The Caisse d’Epargne Belem foundation
5 rue Masseran
75007 Paris
Phone : +33 (0) 6 29 64 81 48
Senior Management
Jean-Charles Filippini
Chairman
Christelle Hug de Larauze
General Manager
Activities
The Caisse d’Epargne Belem foundation was established in 1979 at the initiative of the Caisses d’Epargne to enable the Belem three-masted barque to continue sailing. The foundation – which has been awarded public utility status – pursues a mission of general public interest: to preserve this exceptional treasure from France’s maritime heritage and to operate the ship as a training vessel open to all. Every year, it welcomes thousands of visitors at the dock during the ship’s port calls and offers everyone the opportunity to come aboard and discover life as a sailor on the oldest French three-masted ship still sailing.
Since 2023, the Caisses d’Epargne have also been strengthening their commitment to young people through sailing internships aboard the Belem. This initiative has already enabled more than 500 young men and women from all social and geographic backgrounds to enjoy a unique maritime, human, and collective experience. The highlight of this commitment came in 2024 when sixteen young people from all over France boarded the Belem to accompany the Olympic Flame as it traveled from Athens to Marseille. In 2026, to mark the ship’s 130th anniversary, 130 young people aged 18 to 25 had the opportunity to sail aboard the three-masted ship.
This commitment is complemented by financial education workshops led by the association Finances & Pédagogie to promote autonomy and confidence in managing personal finances, as well as by a mentoring program offered to participants following the voyages.
The purchase and return of the Belem to France marked the first philanthropic initiative of national importance undertaken by the Caisses d’Epargne. Forty-five years later, support for the Belem foundation remains the Caisses d’Epargne’s most significant commitment to cultural heritage. As a long-standing patron of the Belem, the Caisse d’Epargne funds a significant portion of the Caisse d’Epargne Belem foundation’s sponsorship budget.
“130th anniversary, 130 young people” Operation (only in French)
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It has been said that the Belem is a museum. Better, it’s a living museum because it sets sail. Better still, a museum that enables you to learn about life.
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