Institut Le Rosey

Institut Le Rosey is a private boarding school with a reputation for being one of the most exclusive in the world, and it occupies a unique place in Swiss life. It was founded in 1880 on the shore of Lake Geneva at Rolle, a small town between Lausanne and Geneva, in a country house called the Château du Rosey, and it has remained there ever since. Over the years it has grown from a small school into an international institution whose pupils come from dozens of countries, and its families include members of royal houses, business dynasties and the diplomatic world. The school describes itself as bilingual, with teaching in French and English, and offers both the International Baccalaureate and the French baccalauréat.

What distinguishes Le Rosey from other schools is its practice of moving. In winter the whole school, pupils and staff, goes up to the mountains and spends a term at a second campus in Gstaad, in the Bernese Oberland, where lessons continue alongside skiing and other winter sports. This tradition goes back to the early twentieth century, and it gave the school the nickname of the school of kings in the press. The Gstaad campus is made up of chalets and modern buildings in the village, and during the winter term it brings hundreds of young people to the town, adding to the community and the character of the place.

Gstaad itself is one of the best-known resorts in the Alps, a village of chalets in the Saanenland, a broad, green valley with gentle slopes, at about 1,050 metres. The old main street, the Promenade, is lined with wooden buildings, and strict building rules require that new constructions follow the chalet style, so even the luxury shops and hotels look traditional. The Palace Hotel, a castle-like building on a hill above the village, has been a landmark since the early twentieth century. In summer there are music events, including the Menuhin Festival, named after the violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who lived in the village, and in winter the area is a ski region with links to the neighbouring glacier area.

The school is a private institution, and the campuses are not open to visitors as attractions. Anyone interested in education can visit the school's website for details on admissions and events, and people staying in Gstaad may notice the school's presence in the winter. The Rolle campus lies on the lake, and the little town of Rolle, with its medieval castle on the shore, a harbour and lakeside promenade, makes a pleasant stop for those travelling along the Lake Geneva shore. Respect for privacy is important near the school grounds, so avoid entering campus areas or photographing pupils.

The topic suits readers curious about Swiss institutions and visitors who want to understand the social life of Gstaad. Allow time for a stroll in Gstaad's centre and the nearby valleys instead of expecting a formal visit. The village can be reached by train from Montreux on the scenic line, or from Spiez, and has a good network of lifts and walking paths for those who stay.