In a Principality defined by its international character, the Club Allemand International de Monaco stands as a refined example of how cultural identity and global perspective can coexist seamlessly. Bringing together German-speaking residents, entrepreneurs, and international professionals, the Club has quietly established itself as a dynamic platform for connection, exchange, and collaboration in Monaco.
Monaco is home to more than 140 nationalities, creating a rare environment where cultures intersect daily. Within this cosmopolitan landscape, the Club Allemand International de Monaco (German Club of Monaco) offers a sense of familiarity while remaining fully open to the world.
The Club is not defined solely by nationality, but by shared values, professional excellence, cultural curiosity, and meaningful human connection. While its roots lie in the German-speaking community, its reach extends far beyond, welcoming individuals who appreciate a structured yet warm environment for networking and dialogue.
At its core, the Club operates at the intersection of networking and lifestyle. Its events are carefully curated to reflect both Monaco’s elegance and the precision often associated with German culture.
From smaller gatherings to larger social events, members have the opportunity to engage with other members with multiple backgrounds, some still active, others retired: professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and creatives; who all contribute to Monaco’s unique ecosystem.
These moments are not simply social. They are designed to foster authentic relationships, where conversations often move beyond introductions and into long-term friendships.
Since April 2026, the Club Allemand International de Monaco has elected Patrick Wetzel as its President.
Patrick, you were born in Peru, grew up between continents, studied in Lausanne and Zurich, worked at McKinsey across Switzerland, Japan, the USA, India, and Europe, and now you lead a German cultural Club in Monaco. How do all these identities coexist within you?
“These multiple backgrounds and experiences make me a true citizen of the world. That is how I genuinely feel, open to all cultures and curious about the world. This is also why I feel so well integrated in Monaco, with its large and multicultural community, speaking different languages and coming from diverse backgrounds.”
You are Swiss, not German. What drew you to the Club Allemand specifically, and what does German culture mean to you personally?
“Looking at my ancestry, I am at least 60% German. The Wetzel family became Swiss at the beginning of the 20th century. On my mother’s side, my great-grandfather, Charles Piaget, came from Neuchâtel, a Swiss canton that originally belonged to the Kingdom of Prussia and had close ties to Berlin. He married a “Berlinerin”. His son, my grandfather, also married a German wife and emigrated to Peru.
My own wife is German, with Korean origins. I have also worked frequently in Germany. So Germany is, in many ways, my second “Heimat”. I follow German news, politics, and the economy daily.”
You’ve lived and worked on almost every continent. What does Monaco offer that nowhere else does - and why do you stay?
“For me, it is the internationality. I am always surprised by the number of nationalities in such a small country-state of roughly 40,000 people. You find people from Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Namibia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Iran, Egypt, and of course all European countries.
It is an environment you normally only find in very large international cities. In addition, there is an excellent educational system, safety, and a beautiful environment and climate.”
You retired to Monaco in 2012, joined the Club in 2013, became auditor in 2015, then Co-President in 2017. Was becoming president always part of the plan, or did it happen naturally?
“No, it happened by chance, not by design. But life is so, that there is a kind of wheel, that leads you in a certain way in a certain direction at a certain time. This was the case for my involvement in the Club too. My wife is German, so we joined the Club. My background suited the role of auditor, and when my predecessor retired, it became a natural step to consider taking on leadership.”
You’ve just been elected sole president after nearly a decade of shared leadership with Beatrix Baroness von Dellingshausen. What does leading alone feel like after so many years as a duo?
“It will not be easy, as we worked very well together. It will clearly involve more work. I strongly believe in teamwork, so I will rely more on the members of our committee. Beatrix is not retiring, she remains involved in our Committee and will continue supporting certain areas.”
What does Baroness von Dellingshausen’s legacy look like to you - what did she build that you now carry forward?
“Certainly her focus on art, music, and culture. She significantly enriched the Club’s programme with cultural events, and this is something I want to continue.”
The newly elected Co-Presidents Beatrix Baroness von Dellingshausen and Patrick Wetzel with CAI Funder and former President Karl Vanis in 2017
The Value of Trust
In Monaco, where access is often as important as expertise, trust is a defining currency. The Club Allemand International de Monaco plays a key role in facilitating this trust, creating an environment where members can connect on a deeper level.
Unlike more transactional networking formats, the Club encourages continuity, familiar faces, recurring exchanges, and a sense of belonging that strengthens over time. It is within this consistency that real opportunities emerge.
The Club was founded in 1973 by Karl Vanis, a German hotelier who ran the Hôtel de Paris. He led it for 24 years. What is his legacy today, and does his spirit still live in the Club?
“His role was fundamental. He founded the club, served as its first Secretary General, and later President for 24 years. He emphasised quality and wanted to make sure, that what we offer has always a touch of exclusivity and uniqueness. We continue to uphold these values in everything we do.”
Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace became honorary presidents, and Princess Grace even wrote an article for the Club’s very first magazine in 1974. How significant is the relationship with the Princely Family to the Club’s identity?
“It was a big privilege to have the Princely Family involved from the time of the foundation of the Club. They were not only honorary presidents, but were involved regularly in the activities of the Club.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco continued this tradition by assuming Honorary Presidency in 2005. He supports the Club, attends events, and grants his High Patronage. This relationship is central to our identity.”
In 2025, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco celebrated not only 20 years of reign, but also 20 years of Honorary Presidency.
“Indeed. We gave him a special present at this occasion, a living art.”
Beyond business, the Club also serves as a cultural anchor, celebrating German heritage while integrating it into Monaco’s broader cultural fabric. Whether through themed events, discussions, or collaborations, it contributes to the diversity that defines the Principality.
This dual identity, both rooted and open, mirrors Monaco itself: a place where tradition and modernity coexist effortlessly.
Living Art present offered by the Committee of the German International Club to H.S.H. Prince Albert for the 20th anniversary of his intronisation, September 2025.
Monaco as a Platform
The success of such a Club is inseparable from its location. Monaco offers a unique stage where proximity accelerates connection. It is one of the few places in the world where high-level conversations can happen organically, at a dinner, on a terrace, or during a private gathering.
Within this context, the Club Allemand International de Monaco becomes more than a network, it becomes a facilitator of opportunity, where relationships are built with both ease and intention. The Club is like a big family where members invite each other, networks of friends form, people use “du” with each other.
Is the club’s family-like atmosphere something you consciously protect?
“Yes. When we took over nine years ago, the Club was more formal. You know, in Germany, it takes quite a lot of time to go from “Sie” to “Du”. We worked to create a more friendly and open environment, an extended family, fostering friendship.
People know each other, and when we assess a new candidacy, we always have an interview with the new candidates and make sure they participate to some of our events, to make sure that they fit to our environment.”
What is the biggest challenge ahead?
“Continuity over time. The younger generation is less accustomed to Club memberships. We must evolve to meet their expectations.”
How do you build a lasting community in such a transient place?
“Monaco’s international nature is not a challenge, it is an opportunity. Many people come, many people stay. Even when people leave, they often remain connected to the Club and their children may come back.”
You’ve set out plans to grow membership and broaden the Club’s reach. What specifically do you mean by that - geographically, demographically, or in terms of activities?
“My main focus is continuing to renew the membership of the Club. The Club is over 50 years old and we have many very loyal senior members. But we need to reinforce the younger generation. I was very happy at our last General Assembly, where the son of a senior member decided to join the Club. this is a strong signal. Maybe, one idea could be to start offering a special membership for younger members.”
Statue “The Dance of the Stars” by Christian Peschke, offered to Prince Rainier III on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the CAI. Its location in front of the Grimaldi Forum was personally chosen by him. Also, donation of a “tree allée” in front of the Grimaldi Forum for the 50th Jubilee of the Club.
A Quiet Influence
The strength of the Club lies not in visibility, but in impact. It operates with discretion, aligning with the expectations of Monaco’s residents, yet its influence is felt through the quality of its members and the depth of its connections.
The Club’s original purpose partly as helping Monaco become more international by attracting the German community. How has the Club’s mission evolved over 50 years?
“We remain a bridge between Monaco and Germany. We help residents build networks and maintain strong diplomatic and cultural ties. German speaking residents want to join a local community to make friends and enlarge their networks.
Many people coming to Monaco contact our Club, as I did myself, to build a first network. Then, we have many members living between Germany and Monaco. They also meet in Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf and even Zurich.
Then over the years, we built close ties with the monegasque diplomatic corps of Monaco in Germany, in particular today with the Monaco Ambassador in Berlin, Mr Lorenzo Ravano, but also with the many honorary Consuls of Monaco in Germany, of which some are also our members. Our mission in this sense, continues to be the same: a two way bridge between our countries.”
The Club donated eleven bottle trees (Brachychiton) to Monaco as part of your 50th anniversary - an environmental and symbolic gesture. Is sustainability becoming a priority?
“Yes. For our 50th anniversary, we donated trees aligned with environmental priorities. It reflects our commitment to responsible initiatives. It was a tradition for the Club to make donations at our important Jubilees. For example we gave two statues, one of them is on Avenue Princesse Grace, the other one in the gardens of the Rocher. For the 50 th year, we wanted something in line with the priorities of the Prince, environment being certainly a very important one. Something green, like trees.
We contacted Mrs Celine Caron Diagioni, the minister responsible for the environment, and discussed proposals, to finally pick this very nice project, in front of the Grimaldi Forum. And one of our members help us with a big donation to make this happen.”
In an era where networking is often reduced to numbers, the Club Allemand International de Monaco offers something different: a curated, human approach to building relationships, where quality always prevails over quantity.
The Club opened its doors to non-German members in 1975, becoming truly “international.” How do you balance that openness with preserving a specifically German cultural identity?
“The idea was that, as the Club offered a very attractive programme, some non-German individuals wanted to join, regardless of their nationality. That is what brings the international dimension.
Over the years, the world has become increasingly global, just look at how people marry and how many places they have lived.
Many of our members hold multiple nationalities, are married to non-German spouses, and some do not even speak German.
This is why we aim to be trilingual, German, French, and English, in everything we do, including our Club News, invitations, and magazine. However, the core remains, of course, German-centric.”
Social Impact
You are a passionate fan of classical music and opera. How much do your personal interests shape the Club’s programme?
“I mentioned earlier that the Club offers a strong mix of cultural activities, which naturally align with my own interests. However, it is important for us to cover as wide a range of activities as possible, from conferences, cultural and social events, and trips to excursions, sports, formal gatherings, and festive occasions. We offer a diverse programme, and our members can choose what resonates most with them.”
In 2025 you organised over forty events - talks on economics, emerging technologies, trips to Vienna and Berlin, concerts at the Prince’s Palace. Which event from last year are you most proud of?
“If I had to choose one, it would be our Vienna trip, where we had an exceptional program.
Thanks to the connections of one of our members, we were able to attend an opera at the Wiener Staatsoper, seated in the imperial loge, followed by dinner in the imperial tea salon.
We also arrived at the opera in carriages, elegantly dressed, it was truly a memorable experience.”
The 2026 gala at the Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Monaco, with German comedian Otto Waalkes as special guest. How did the idea of inviting him come about?
“Once again, our Club functions as a strong network. One of our members mentioned that she had established contact with Otto Waalkes and was planning to invite him to Monaco in the summer. She suggested we invite him to our gala, and from there the idea developed to have him as a special guest.
He is also an artist, and he will bring books featuring his paintings, which we will offer during our raffle. He will also personally sign them.
The gala will take place on July 15, 2026 at the prestigious Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris. The evening will feature a Venetian-themed show, along with a cocktail reception, dinner, raffle, music, and dancing. In the spirit of openness, we are inviting members from other Clubs, such as the Swiss and Belgian Clubs. If readers of Living in Monaco are interested, we would be delighted to arrange a few tables.”
Promoting the German language and culture in a Principality where French and English dominate - how relevant and how challenging is that mission in 2026?
“This remains very important to us. Currently, around 200 children are learning German in the schools of the Principality, but every year we need to motivate younger students to choose German as a foreign language.
We work closely with the teachers visiting primary schools and support their efforts. Competing with languages such as Chinese, Italian, or Spanish is certainly a challenge, but we aim to offer strong incentives, such as prizes for top students and contributions to school trips to Berlin, Vienna, or Munich each year.”
Dinner at the Imperial Tea Salon in the Vienna Opera.
Looking Ahead
As Monaco continues to evolve as a global hub for business, culture, and lifestyle, organisations like the Club Allemand International de Monaco will play an increasingly important role.
They remind us that in a world driven by speed, true value still lies in connection, trust, and shared experience. And in Monaco, those elements are never far away.
If Karl Vanis were here today at the Salle des Princes, watching you take the sole presidency - what do you think he would say?
“I hope that he would say that the Club is in good hands!”