Lausanne is located in an extremely picturesque setting. Unsurprisingly, the International Olympic Committee was founded here in 1914. The city is built on three hills surrounded by vineyards, with Lake Geneva at their foot. The mountains rising on the opposite shore are the Savoy Alps in France. The beautiful Old Town is largely closed to car traffic. Streets with cafes and boutiques offer a great opportunity to spend time in the medieval center.
Lausanne was a diocesan city for a millennium: the cathedral, the most impressive Gothic building in Switzerland, towers over the Old Town. Shopping streets can be found around the cathedral and in the lakeside district of Ouchy. A metro, unique in Switzerland, connects different parts of the city, easing access to the promenade along the steep slope above the lake.
It is worth visiting the parks, where many Mediterranean plants grow, as well as magnificent palace hotels such as the Beau-Rivage Palace in Ouchy and the Hotel de l'Angleterre, where Lord Byron once stayed. Gourmets can taste traditional Lausanne delicacies such as Papet Vaudois, a gratin of potatoes with onions and sausages. Incidentally, master chef Fred Girardet, recognized as Chef of the Century by his own colleagues, has now stepped down and handed over his scepter at Hôtel de Ville to head chef Philippe Rochat.
Culture lovers will also not feel abandoned in Lausanne: the collection of Art Brut at the Château de Beaulieu, the Fondation de l'Hermitage, the Musée de l'Élysée dedicated to photography, the pipe museum, and many others certainly deserve attention. Theater productions and musical performances are also beyond praise. And finally, Lausanne is the birthplace of the world-famous Béjart Ballet.
Sport remains one of the priorities in the life of the city. Examples include the Lausanne Marathon and 'Athletissima' – international athletics competitions. Lausanne is home to the 'Olympic Capital' – the headquarters of the Olympic Committee, as well as the Olympic Museum, the largest information center for the Olympic Games.
As a center of culture and venue for many conferences, Lausanne harmoniously combines business and leisure. The picturesque Old Town, the Olympic Center, and the business district of Ouchy – all are the pride of the Lake Geneva region.
Side Notes: What to Visit in Lausanne
• Lausanne Old Town. A beautiful cathedral surrounded by picturesque streets closed to car traffic. Since 1405, a watchman on the clock tower has been monitoring fire safety in the city and calls out every hour – from 10 pm to 2 am.
• Olympic Museum. Here you will immerse yourself in the history of the Olympic Games, from the first games in Athens in 1896 to the present day.
• Lake Geneva cruises: beautiful views from steamboats and boats.
• Musée de l'Art Brut – a unique world collection of artworks created in psychiatric hospitals and prisons.
• Fondation de l'Hermitage – the foundation presents rotating art exhibitions of the highest level in a magnificent 19th-century setting.
• Train des vignes – an entertaining journey on the 'wine train' through the vineyards of the Lavaux region high above Lake Geneva.