Lausanne | Switzerland
Switzerland
Not-To-Miss Experiences While in Lausanne
Situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne offers a wealth of seasonal events for lovers of visual art, theater, jazz, sport, and gastronomic delights as well. Home to the International Olympic Committee headquarters; Lausanne also hosts the Olympic Museum and Olympic park. Wander the charming shop-lined streets amid centuries old cathedrals and soak up the historic, yet cosmopolitan atmosphere. Lausanne is the ideal spot to tour the many museums and galleries.
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01
Olympic Museum
Unique in the world, the Olympic Museum forms Lausanne’s main cultural attraction. Each of its three levels is dedicated to a particular aspect of modern Olympism, largely featuring new interactive communication media. You may need several visits to explore everything. In the park, admire the collection of sculptures and test your speed on a proper running track. Strolling through the landscaped terraces, you’ll reach the monumental fountain on the shores of the lake.
02
Lake Geneva
Two thousand years ago, Lausanne settled on the waterfront. Today, its well-preserved green shores are still delightfully attractive. Whether developed or wild, the lakeside puts on a show of the town’s best offerings: sports, nature, history and leisure. From St-Sulpice to Lutry, a footpath hugs the coastline almost without interruption. On a small pebble beach or on the busy Ouchy quays, Lake Geneva makes Lausanne a home port.
03
Aquatis
Without leaving Lausanne, enjoy an odyssey across the five continents, a full immersion in freshwater with 46 aquariums/vivaria/ terrariums, an oasis in the heart of the town. A new experience to be shared with your family!
04
Lausanne Cathedral
The Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Switzerland, was consecrated in 1275. Don’t miss the rose window, the painted portal, the 13th-century choir stalls, the ancient and modern stained glass windows and the great organs. The bravest will admire the panoramic view from the belfry (entrance fee) after climbing the 224 stairs. Open tours of the Cathedral and free guided tours during the summer.
05
Rolex learning-center
The university campus includes the Lausanne Federal Institute of Technology and Lausanne University, the first buildings of which were erected in the 1970s. Since then, the site has rapidly expanded and integrated buildings, the architecture of which is admired beyond Swiss borders. It’s the case of the Rolex Learning Center’s gentle undulations, created by the Japanese architecture firm SANAA, that serves as a place of learning, meeting and exchanges, and houses a library containing more than 500,000 volumes.
06
Lavaux
From the village of Grandvaux to the village of Lutry through the vineyards, a spectacular landscape presents itself to the walker. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Lavaux vineyard is laden with history. Lovers of good wine will discover new designations and ancestral methods of planting vines. Along the way, in a medieval setting, comic-strip fans will understand why Corto Maltese, Hugo Pratt ’s hero, has his own statue in a winegrowers’ village, gazing out on the lake and mountains.
07
MCBA (Plateforme 10)
It is one of the oldest museums in Switzerland dedicated exclusively to art. Since 2019, the MCBA is located a stone’s throw from the train station, in the PLATEFORME 10 arts district. Ten thousand works of its collection are to be discovered in the building qualified as an exceptional architectural achievement. It is designed to provide its visitors with new original spaces: a restaurant, a bookstore boutique, an auditorium and a library.
PHOTO CREDITS:
- Principal: Schweiz Tourismus [ Giglio Pasqua ]
- Olympic Museum: [ P. Waterton ]
- Lake Geneva: LT [ Régis Colombo ]
- Aquatis: LT [ Julien Dorol ]
- Laussane Cathedral: LT [ Régis Colombo ]
- Rolex Learning-Center: LT [ Régis Colombo ]
- Lavaux: LT [ Laurent Kaczor ]
- MCBA (Plateforme 10): Switzerland Tourism [ ©André Meier ]