Lausanne, City of Culture, History, Parcs and Pierre de Courbertin

29 October 2023

The urban development of Lausanne has been rapid since the early 20th century. The first skyscraper in Switzerland was built in this town in 1931 (Bel Air).
Lausanne has been the seat of the International Olympic Committee since 1915 and was named the Olympic capital in 1993.

The city currently has a population of 140,000. It offers numerous attractions, including the magnificent views of the Alps and Lake Geneva, beautiful parks (including the Hermitage and its museum, the Sauvabelin park, the Elysée park, the Olympic park, the Louis Bourget park, the Denantou park).

The medieval town centre and its Gothic cathedral on the hill, the many museums (including the new complex Plateforme 10 (with MUDAC, the museum of fine arts and the Elysée museum), the Olympic museum, the Palais de Rumine, the Art Brut museum, the aquarium, the botanical garden and the world-famous University EPLF are worth a visit as well. Lausanne is also the seat of the Federal Supreme Court (Tribunal fédéral Bundesgericht).

(Source and further information: www.lausanne-tourisme.ch).

Impressions from the city

Image: Musée Historique de Lausanne

The cathedral

The castle of the bishop

Le château d’Ouchy 

David Buttet (1587-1657), Lausanna Civitas Equestris, 1638. Image: Musée Historique de Lausanne

Memorial: Cathedral of Lausanne

Image: Musée Historique de Lausanne

Grand Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace

Esplanade de Montbenon

La Maison olympique

Belgium expresses its gratitude to Mary Widmer-Curtat (1860-1947) from Lausanne. On 1 October 1915, Mary initiated the foundation of the Swiss Committee for Aid to Belgian Refugees.

Le Jardin botanique

 

            

Cimetière du Bois-de-Vaux