Sherlock Holmes fans recreate final duel at Swiss waterfall

May 05, 2026 / 5:10 PM

Sharjah24 - AFP: Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts dressed in Victorian-era costumes gathered at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland to reenact the famous confrontation between detective Sherlock Holmes and his enemy Professor Moriarty, 135 years after the story was first published.

Around 60 members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London travelled to the site as part of a three-day themed journey through locations connected to the fictional detective’s stories.

Iconic literary setting

The Reichenbach Falls, located near Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland, is the setting of the climactic scene in Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1893 short story The Adventure of the Final Problem, where Holmes and Moriarty are described as falling to their deaths.

Participants reached the waterfall via a funicular before gathering at the viewpoint overlooking the 120-metre cascade.

Costumed recreation of the scene

Participants dressed as characters from the Sherlock Holmes universe, including Holmes, Dr Watson, Professor Moriarty, and other figures from the stories. The group then staged a recreation of the final struggle between Holmes and Moriarty, followed by a re-enactment of Watson discovering a farewell letter left by Holmes.

Enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes

The character of Sherlock Holmes, created by Arthur Conan Doyle, remains widely popular more than a century after his first appearance. Although Doyle originally killed off the detective in 1893, public demand led to his return in later stories.

Participants described the event as an immersive experience that brings them closer to the Victorian world and the original narratives.