The 70th Anniversary Weekend is in fact a two-part event: the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday activities are being organized by the school; the Monday and Tuesday activities are being coordinated by a committee of school alumni. All members of the Aiglon community—including former students, staff, and parents—are invited to participate in the festivities over all five days. So many old friends. So many stories to tell. It will be everything you’d expect when you finally make your way back home to be with family.

NB. So many people have registered we’ve had to make… adjustments. The “fun” parts remain unchanged! To view the definitive schedule and other reunion information click here. If there are other last-minute changes, we’ll post them here.

Friday, June 28

(From the Aiglon Life Website:)

Registration & Tours

4:00 P.M.

Arrive in time to register, receive your welcome pack, and get additional information about the Reunion. Then, join us for a tour of Aiglon’s campus. Whether it’s been one year or 50, a lot has changed—and stayed the same.

Did you know, for example, that Aiglon’s campus today comprises over 30 different buildings? Those many additions stand in marked contrast to the solitary chalet, Chantecler, where it all began in 1949!

Welcome Drinks & Barbecue (casual attire)

5:00 P.M.

Prepare yourself for some traditional Swiss music and a lot of cheese! Our welcome barbecue will feature a selection of Swiss-themed items and, of course, local wine. We hope you can join us for a leisurely summer evening on Aiglon’s beautiful Alpine campus.

Following dinner, after you’ve met back up with some friends, you can head out to some of your favorite “forbidden” haunts. But remember, tomorrow will be a full day!

Saturday, June 29

Auction bidding goes live on BiddingForGood.com

9:00 A.M.

Inspirational morning meditation given by Michael McCabe (class of 1970)

11:00 a.M.

Expeditions & Lunch

Choose between two “expeditions”: a hike to Anzeindaz or a family walk to Solalex. Both groups will rendezvous for a picnic at Solalex at 1:30 p.m. Lunch provided by Charlet Boulangerie. (A minibus will be provided for others wishing to meet up for the picnic.)

6:00 p.m.

Champagne cocktails followed by the Aiglon 70th Anniversary Gala Evening

Dancing to a D.J. under a tent at the school

Auction conducted by the F.O.A.C.

(Dress code: Suits for men; Cocktail attire for women • No one under 16 years of age.)

Sunday, June 30

10:00 a.m.

School Worship Service in the Aiglon Chapel

Many alumni will remember chapel services in the small, white English church in Villars. In the mid-1990s, Aiglon purchased the chapel for its own use. Since that time it has been used for Sunday services, special concerts, weddings, and funerals. The Sunday worship service will be conducted by the Reverend John Murdoch, Aiglon chaplain between 1994 and 1998 and presently minister of St. John’s Kirk, Perth, Scotland.

10:45 a.m.

(Those who don’t want to take the train:) Meet outside the School Chapel to walk up to lunch, towards Bretaye, with alumnus Sandro Corsini and former staff member Tony Hyde. Tony assures us he knows the way.

11:30 a.m.

The Crazy Moose Restaurant

It’s Bretaye for lunch! You can walk or take the train up to the old Maison de Montagne, situated just below the ski station. Today, it’s the home of The Crazy Moose restaurant. We’ll have lunch and drinks together on the terrace and enjoy a variety of Swiss-themed games throughout the afternoon.

Walk or take the train back down to Villars

Evening

Meet up with Friends for Dinner

If you have any questions about the Friday–Sunday activities, contact Nathalie Wildeboer at her email address below. Times and venues are subject to change.

Monday, July 1

Excursion to Gruyères

CHF 125 per person (transportation included)
Reservations & payments required in advance

9:00 a.m.

Bus to Gruyères (approximately one hour)

10:30 A.M.

Guided tour of the cheese factory (approximately 30 minutes)

12:00 noon.

Gruyères Castle guided tour, 25 people per group (approximately one hour)

Built in the 13th century, Gruyères castle is a “Swiss Heritage Site of National Significance” (Inventaire suisse des biens culturels d’importance nationale). It has been open to the public since the late 1930s. The castle museum is the home of three capes of the Order of the Golden Fleece. They were part of the booty captured by Swiss Confederates (which included troops from Gruyères) at the Battle of Morat against forces of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, in 1476. At the time, Charles was observing the anniversary of his father’s death. As a consequence, one of the capes is a black velvet sacerdotal vestment with the emblem of Philip the Good (Charles’ father) sewn into it.

A collection of landscapes by 19th-century artists Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Barthélemy Menn, and others are also on display in the castle. —Wikipedia

1:15 p.m.

Lunch at Chalet de Gruyères

Discover the village on foot

4:00 P.M.

Bus back to Villars

OR

Golf Tournament & Lunch at Golf Club Villars

CHF 80 per player, including cart. Lunch not included. If you plan to participate, please register HERE so we’ll have a head count.

10:00 a.m.

First players tee off

Followed by:

Awarding of prizes

Dinner TBD

Tuesday, July 2

Excursion to Montreux: Lake Cruising & Wine Tasting

CHF 175 per person (transportation included)
(Reservations & payments required in advance.)

10:00 A.M.

Bus to Montreux (approximately 40 minutes)

11:00 A.M.

Guided tour of the Château de Chillon, 30 people per group
(approximately 50 minutes)

The Château de Chillon is one of the most visited castles in Europe. Apparently it’s Switzerland’s number one tourist attraction. There was a Roman outpost on the site in antiquity, but the current castle dates to at least the early 11th century. Whoa! It has served as a royal residence, armory, prison, and more recently a tourist attraction and lucrative gift shop. You probably know that Lord Byron carved his name on the dungeon wall, but did you know that Chillon was the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s The Little Mermaid? Now you do.

12:40 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Two-hour excursion on Lake Geneva aboard an iconic paddle wheeler, with lunch, followed by a wine tasting.

Around 3:00 P.M.

Bus back to Villars (approximately 25 minutes)

If you have any questions about the Monday and Tuesday activities, contact Marcia Izant at her email address below. Times are subject to change.

To repeat: the schedule and some venues are going to change. Watch this space.