Happy birthday, Tintin! An unforgettable Swiss adventure
This Friday, January 10, we are celebrating a birthday like no other: Tintin, the intrepid reporter with the legendary puff, is blowing out his 96th birthday. Created by Hergé in 1929, Tintin has crossed the globe, defied a thousand dangers and left its mark on generations. But behind his exotic adventures lies a less obvious truth: Tintin has a little something Swiss.
Tintin, this Swiss hero at heart
Come to think of it, Tintin could have been Swiss. For what ? First of all, his punctuality! Always on time to save the world, he embodies the Swiss rigor that we know well. His sober clothing style is reminiscent of a Geneva banker, and his courteous behavior, sometimes a little too clean, reflects a very Swiss neutrality. No wonder he crosses borders so fluidly, like a discreet but effective diplomat.
Hergé, himself a great fan of Switzerland, has included numerous references to our country in his albums. Among them, “The Sunflower Affair”one of Tintin’s most famous and popular adventures, which takes place partly on the shores of Lake Geneva and in the Geneva region.
Genevans for a day: Tintin and The Tournesol Affair
In this album, Tintin and Captain Haddock land at Cointrin airport, aboard a Swissair plane. On their arrival, they received information from a Swiss border guard, courteous as it should be. Details abound: police uniforms, train controllers, Vaudois license plates… Nothing has been left to chance. Hergé even studied Swiss railway timetables and ordered postcards of Nyon to faithfully reproduce its architecture.
The album also makes a nod to the Hôtel Cornavin, an emblematic establishment located near Geneva train station. We find it in the boxes of the album, and it still attracts fans from all over the world today. Some even hope to sleep in the famous room 122, mentioned in the story. Small disappointment: this room does not actually exist! But that doesn’t take away from the magic of the place.
An adventure to (re)discover
If you are a fan of Tintin’s adventures or simply curious to discover his special link with Switzerland, “The Sunflower Affair” is the ideal album. Why not dive back into it this weekend? From Geneva to Nyon, it is a true tribute to our country and its heritage.
Happy birthday, Tintin, and thank you for these adventures which continue to take us on a journey!
