European Heritage Days 2025: Discover the Caux Palace
09:30 - 18:00
Celebrate with us the European Heritage Days at the Caux Palace on Saturday, 13 and Sunday, 14 September 2025! Come and discover this jewel of the Belle Epoque, enjoy its breathtaking view from the heights of Montreux in the village of Caux, and discover our cultural programme and activities for young and old!
Welcome to the Caux Palace
The Caux Palace, one of the largest Belle Époque hotels in Switzerland, is opening its doors to reveal its architectural evolution from the XXᵉ to the XXIᵉ century.
Transformed into a refugee centre during the Second World War, it has been a peace conference centre dedicated to peace and dialogue since 1946 and houses a hotel school for part of the year.
Unique in Switzerland, it has largely preserved its original architecture. Today, it is a conference and meeting center dedicated to dialogue on peace and committed to a fair and sustainable world.
Through guided tours, a lecture and a round table discussion, you will be able to explore the building's transformations: the gradual integration of bathrooms, the conversion of the ballroom into a theatre, and changes to the lobby.
A journey to the heart of a living heritage.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Dates & Opening Hours: 13 & 14 September 2025 (9:30 - 18:00)
- Venue: Gardens & Terrace of the Caux Palace, Rue du Panorama 2, 1824 Caux
- Food & Beverages: on site
- Wheelchair accessible and PRM toilets. Find out more
- Families are welcome!
PROGRAMME
Discover our exhibitions, historical guided tours, workshops, a lecture anda roundtable conversation and enjoy the show by Bombe Divine Super Merveilleuse and jazz music by L'Effet Philemon!
Stay tuned for the detailled programme coming up soon!
GUIDED TOURS
Thank you for your interest in our guided tours during the European Heritage Days. Registration will open on 26 August on the Montreux-Riviera Tourist Office website.
- Participants per group: 20 max
- Duration: 1h30
- Language spoken: French (tours in other languages available on request)
- Free entry (registrations open on 26 August)
- Tours available for people with reduced mobility. Wheelchair access and PRM toilets. Find out more.
How to book your Guided Tour
Thank you for your interest in our guided tours during the European Heritage Days. Registration will open on 26 August on the Montreux-Riviera Tourist Office website.
Guided tours on architecture by architectural historians and architects.
Saturday, 13 September 2025:
- 10:00 - 11:30
- 12:00 - 13:30
- 13:00 - 14:30
- 15:00 - 16:30
- 16:00 - 17:30
Sunday, 14 September 2025:
- 10:00 - 11:30
- 11:00 - 12:30
- 12:00 - 13:30
- 13:00 - 14:30
- 15:00 - 16:30
- 16:00 - 17:30
(Please note that this programme is subject to change.)
YOUR GUIDES
ALEKSIS DIND, Architect in charge of the renovations at the Caux Palace
As lead architect, Aleksis Dind will present the historical developments of the Caux Palace and how this venue has been transformed over the course of its various incarnations. He will also provide insight into the work currently underway or in preparation at the Caux Palace.
EVELYNE LÜTHI GRAF, former Archivist and Expert in Swiss hotel history
Evelyne Lüthi Graf is passionate about Swiss hotel history. As director of the Swiss Hotel Archives for the past decade, she knows all the ins and outs of this unique field, which reflects the ‘Swiss genius’ in its own way.
NICOLA PASQUARELLO, Art Historian
With a master's degree in art history in 2024, Nicola Pasquarello is particularly interested in architecture and the heritage of the Vaud region. He regularly gives guided tours in Lausanne.
CAROLE SCHRAUB, Archivist in charge of private collections at the Montreux Archives
Carole Schaub is an architectural historian specialising in hotel architecture. She will offer a unique perspective on the Caux Palace based on the archives of the City of Montreux and her scientific research on the history of the hotel industry in the region.
- Saturday, 13.09.2025 14:00 - 15:30
- Saturday, 13.09.2025 17:00 - 18:30
- Sunday, 14.09.2025 14:00 - 15:30
(Please note that this programme is subject to change.)
YOUR GUIDES:
- Andrew Stallybrass, Specialist and witness to the transformations of the Caux Palace over the past few decades
- Anne-Catherine Sutermeister, Historian and Head of Community Engagement, Arts & Training Programmes - Switzerland at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
With:
- Christoph Keller, Technical Director of the Caux Palace until 2016
(Please note that this programme is subject to change.)
LECTURE & ROUND TABLE
Lecture about the transformations at the Caux Palace over the course of the century.
With:
- Evelyne Lüthi-Graf, Historian and archivist specialising in the history of Swiss hospitality
(Please note that this programme is subject to change.)
__________________________________________________________________
EVELYNE LÜTHI GRAF, former Archivist and Expert in Swiss hotel history
Evelyne Lüthi Graf is passionate about Swiss hotel history. As director of the Swiss Hotel Archives for the past decade, she knows all the ins and outs of this unique field, which reflects the ‘Swiss genius’ in its own way.
Round table with:
- Alexis Dind, Architect in charge of the work at the Caux Palace
- Carole Schaub, Architect specialising in hotel history
- Muriel Thalmann, President of Patrimoine Vaud
Moderator:
- Anne-Catherine Sutermeister, Historian and Head of Community Engagement, Arts & Training Programmes - Switzerland at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation
(Please note that this programme is subject to change.)
___________________________________________________________
ALEKSIS DIND, Architect in charge of the renovations at the Caux Palace
As lead architect, Aleksis Dind will present the historical developments of the Caux Palace and how this venue has been transformed over the course of its various incarnations. He will also provide insight into the work currently underway or in preparation at the Caux Palace.
CAROLE SCHRAUB, Archivist in charge of private collections at the Montreux Archives
Carole Schaub is an architectural historian specialising in hotel architecture. She will offer a unique perspective on the Caux Palace based on the archives of the City of Montreux and her scientific research on the history of the hotel industry in the region.
MURIEL THALMANN, President of Patrimoine Vaud & Member of the Grand Council, Canton of Vaud
Muriel Thalmann is President of Patrimoine Vaud and a member of the Grand Council of the Canton of Vaud. She is committed to protecting cultural heritage and promoting sustainable regional development.
WORKSHOPS
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Enjoy the gardens of the Caux Palace during a moment suspended in time, where you can listen to your five senses and discover this spectacular heritage in a unique way.
This interactive and exceptional tour is offered by the TransformAction Lab (EPER). Clothing and footwear suitable for a short walk outdoors are required.
The detailed programme will be available on 26 August.
ABOUT THE WORKHOP
Native to North America, particularly the Mississippi Basin and Florida, Pitch Pine was imported to Europe in the late 19th century because it was considered rot-proof and very durable. It was therefore used for the woodwork of hundreds of doors and windows during the construction of the Caux Palace in 1902.
During this workshop, you will discover the Caux Palace workshops and the different steps involved in renovating a window made from this precious wood. You will then learn how to renovate the wooden and wrought iron benches that adorn the Esplanade.
ENTERTAINMENT
Bombe Divine Super Merveilleuse
Who needs a little hope right now? Has anyone called for help? The self-proclaimed ‘Super Wonderful Divine Bomb’ (Bombe Divine Super Merveilleuse) is coming to your rescue to help you hang in there with the help of her faithful sidekick Pogo!
Combining artistic whip dancing and humour with a touch of 80s pop, this superheroine will try to sweep your worries away with a flick of her whip and even get you humming a little Bonnie Tyler. Winner of the ‘ACT ALONE’ award at the Reykjavík Fringe Festival 2023.
The two performances at the Caux Palace are part of Six Pompes Summer Tour 2025.
- 13 Sept at 15:25 - Caux Palace Terrace
- 14 Sept at 15:25 - Caux Palace Terrace
MUSIC
L’Effet Philemon – Jazz Groove
We all know the old saying: ‘Your father stole all the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes...’
L'Effet Philémon reproduces the same idea, but for your ears. Blending soul, exotica jazz and proto-punk disinheritance in a bowl of adulterated acid, Effet Philemon sounds like an odyssey that is at times playful, at times exploratory, offering no destination other than a jerky head movement that crescendos until your whole body vibrates!
EXHIBITIONS
"Democracy? What democracy?!"
An exhibition of press cartoons by Godfrey Mwampembwa (Gado), from Nairobi, Kenya, and Nadia Khiari, alias Willis from Tunis.
Location: The Galleries (4th floor), Caux Palace – Rue du Panorama 2 – 1824 Caux
The press cartoons take a sharp look at recent events and show how democracy has become a concept emptied of its original meaning, distorted, flouted, reinterpreted or exploited. Like freedom, democracy is becoming a hackneyed term, its deeper meaning lost in the twists and turns of an increasingly elusive global political chessboard.
This exhibition is organised in collaboration with Freedom Cartoonists - Dessins pour la liberté.
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"Dialogues on Humanity"
An exhibition produced thanks to a partnership between the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Photo Elysée - Lausanne.
Location: Esplanade in the gardens of the Caux Palace – Rue du Panorama 2 – 1824 Caux
How can photography help us understand humanitarian principles? A photographic exhibition on humanitarian values: various themes such as nature, digitalisation, values, etc. are interpreted by a professional photographer and photographs from the ICRC archives, offering different perspectives on issues that concern us all.
More about the artists and the exhibitions.
Access to the Caux Palace
Adresse: Rue du Panorama 2, 1824 Caux
- By train: "Caux" train stop on the Montreux-Rochers de Naye train
- By car: from Montreux drive up to Glion / Caux
- Parking: Carpark available nearby
STAY TUNED FOR THE FULL PROGRAMME
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