Caux: Belle Époque Architecture and Culture

Caux is located above the shores of Lake Geneva in the canton of Vaud. This gives you the choice of attractions and activities that best fit your travel plans.

Belle Époque at the Caux Palace

The Caux Palace was built between 1900 and 1902 as a magnificent Belle Époque grand hotel. Caux has outstanding historical and architectural qualities, including significant buildings from this period and a diverse collection of hotels. The Palace is listed as a site of national importance; in principle, it is required to be classified as a historic monument.

Tours of the historic building include the Baroque theatre, the Main Hall, the washrooms and the construction workshops. Anyone interested in architecture and the functions of a historic building will find a wide-ranging tour here. Tour arrangements may change, so check the latest tour details before planning your visit.

Church, chapel and cultural programme

The Church of St Michael and All Angels was built in 1905 and consecrated on 1 February 1906. Its stained-glass windows depict a sequence of images showing the work of the angels. The church’s construction history and the artistic design of its windows thus represent different aspects of the building.

Caux Chapel has acoustics particularly suited to chamber music. The Saison musicale de Caux holds four concerts there each year. The Caux Forum is a conference programme held every summer at the Caux Palace. The musical events in the chapel are therefore distinct from the conference programme at the Palace. Concert dates, as well as the dates and format of the forum, may change; check the latest information if you plan to arrange your trip around either programme.

Trails and mountain scenery

Rochers-de-Naye lies at an altitude of 2,045 metres. From there, you can enjoy views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. The alpine garden La Rambertia is also located at Rochers-de-Naye, where visitors can discover alpine plants. You can choose to focus on the views or on alpine flora.

The Sentier des Narcisses begins right at the Haut-de-Caux railway stop. There are two route options, taking 50 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes respectively; the trail passes through varied landscapes with beautiful views of Lake Geneva and the Rhône plain. The two time estimates provide a specific comparison to help you plan. Seasonal conditions may affect the trail.

For the Rochers-de-Naye–Caux hike, the stated landmark is at the end of the route: it finishes just a few steps from Caux railway station. The planning information for the two hikes is therefore different: the Sentier des Narcisses has two walking times, while the Rochers-de-Naye–Caux hike is described by its endpoint near the station.

Getting there and seasonal activities

The Caux Palace can be reached via Caux station on the Montreux–Rochers-de-Naye railway line. Check the timetable before travelling. Depending on the weather, Caux’s natural ice rink welcomes visitors for skating from mid-December to mid-March. As its operation is weather-dependent, check whether the rink will be open during your stay before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Jongny, Corseaux, La Tour-De-Peilz, La Lécherette, Château-D'oex, L'etivaz, Les Avants, Chardonne.

For the wider travel overview: Riviera-Pays-D'enhaut.