The Club Suisse de Monaco‘s recent gathering at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel on Saturday 1st August showed how well Alpine traditions blend with Mediterranean style.
Attended by local leaders, parliamentarians, and members of the Swiss community, the sold-out event moved away from a traditional formal reception, offering instead an engaging evening of entertainment and lively celebration.
A shared identity in the heart of Monaco
While the room was anchored in patriotism—highlighted by powerful, pin-drop a cappella renditions of both the Swiss and Monegasque national anthems—the evening’s core message was one of integration.
Host Monika Kaelin struck a chord with the crowd during the event by saying: “Home is not a place, but a feeling,”. And: “Home is where the heart is.”
It was a fitting sentiment for a community that maintains deep roots in the Confederation while thriving along the Côte d’Azur.
That cross-cultural blend spilled right into the entertainment lineup. Alongside slick magic acts and a blazing fire show by local performers, the night featured the live premiere of ‘Viva Munegu’. Written specifically for the event, the track mixed traditional Swiss sounds and unexpected yodelling motifs with a Mediterranean rhythm, brought to life on stage by a star-studded ensemble including Swedish personality Victoria Silvstedt and Club President Arik Röschke.
New ambassadors for the club
Between the performances, the club paused to formally appoint two new honorary ambassadors, confirming leadership roles approved earlier at its March General Assembly.
Monika Kaelin was officially named Honorary Ambassador of the Club Suisse de Monaco in Switzerland, alongside former club president Philippe Ragaz. The move honours Kaelin’s longstanding dedication to the organisation—a relationship that notably includes hosting the club’s 75th-anniversary event alongside Prince Albert II.
When ‘Ramba Zamba’ takes over
No gathering hosted by Kaelin would be complete without a grand finale, and the evening’s formal elegance didn’t last once the music shifted.
The moment the opening notes of her cult hit ‘Ramba Zamba’ filled the room, any lingering distinction between VIP guests, dignitaries, and members instantly vanished. The ballroom erupted into an impromptu conga line, turning a traditional 1st of August celebration into a full-scale folk festival in the heart of Monaco.
As the festivities stretched late into the night, one thing was entirely clear: Monaco’s Swiss community doesn’t just mark its national day—they make the principality dance.
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Swedish personality Victoria Silvstedt at the Swiss National Day celebration in Monaco. Photo credit: Sébastien Nash