New this summer: The Café des Galeries opens its doors at the Caux Palace!

Warm Welcome - Hot and Cold Drinks - Local Snacks - Stunning Views - Exhibitions - Gardens - A Moment to Relax

This summer, Caux Initiatives of Change is delighted to announce the opening of the Café des Galeries, a welcoming and community-minded venue nestled in the former post office of the prestigious Caux Palace.

At an altitude of 1,000 metresin the hills above Montreux, this unique café offers much more than just a refreshing break: breathtaking views of Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps, an exceptional historical setting and a friendly, inclusive and inspiring atmosphere.

Whether you are visiting, participating in our forums or just passing by, come and enjoy a coffee, tea or cold drink along with local delicacies to take away – all carefully prepared with a focus on sustainability and local sourcing.

And the icing on the cake? Explore the magnificent gardens of the Caux Palace and visit our exhibitions!

• LOCATION: The former Caux Palace post office, Rue du Panorama 2, 1824 Caux/Montreux (100 metres from Caux railway station)
• OPENING HOURS: 8 July to 14 September 2025 (Thursday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm, weather permitting)

A place of meaningfulness and solidarity

But this place also has a deeper meaning: the Café des Galeries is a solidarity project run in collaboration with EVAM (Etablissement vaudois d'accueil des migrants) and the ÉVEIL association. The service is provided by people undergoing social integration, supervised and supported by the Caux Palace team as part of an educational and professional support programme.

A visit to the Café des Galeries is an opportunity to:

• take part in a human and hopeful project
• encourage social integration through a rewarding activity
• support our actions and the preservation of the Caux Palace, a historic architectural gem built in 1902
• make a gesture of solidarity with a suspended coffee: offer a coffee to a stranger
• discover our exhibitions, our gardens, and the many initiatives of the Foundation
   

Take a break, enjoy the beauty of the place and show your solidarity!

Start your discovery of the Caux Palace with a guided tour

The Café des Galeries is also the perfect starting point for a guided tour of the Caux Palace on the 2nd of August 2025 (11:00 a.m.).

Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of this century-old building, an architectural masterpiece built in 1902, and discover its behind-the-scenes areas, historic salons and art exhibitions, both inside and in the gardens.

For more information and to book your guided tour

THIS SUMMER: VISIT OUR INSPIRING EXHIBITIONS

• Location: Les Galeries, Caux Palace – Rue du Panorama 2 – 1824 Caux
• Dates: 8 July to 14 September 2025
• Opening hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (2pm to 6pm)

‘Democracy? What democracy?!’

At a time when the core values of democracy are being radically challenged, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation is presenting an exhibition of around forty cartoons on this theme, by the cartoonists Gado (Godfrey MWAMPEMBWA) and Nadia KHIARI, also Willis from Tunis.

Through the sharp, ironic and sometimes cynical eyes of these two artists from the African continent, the exhibition shows snapshots of European and world political events in recent years.

The drawings reveal how democracy has become a concept emptied of its original meaning, and misappropriated, flouted, reinterpreted or exploited. Like freedom, democracy is fast becoming a hackneyed term, whose deeper meaning is lost in the twists and turns of an increasingly elusive global political chessboard. 

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 Photo Elysée - Lausanne, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

• Location: Outdoor esplanade in the gardens of the Caux Palace – Rue du Panorama 2 – 1824 Caux
• Dates: 8 July to 14 September 2025
• Opening hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (2pm to 6pm)

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

How can photography help us understand humanitarian principles? Humanitarian crises around the world make the headlines every day. The images associated with these tragedies are often linked to tears, suffering, hunger, despair, loneliness, separation and desolation. We sometimes feel powerless and overwhelmed by the images of crises, violence, armed conflicts and natural disasters. 

This contemporary art exhibition is a reaction to these feelings. The three partners mentioned above have developed a concept that allows us to take a step back from the images that surround us and to pause, reflect and feel. The idea is to provide a space for discussion about humanitarian principles, and to share opinions on the evolution of the world in which we live.

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‘Nuclear Cries Through Innocent Eyes’

• Location: Les Galeries, Caux Palace – Rue du Panorama 2 – 1824 Caux
• Dates: 8 July to 1 August 2025
• Opening hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (2pm to 6pm)

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

‘Nuclear Cries Through Innocent Eyes‘ is a powerful art exhibit that brings to life the emotional and generational impact of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands—seen and expressed through the eyes of young Pacific Islanders.

This exhibit is a collaboration between the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and the Marshallese Educational Initiative (MEI), a not-for-profit based in Springdale, Arkansas—the heart of the largest Marshallese community outside the islands.

As part of its nuclear justice advocacy, MEI empowers youth to explore the legacy of nuclear testing through creative expression. The artworks featured here were produced during MEI-led Nuclear Climate Art Workshops, where children learned about their history, discussed its relevance today, and translated their feelings into collaborative visual art. These striking pieces reflect the pain, resilience, and hopes of a generation still living with the consequences of nuclear injustice.

This exhibit honors their voices and ensures that their stories continue to be seen and heard on the international stage—at the UN and beyond.

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How to find us

• By train: get off at the ‘Caux’ stop on the Montreux-Rochers de Naye line
• By car: from Montreux, drive up to Glion/Caux (parking available nearby)
• Reduced mobility: wheelchair access and PRM toilets

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About the Caux Palace and Caux Initiatives of Change

The Caux Palace is a former luxury hotel offering breathtaking views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. Nestled in the mountains, 1,000 metres above Montreux, it was conceived by the visionary developer Ami Chessex and the renowned architect Eugène Jost, who also designed the Montreux Palace. When it opened in 1902, the Caux Palace was one of the largest and most prestigious palaces in Switzerland.

An iconic landmark in the region, the Caux Palace is built on an impressive historic retaining wall with distinctive arches and a 400-metre-long promenade.

In 1946, the building was purchased by 100 Swiss families who wanted to transform it into a meeting place for peace and reconciliation in post-war Europe. This vision laid the foundations for the Caux Palace's enduring role as a centre for dialogue and confidence-building.

Today, the Caux Palace belongs to the private Swiss foundation Caux Initiatives of Change. Its mission is to provide a safe and privileged space to inspire, equip and connect individuals, groups and organisations from around the world to engage effectively and innovatively in promoting trust, ethical leadership, sustainable living and human security.

The site is also part of the Peace Parks initiative, in partnership with the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) and the Caux Peace Park will be inaugurated on 8 July 2025. This global initiative recognises significant places as spaces for reflection, dialogue and responsible environmental management.

Find out more about our events and programmes

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Help us keep this wonderful solidarity project alive

Would you like to support our community café project? You can make a donation via TWINT by scanning the QR code or by credit card.