On 7 and 8 September 2024, the Caux Palace opened its doors in glorious sunshine for the 2024 edition of the European Heritage Days. 

Having been selected as one of the five ‘must-see’ historic sites in the Canton of Vaud, we were delighted to welcome hundreds of enthusiastic visitors to the Caux Palace who took part in guided tours, enjoyed the exceptional views and magnificent gardens and listened to the Swiss Alphorn Trio, which combines traditional music with modern sounds.

The Caux Palace is a historic monument of exceptional importance, offering one of the most spectacular views of the Leman basin and the Swiss Alps. Classified as an object of national interest, this former Belle Époque hotel is a unique piece of Swiss heritage. Its architecture, history and cultural role make it a fascinating place with a rich heritage. 

Built in 1902, the Caux Palace is one of the largest buildings in the country. After going bankrupt on the eve of the Second World War, the former Belle Époque hotel was taken over in 1946 by the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation. Since then, it has become the flagship centre of the global Initiatives of Change movement and has established itself as an international meeting place for promoting peace and building trust. 

For many years, our Foundation has been committed to preserving its heritage, not only through renovations and upgrades to its buildings, but also by improving the sustainability of the site and its accessibility. Thanks to our cooperation with the EVAM centre in Caux which welcomes migrants and refugees, we have also been able to offer three guided tours in Ukrainian.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this weekend such a great success.

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"While we fight for equality and democracy we can also be confident that eventually, worldwide, these ideas of equality and democracy will succeed" - Rajmohan Gandhi (India) - Historian, journalist, former MP and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

On the occasion of today's World Democracy Day 2024, we bring you conversations from participants at this summer's Caux Democracy Forum on the state of democracy and the importance of embodying its values and holding on to hope.

As part of our 3-year Caux Democracy Programme, this year’s Caux Democracy Forum brought together people from 70 countries, representing governments, civil society, youth organisations and like-minded peoples' movements, to explore how each of us can contribute to revitalising democracy across Europe and the world and to enhance democratic governance, human rights and sustainable economic development. 

This programme also includes the Geneva Democracy Dialogues, designed to facilitate open, inclusive, and informed discussions on challenges for democracy, foster collaboration and innovation, and generate actionable recommendations.

The next Geneva Democracy Dialogue will take place on 9 October during the Geneva Democracy Week.

Register now to atttend the Geneva Democracy Dialogue (9 October) in person in Geneva

Our Annual Report 2023 is now available! Discover the highlights of the past year and learn more about the mission and work of our Foundation!

DOWNLOAD AS PDF

We made it! We are thrilled to announce that our Foundation has received an exceptional score of 9.2 points and the “Outstanding” quality label from the Swiss Location Award 2024!

This prestigious recognition now officially places the Caux Palace among the best event locations in Switzerland.

 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to this incredible achievement. Your support and collaboration have been invaluable.

 A huge thanks to the entire staff of the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation for their unwavering dedication and effort. Your passion and hard work are the driving forces behind our success.

A special thank you also to all those who have supported our work and mission over the years until today!
Together, we look forward to many more milestones and achievements!

THANK YOU!