Casa Rossa in Montagnola

Hermann Hesse with his son Bruno stoking a fire in his garden

With the kind permission of © Suhrkamp Verlag 1979
For a colorful painting by Hesse of the terrace entrance of his house click here

"Hesse lived in the Casa Camuzzi until 1931. He was one of the few of the strange Palazzo's many previous tenants to stay so long. 'In this house I enjoyed and suffered from the most intense loneliness, gained comfort from writing and painting much, and became more fondly familiar with the place than with any other since childhood. In my painting and my writing I have frequently expressed the gratitude I owe this house.' But now that he had somebody else to think about as well as himself [Ninon Dolbin, his third wife. Ed.], he had to find a larger and more comfortable house: 'At this point a dream came true. One spring evening in 1930 we were sitting and talking in the 'Arch' in Zurich. The conversation turned to houses and building and there was mention of the comments I had occasionally made in this connection. My friend B. laughed suddenly and said to me: 'You shall have the house!' It was Dr.H.C.Bodmer, a helpful friend of many years' standing. He built a house according to Hesse's own basic design and presented it to him for his lifetime. The "Casa Hesse" was built above and slightly removed from the village of Montagnola, hidden behind trees and shrubbery. It had a magnificent view across the Lake of Lugano to its Italian shore, and also of San Salvatore and the peaks of the Monte Generoso."

Bernhard Zeller, "Portrait of Hesse", p.117f