The Institut Alpin Videmanette was a

finishing school A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the education, wit ...

in the municipality of Rougemont,

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. It was an all-girl school where the lessons were skiing,

cooking Cooking, cookery, or culinary arts is the art, science and craft of using heat to Outline of food preparation, prepare food for consumption. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely, from grilling food over an open fire to using electric ...

, dressmaking and French. In 1973, the school was headed by Monsieur and Madame C. L. Yersin. In 1981, it was reported to have an age range between sixteen and twenty and to teach language and commercial programmes through the medium of the

French language French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Nor ...

. The main facilities were in Château d'Œx. Tamara Mellon was at the school in the mid-1980s, when it had some sixty girls and was still headed by Madame Yersin. She later wrote of it that "The assumption was that you were a dunce and that the only hope for you was to attach yourself to what was known as a good provider." In her day there was a smoking room and in the winter months there were skiing lessons every afternoon. Girls would often meet boys from Le Rosey at a nightclub in Gstaad. The winter campus of Le Rosey was nearby. The school closed in 1991.

Alumnae

* Alexandra Aitken, model, daughter of Conservative British MP Jonathan Aitken *

Diana, Princess of Wales Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William and Harry. Her ac ...

: 1977 to 1978. * Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark * Alexandra "Tiggy" Legge-Bourke * Tamara Mellon

References

Girls' schools in Switzerland Defunct schools in Switzerland Educational institutions disestablished in 1991 Finishing schools 1991 disestablishments in Switzerland {{Switzerland-school-stub