly allowed to reveal pictures, present things and give his opinions.

He is even presented with an old railway: it was only thanks to it that the expensive marble for the villa could be transported from Italy to Zurich via the Gotthard route.

But the restored interior of the villa also provides a few subtle jaw-droppers: a wooden hallelujah from a door, the finest wallpaper, coffered ceilings and wall decorations. And suddenly, lucky dragons appear from above. The young critic is told three times why the ceiling of the master bedroom is charred. Johann knows - and much more.

After he has left, Gustavo wants to stay in the villa for a long time. He was not the only one who found the hour-long theatre tour extremely entertaining. And that's always the best compliment.

What else goes through your mind? Why give away a villa like this? And why not work at the office of the Swiss Heritage Society? Then you could pretend every day that you own a little bit of Villa Patumbah.

Gustavo is already looking forward to the summer jungle tour. It's a great way to get to know the park even better. On the way home, he is already imagining that there are sparkling emeralds waiting for him somewhere under the big trees, which he can then take home with him. After Sunday's visit to the villa, it has to be said: When it comes to imaginative wealth, builder Carl Fürchtegott Grob and the semi-professional Gwunderase Gustavo Ernesto Schräder are at least on a par.

The guided tours around and through the Villa Patumbah with butler Johann will continue to take place on the first Sunday of every month until April. Further information and tickets are available at this link.

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Published from Adrian Schräder on February 13, 2025.