22.01.2026, Alex Serre

I went to this school for several years before it's closure in 1971. I remember the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon in 1969. I still remember it well. I also (for some reason) remember Falfal with her violet hair. I don't actually remember what relationship she had to Mme Racine. Seemed to be part of the family. I loved the skiing although the walk to the slopes carrying the skis was long. Especially back up the hill afterwards. I enjoyed playing ice hockey down in Gstaad town centre. I remember enjoying playing ballon prisonier. I have never seen it played since. After the school closed, I was sent with a few others to school in England. I remember the piano recitals. I remember being punished by having to sit on the bench outside Mme Racine office for hours. It happened quite a lot :-) I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if the school hadn't closed. And today I'm back in Switzerland (near Zurich) since around a decade. Somehow I've always felt at home here :-) BTW, there is another website with more details, photos and even films, although not too many of the last years. https://marie-jose-gstaad.ch/ Happy days!

08.10.2025, Jeanette Wichmann

From the Editor's Desk Our house policy is that comments to articles without a sender will not be published. We will only publish comments with the author’s full name to ensure transparency. The address or identity of the author must, however, be known to the editorial team (source protection).

18.02.2025, sir Peter Ohlson Bt

I was at the Chalet for one year sept 1950 to June 1951 before returning to prep school in England, in order to sit Common Entrance for Harrow School. The school did not really do Latin which was required for Common Entrance so one of the mistresses learnt a section each week & then taught me. I learnt to ski (not very well) & fell deeply in love with Corinne Roland from Paris. I suppose I just made eyes at her, too shy to speak much but I was thrilled to be asked to her birthday party at Chez Charlie(?).

01.02.2025, Mike Bernstein

Jacques was a friend and always very kind and generous. As young man with a new business Jacques believed in me and agreed to offer me the opportunity to work with the Gstaad Open as its official Tour Operator. Jacques loved Gstaad and was a great ambassador for the city. He would take time to show my family around when we we were in town. Over the years we’d see each other at different events around the world and it was always a pleasure to see Jacques and his big smile. Jacques also had a home in Scottsdale, Arizona so I would get to see him in my hometown as well. He would always ask about my family and see if there were ways he could help with my business, to lend a contact in his great network. I’ll miss Jacques.

27.12.2024, Tyler Tanner

I grew up hearing stories of this man. My grandmother was Josephine De Dietrich. I'm not sure of the relation, but my grandfather (Robert Leigh Tanner) met my grandmother in Paris during WWII. She was a translator at the embassy where my grandfather was a Master Sergeant for the US Marine Corps. It was always said my grandmother came from wealth in Europe being given lands and I believe they were in the rail road industry. I was given a ring from my grandfather at 18 that has the head of Philippe De Dietrich mayor of Strasbourg and I have a painting of him at his home and the Rouget de l'Isle performing a song which became known as La Marseillaise. I never met anyone from my grandmothers side, but I have always thought fondly over the years of them. Many stories were told, and I remember Gilbert the most. I hope he had a wonderful life and I'm sure he will be missed by all those who knew him. -Tyler Jacob Tanner

09.12.2024, Irene Miller Miller

I worked at the Savoy Hotel with Ernst in the 60s and have many happy memories of our time working there with many other lovely friends. Irene

30.11.2024, THOMAS BERGER

For the fair, what is the price of entrance tickets please?

20.11.2024, Catherine PERANI

Bravo c'est formidable un escroc dans l immobilier M. SOUSSANA Patrick qui n'a pas hésité à mettre des familles en grande précarité pour des programmes immobiliers non terminés c'est honteux que cette personne puisse vivre tranquillement en SUISSE et ouvrir des galeries. Grâce à son escroquerie moi et d'autres familles remboursons encore un crédit. C'est insupportable. Cathy P

04.11.2024, Eric

A picture of the remains of our beloved Chalet Flora … could not paste foto

23.10.2024, Kate Crosby (Anstruther)

I have just come across this website feed while searching for a photo of Chalet Flora. Fascinating! I was a pupil for two years ages 9-11 in 1962-4. Apart from dire homesickness I do have good memories too. Skiing and skating and walking was wonderful and learning to knit. Learning French has served me in later life and learning to cope standing on my own feet in challenging situations. That said I would not wish the negatives imposed on any child - all those experiences so well described by others here, were definitely damaging and remain painful to this day. If anyone else from those years reads this they will remember two people that I am still in contact with: Werner Leitz and Justine Kasa Vubu. I have snapshots of those years if anyone is curious and am happy to share by email. Warmly a fellow pupil xx