Château d'Hauteville Press Kit
Pepperdine University Dedicated the New Switzerland Campus in July 2023
The Château d’Hauteville is a hub for global learning and cultural exchange
About
Nestled in the hills above Vevey, Switzerland, with unparalleled views of Lake Geneva and the Alps, the historic Château d'Hauteville is Pepperdine's newest international campus and a dynamic expansion of Pepperdine's global impact. One of the region's largest and most prestigious properties, the château features 58,547 square feet of living space and will be the home to more than 100 Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff each semester.
The château's estate comprises approximately 90 acres (or 36.7 hectares). Of those 90 acres, 67 acres is the approximate area of the farmland on the estate. Hundred-year-old trees, picturesque pathways, vineyards, French-style formal gardens, stone-carved fountains, and woodland forests surround the grounds, providing an optimal environment for students and visitors to experience the peaceful surroundings, reflect on their academic studies, and be inspired to make a difference with their lives.
Facts and Features
Facts
Location
Blonay - Saint-Légier
Built
1760
Purchased
2019
Dedicated
2023
Residents
80 undergraduate students and 45 graduate students per semester on average
Living Space
58,547 sq. ft.
Property
90 acres (67 of which are farmland)
Features
Main building: classrooms, lounges, student kitchen, grand salon, library, and cellar
Exterior structures: grand cobblestone courtyard, two-story orangerie, barn, pavilion, greenhouse, gardener's house, and gatehouse
Grounds: French-style gardens, vineyards, orchards, forests, tree-lined pathways, stream, and vegetable garden
Renovations
All new utilities, student residence rooms, commercial kitchen and dining room, new roofs and windows, new information technology infrastructure, restored facades, and more
Academic Courses
French language, world civilizations, earth science, Christianity and culture, farming, plants and the environment, sociology, foreign policy, and alternative dispute resolution
Global Engagement
World-class venue for retreats, conferences, and lectures on topics of global significance
Fun Facts
The estate is designated by Switzerland as a Class 1 Historic Site.
The campus is heated by a sustainable wood chip system.
The campus will become 100% organic working farmland.
A train stop across the street from campus provides public transportation and eliminates students’ need for private vehicles.
Media Assets
Giving Opportunities
For information on naming and funding opportunities, contact Kathy Walecki, executive assistant to the chancellor, at 310.506.4443 or email.