Caux, Switzerland facts for kids
Caux is a small village in Switzerland. It's located high up in the mountains, about 1000 meters (around 3,280 feet) above Lake Geneva. Caux is part of the Montreux area in the Canton of Vaud.
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A Mountain Retreat
For a long time, the Caux area was mostly used by cattle farmers. It sits below the Rochers de Naye mountain, which is about 2000 meters (6,560 feet) high.
The Golden Age of Hotels
In the late 1800s, people realized Caux could be a great place for tourists. Hotel owners from nearby Montreux saw its potential. First, small inns opened. Then, bigger hotels like the Caux Grand-Hôtel (built in 1893) appeared. The most famous was the amazing Caux Palace Hotel, finished in 1902. It was designed by a famous Swiss architect named Eugène Jost.
The Caux Palace Hotel became known around the world. Many rich and famous people stayed there. Guests included Empress Sissi of Austria-Hungary, Lord Robert Baden-Powell (who started the Scout movement), and even John D. Rockefeller, a very wealthy American businessman.
Challenges and Changes
Sadly, the good times for these luxury hotels didn't last forever. World War I (1914-1918) made it hard for people to travel. Even after the war, the hotels struggled. The worldwide economic crisis in 1929 and World War II (1939-1945) caused all the hotels to go out of business.
During World War II, the empty hotels were used for a different purpose. They housed people who had to leave their homes because of the war. They also gave shelter to Allied soldiers who had escaped from prison camps. Later, about 1,600 Jewish people from Budapest found safety there.
A New Purpose for the Palace
In 1946, the old Caux Palace Hotel was bought by a group called Moral Re-Armament (MRA). They fixed it up and turned it into a place for international meetings. Their goal was to help people from different countries, especially in Europe, become friends again after the war. They held many workshops and brought together leaders and everyday people. Historians say their work helped France and Germany become friends again very quickly after 1945.
Today, the former Caux Palace Hotel is still a conference center for a group called Initiatives of Change. It can host up to 450 people. For most of the year, it's also a hotel school called the Swiss Hotel Management School. But every summer, it still hosts the Initiatives of Change conferences.
You can see the Caux Palace Hotel building from Montreux and the surrounding area. There's also a small museum inside that you can visit to learn about its history.
Churches in Caux
Caux has two churches, both built in the early 1900s:
- The Protestant chapel (built in 1906) has cool wooden designs and stained-glass windows. It also has a special wooden carving of a crucifixion from Bruges.
- The Catholic chapel (built in 1907).
Fun Activities in Caux
Caux is a great place for winter sports!
- The first ever bobsleigh world championship was held here in 1930.
- You can go Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing around the village.
- There's also an outdoor ice rink for skating.
You can reach Caux by train from Montreux. The train line continues up to the Rochers de Naye mountain. The area is also popular with people who love watching birds, especially in the autumn when many birds fly south for the winter.
