Circus Knie (Established 1803)
Dates
- Existence: Established 1803
Biography
Circus Knie is the largest circus in Switzerland. Knie was founded in 1803 by the Knie family and it soon became renowned for its wild animal acts. As well as the circus Knie has operated Knie’s Zoo for many years. 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.
In 1992 Knie co-produced a show with Cirque du Soleil and in 1999 it toured with the Swiss National Circus.
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco travelled with the circus between 2001 and 2002 while in a relationship with Franco Knie.
Circus Knie continues to operate in the twenty first century.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses