Tourist Attractions & Monuments Lausanne

Close to Lake Geneva, set in a delightful garden with southern charm, this museum houses the remains of an opulent ancient residence. The permanent exhibition features archaeological finds from the nearby Lousonna site. In addition, the various temporary exhibitions and outreach activities focus on themes linked to antiquity and the concerns of society at the time. Throughout the year, children are invited to take part in bread-making, cooking and building workshops.

We've almost forgotten about them, such is the speed of progress, when these days we can type Chinese characters or almost any language in the world on our smartphones. Typewriters set the pace for all correspondence and the press throughout the last century. An original museum idea, the story of a family passion, presenting a rich collection of antique machines to typewriters equipped with Japanese kanji.

This unusual museum traces five thousand years of shoe history. Gentle Craft has been researching since 1993, and the current collection includes faithful reproductions of shoes from ancient Rome, the Middle Ages and pre-industrial times, sourced from archaeological digs or historical collections. Each piece is an exact replica to scale of the original. Particularly interesting for children, as you can look with your hands!

The art centre Circuit is an artistic institution created and managed by artists through the eponymous association.

This contemporary art gallery was founded in 1998 by former students of the Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) with the aim of bringing together young Swiss and foreign artists. Circuit has since become a kind of independent art and publishing mini-centre dedicated to contemporary art, with a space for meeting and dialogue open to various artistic practices (painting, sculpture, music, performance, cinema).

The Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL), an advanced art and design school specializing in training in visual arts, film, photography, graphic and industrial design, is equipped with the Espace lausannois d'art contemporain, a gallery showcasing the contemporary art creations of professors and guests. Students' work can be seen in editions, photographs, typography, paintings, interactive installations, films and design objects.

The lithographic printer Raynald Métraux set up his workshop in 1991 in a former factory in Le Flon. Since then, he has received numerous distinctions as a "craftsman of art". In addition to this, he has also turned it into a gallery where he presents temporary exhibitions, mainly of works on paper, and where one can permanently discover prints, portfolios and edited artists' books. Raynald Métraux also offers various workshops.

Housed in a building with cylindrical architecture, we turn around a large pylon to discover experiments staged by the team of scientists and graphic designers. Aimed at young and old alike, the Espace des Inventions is a place for learning about science and technology, discovery and experimentation. Around a chosen scientific theme, a set of games and experiments to be manipulated is proposed to the curious hands, critical eyes and agile brains of visitors. Ideal for little budding sunflower teachers!

Surprising to suggest a visit to a cemetery, but the architect Alphonse Laverrière designed it as a public park. The park is particularly well maintained, with hedges trimmed to the centimetre... Ponds, flowerbeds, beehives - a carefully considered plant decor. A brochure in the reception area lists the personalities buried here, including Pierre de Coubertin, the renovator of the Olympic Games, and Coco Chanel.

This cantonal museum, housed in the Palais de Rumine, comprises three departments: zoology, geology and botany. Aimed more at children, the Zoology Museum features 2,500 animals from the region's fauna and, to a lesser extent, from around the world, as well as an exceptional comparative anatomy section. If you can't see it diving, the museum also boasts the world's largest taxidermized white shark: 5.89 m! Numerous temporary exhibitions.

Located in the Palais de Rumine, the Geology Museum offers a permanent exhibition on three themes: fossils, crystals and the Alps. Two virtual exhibitions, on the origins of the world and Lausanne in the time of palm trees, are also on display. The mammoth on display is still very young: only 16,000 years old. However, it has undergone a two-year rejuvenation treatment to strengthen its bones, as the organic matter inside is still evolving!

Excellent! Within Plateforme 10, the MUDAC (Musée cantonal de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains), with its remarkable architecture, is dedicated to design in French-speaking Switzerland. On display are works in contemporary glassmaking, graphic arts, jewelry, ceramics, etc. The program consists of monographic exhibitions featuring young artists and established designers. In a didactic way, we display some very interesting works by the latter, brimming with creativity. A must-see!

Called Lousonna in Celtic, it was built on the heights, on three hills, to better defend itself. It became the seat of an important bishopric in the Middle Ages, and remained mainly agricultural until the ^19th century, when it embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment philosophers and became a tourist attraction from 1830 onwards. Today, the ^15th-century bishop's residence houses this interesting museum, recounting the city's history and exhibiting typical Lausanne artifacts.

In order to better pay tribute to the human hand and to raise awareness of its importance, Professor Claude Verdan, an eminent specialist in reconstructive hand surgery, has created this place which is entirely dedicated to it. The museum regularly organizes exhibitions and debates and lectures, not only on the hand but also related to science and medicine. Finally, Le Café de la Main for a coffee or a chocolate, a fruit juice or an organic pastry.

Housed in the former premises of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Forum d'architectures Lausanne is run by an association whose aim is to introduce professionals and the general public to authors, projects and achievements in the fields of visual expression and urban culture. To this end, it organizes exhibitions, conferences and debates related to the field of architecture in the broadest sense, open to all

Built in 1340, this former watchtower, 21 m high, is the last vestige of the ramparts that once surrounded the city. Its dimensions, 21 m high and 8 in diameter, made it one of the most spectacular elements of the town. The thickness of its walls reaches 1.75 m. The tower was classified as a historical monument in 1900 and restored in 1903. Just below, the rue de l'Ale, actually rue de la Halle but transformed by popular speech into rue de l'Aile and then l'Ale, leads to La Pinte Besson, the oldest bistro in Lausanne.

Catholic worship, abolished in 1536 by the Bernese, resumed in private homes in 1798 and, from 1812, in the new Mercerie temple. In 1832, the church of Notre-Dame du Valentin was built, the first Catholic church built in Lausanne after the Reformation. In 1992, it was elevated to the rank of basilica by Pope John Paul II. The church features a magnificent fresco by Italian Futurist Cubist painter Gino Severini (1883-1966).

Built in the 13th century on the ruins of an old church dating from the year 1000, Saint-Laurent is the first Protestant temple founded by the Bernese. Having survived with difficulty through the ages, notably because of the fire in Lausanne and certain acts of vandalism, a new temple was built between 1716 and 1719, and the main façade was renewed again in 1762. Today, the Reformed Church of St. Lawrence offers visitors the opportunity to observe its beautiful baroque façade with a clock tower.

Cantonal museums, cramped for space in the Palais de Rumine, use this space for temporary exhibitions. The neoclassical building, inaugurated in 1841, was built thanks to Vaud painter Louis Arlaud to house a drawing school and art museum. The site was given a new lease of life in 1997 under the name Espace Arlaud. It presents the work of Swiss and international artists through temporary exhibitions on the themes of photography, art, history, geography... The museum is only open during these exhibitions, consult the website.

For a long time, this square was regarded as the failure of Lausanne's urbanization. Since 2008, the site has welcomed new activities, such as concerts on July 31 to celebrate the national holiday on August¹, and a garage sale every first Sunday of the month. The Miam Festival is held every Pentecost weekend, with stands showcasing world cuisine. Concerts and culinary workshops for adults and children are organized. Other concerts are organized throughout the year.

Rue de Bourg, which runs down from the Bessières Bridge to Saint-François, was the main artery through which all traffic passed until the early 19th century. At that time there was a horse relay in Saint-François. In the 19th century, the rue de Bourg was opened on the lake, with perpendicular streets and passages, such as the Saint-François gallery, the only one in Europe built with stairs. There you will see the oldest shop in Lausanne: Blondel. Its chocolates are a must! Today, the rue de Bourg is emblematic of luxury shopping.

The Château Saint-Maire, a real fortified castle, was built between 1394 and 1430 at the request of the Lausanne bishops to make it their new residence, considering that the old residence, the current Historical Museum, was not big enough. Since 1803, this building has been the seat of the Vaud cantonal authorities and is therefore not open to the public. It is therefore unfortunately not possible to visit it from the inside. Nevertheless, you can always walk past it on your peregrinations and it is possible to visit it online.

The Lausanne skyscraper was the subject of much controversy at the time of its construction and was designed by the architect Alphonse Laverrière in 1932, one year after the Empire State Building. The property developer was in New York and also wanted a large-scale building for Lausanne. Built straddling the Place Bel Air and the Flon "hole", this impressive tower rises to 54 m from the Place Bel Air and 68 m from the Rue de Genève. It houses the Salle Métropole, a listed building.

Once the residence of bishops, this ^12th-century château retains only the keep tower from its past. Towards the end of the ^19th century, Jean-Jacques Mercier commissioned architect Francis Isoz to build a luxury hotel in the neo-Gothic style that was very much in vogue at the time. A few years ago, there was talk of turning it into a casino, but the Loterie Romande, which bought the château, was unable to obtain a license. It therefore leased the château to Lausanne Palace & Spa, which manages the new hotel and its marvellous terrace overlooking the lake.

A real living museum at the foot of Montriond hill and a stone's throw from the Milan park and its playgrounds, the Botanical Garden cultivates more than 6,000 species of plants from all over the world in its rock gardens, water features and flowerbeds. This little corner of paradise is overflowing with colour and offers a serene and pleasant visit. The museum and the garden offer temporary botanical and artistic exhibitions to make the visit more enjoyable.

This English-style park surrounds a mansion built for wealthy financier Vincent Perdonnet (1768-1850). The family motto is inscribed on the rear façade: Toujours agité, jamais abattu!

The bourgeois residents of Rue de Bourg often owned a second home outside Lausanne, when the city was still surrounded by fortifications and vineyards (the vineyards belonged to the bishop, then were bought by private individuals, including the city of Lausanne). At the time, these residences were known as "maisons de maître", and the park surrounding them as "campagne". Thus, we also speak of the Désert countryside and the Hermitage countryside.

In front of the house, the Olympic rings on the ground evoke the original headquarters of the Olympic Committee. In 1756, the owner of the property, Philippe de Gentils, Marquis de Langallerie, had a theater built, where Voltaire presented plays during his visits to Lausanne. He also built a "folie". In the ^18th century, this was the name given to holiday homes, with their original, mixed Gothic, Baroque and medieval architectural styles, conducive to daydreaming, gallant encounters and invitations to travel, hidden away in the parks of castles or in the countryside. In fine weather, the pavilion offers light refreshments and pastries.

In summer, concerts and film screenings take place in this superb setting with waterfall, grotto, underground passage and aviary populated by superb macaws.

The Flon warehouses district is currently very popular with Lausanne's various cultural circles and real estate developers, and contrasts sharply with the medieval city.

In the ^19th century, goods arrived from the port of Ouchy or from the railway station. Businessman Jean-Jacques Mercier facilitated traffic by digging the metro. Goods were deposited on rails and taken up the Bel-Air elevator (which today leads to the Fnac) to continue westwards to the Chauderon station. Traffic ceased in 1974, and the former warehouses were taken over by culture, before becoming objects of covetousness for major groups. Today, the ^19th-century Flon buildings that have survived include the N2O bar and the Butterfly store. For the Mercier family, incorporated as LO Holding, Flon has long been a hole in the ground. In several former warehouses, the cellars are magnificent and still undeveloped. Enter, for example, the former customs warehouse at no. 17 (opposite Maniak): first you'll see a large glass roof and, in the basement, a vast space under arches that serves simply as a storeroom for the ground-floor stores.

From the Flon, you can see the recently renovated Métropole Lausanne shopping center building just above, as well as the Bel-Air tower, Switzerland's first "skyscraper", which appears here much longer than it is high. You can also see the Maison du peuple, sometimes humorously referred to as the "Kremlin". It houses the headquarters of the Socialist Party and the People's Workers' Party.

Today, in addition to art galleries, the Flon district is home to the well-known MAD and Atelier volant nightclubs (opened in the 1980s), trendy bars like Pur and N2O, high-rent apartments and studios for photographers and architects, a jazz school, and a growing number of stores.

As a result, Flon has earned its letters of nobility, and many Lausanneers say that their city's new alternative center is now moving further west. Artists tend to move towards Sébeillon and Malley. The disused Sévelin train station has been transformed into a vocational school, and culture has taken over the former warehouses: the Docks, the Sévelin 36 dance school, the Arsenic theater. Further afield, in Malley, the Théâtre Kléber Méleau is located in the former gasworks.

In winter, a free skating rink is set up on the Flon.

Always dynamic and available, seniors are full of good ideas to share so as not to remain isolated. The Guides d'accueil of the Mouvement des aînés de Vaud offer a wide range of activities throughout the year, including leisure activities, excursions and training courses. They are also the ones who will guide you on a day out in Lausanne to discover all its secrets. The kindness, knowledge and, above all, the benefit of sharing the lives of local people will enrich your visit to the city. Don't hesitate to call on their knowledge.

This establishment plays an essential role in the development and promotion of tourism in the whole canton of Vaud and the Lake Geneva region. On the website, you will discover the destinations not to be missed and all the natural or cultural discoveries, wine tourism, festivals... So even if we do our utmost to detail everything in this guide, the advisers at Point I in Ouchy will be able to give you their final tips for visiting!

The CGN offers numerous cruises throughout the year with tourist visits. Individuals or groups can then sail on Lake Geneva to appreciate the beauty of the scenery, but above all to discover the must-see stops in the area such as the villages of the Lavaux vineyards, the castle of Chillon or the French medieval village of Yvoire. You have the choice of boats in a Belle Epoque fleet, with the option of steam and paddlewheels for the most beautiful effect.

Since 1675, the imposing Hôtel de Ville building has housed the town's municipal institutions. The building dates back to the ^17th century, when it was surrounded by two rivers (the Flon and the Louve). It was built on top of a ^15th-century edifice. The façade is original in that the arches are symmetrical in relation to the central door (large - medium - small - central door - small - medium - large). The windows above are spaced in the same pattern, giving an impression of width. You'll also notice some pretty ^17th-century gargoyles, which fortunately are no longer operational, otherwise you'd be pelted with downpours! Inside, a mural tells the story of Major Davel, symbol of the canton's liberation. The municipal council chamber, where the seven executive members meet, has a lovely blue-tiled stove (Nyon manufacture) and, under the benches, spit drawers for those who chewed tobacco! Mozart gave two concerts at the Hôtel de Ville in 1766, at the age of 10. His father was trying to find him a place at one of Europe's great courts. This was his only visit to Switzerland. Open to the curious, we recommend climbing up to the attic to admire the original framework. Dominating the picturesque Place de la Palud from its belfry, this is one of Vaud's most remarkable ^17th-century monuments.

A strategic place in the city, the Place de la Palud used to be a meeting place for pilgrims going up to the cathedral and merchants selling their products on the market. Located in a pedestrian zone, it is still one of the most picturesque places in Lausanne. The etymology of the word "Palud" comes from the word "paludisme" which refers to this part of Lausanne, which was very marshy at the time. From here you can reach the town hall, the fountain of Justice, the clock and the market stairs. Don't forget to stop for a chocolate at the Barbare!

Located in the heart of the Flon, the Abstract exhibits works by contemporary artists, but also new acquisitions from collectors. There are installations, paintings and photographs. The space is very sober and houses committed exhibitions, often inspired by an intimate, even intuitive inspiration. In addition to this, there is a shop in the gallery, where you can find, for example, the book Forever Young commemorating twenty years of Abstract.

It is the cantonal body for the promotion of wines and the canton of Vaud. 6 controlled appellations of origin to be discovered in the region: Bonvillars AOC, Chablais AOC, Côte de l'Orbs AOC, Lavaux AOC, La Côte AOC and Vully AOC.

This is the money! 2000 years of money production and almost 100 000 coins. It is one of Switzerland's most important numismatic museums. Its precious collections range from antiquity (with paleo-currency) to these days in a very didactic manner. they highlight the different manufacturing processes of history, including tools, currencies, medals and tokens, scales, books and boxes of changers, money orders and currency. To note, a beautiful series of vaudois, medieval and modern seals.

For animal lovers, this park is well worth a visit. Shaded by trees, the setting is very pleasant, remaining cool in summer and charming under the snow. You can admire the superb snow panthers (more active in winter), the wolf pack, emus, bears, Siberian tigers, wallabys, lynx, bison, alpacas, macaws, mouflons... the wonder is endless. Excellent explanatory panels. In 2023, baby alpacas, wallabys and bison were born. Plan a day's visit - everything's included!

This park, just 21 km from Lausanne, is well worth a visit for its panoramic views alone. Set high up in the mountains, it opens onto a splendid view of the lake and the Alps opposite. In terms of games, activities and entertainment, we've thought of almost everything. There's something for everyone, young and old alike. We've set up accrobranche courses, a wildlife park, games, miniature golf, a little train, a trampoline, temporary exhibitions and activities for children of all ages. A real pleasure.

Today a Protestant temple, Saint-François was originally a convent. Built around 1270 by Franciscan monks from Besançon, they are the ones who contributed to the extension of the vineyards of Lavaux. The upper parts date back to 1370-1387 and the bell tower, 56 m high, around 1400. Inside, the pews are reversible (ingenious system of rocking backrests), to listen to both mass and the magnificent organ concerts in April and November. Note that the vaults of the choir have a painted decoration of false joints, white on a beige background.