Circus Knie (german: Schweizer National-Circus Knie, french: Cirque National Suisse Knie) is the largest
circus of
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, based in
Rapperswil.
The circus was founded in 1803 by the Knie family and has existed in its present form since 1919 when it changed from an open arena to a covered tent. The circus has been long famous for its animals and now operates a
zoo (
Knie's Kinderzoo
Knie's Kinderzoo (German: ''Knies Kinderzoo'') is a zoo aimed for children. It is located in the Swiss municipality of Rapperswil.
Location
Aimed for children, the zoo is located at ''Oberseestrasse'' nearby Seedamm respectively Rapperswi ...
). Its
museum in Rapperswil closed in July 2017. In 1999 Franco Knie was named Best Animal Tamer at the
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.
Today the circus is an enterprise with about 200 employees, operated by Frédy and Franco Knie in partnership with insurance company
Swiss Life
The Swiss Life Group is the largest life insurance company of Switzerland and one of Europe’s leading comprehensive life and pensions and financial services providers, with approximately CHF 276.3 bn of assets under management. Founded in 18 ...
.
Tightrope acrobat David Dimitri has been associated with the circus. A co-production with
Cirque du Soleil was mounted in 1992. In 1999
Karls kühne Gassenschau
Karls kühne Gassenschau is in the widest sense a Swiss circus, variété or street theatre, as of April 2016 based in Winterthur.
Name
There's no man called ''Karl'' that initiated the cabaret. ''Karls kühne Gassenschau'', meaning ''Charles' ...
toured with the Swiss national Circus.
In 2000 was the focus on ''Hanna & Knill'' including six clown cabarets with Ueli Bichsel, ''Neda und Maite'', and
Gardi Hutter.
became in 2002 the leading act and headline of the Circus Knie, performing 257 times during the 2002 season tour and having an audience totaling one million spectators.
travelled with the circus for some months in 2001 and 2002 while in a relationship with Franco Knie.
External links
Circus Knie official website
References
{{Authority control
Circuses
Rapperswil-Jona
Culture of the canton of St. Gallen
Tourist attractions in Rapperswil-Jona