The Olympic Museum
Close to the banks of the lake is one of the best-known museums in Lausanne: the Olympic Museum. On your marks, get set, go! Start with the kids on a journey through the history of the games. From classical times in Ancient Greece, with its urns, to the days of Baron de Coubertin and his project to build a better world through sport. On your way round this first section of the museum, you’ll learn how we arrived at the Olympic Games we know today. Continue on to the second section, which is devoted to the Olympics as a whole: winter and summer games, the Paralympics and some iconic symbols from recent years (we’ll leave you to discover those!). Finish up your tour in the Olympic Village and learn about the athletes’ routines, to really get into the Olympic spirit. The workings of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Truce, interactive sports exercises and medals will all captivate your children. The tour is over but you still have time to call in to the shop or take in the view of the lake from the park outside. Will your kids be future champions?
📍 The Olympic Museum, Quai d’Ouchy 1, 1006 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Plateforme 10
Plateforme 10 is so much more than just a cultural space; it’s a neighbourhood in its own right. It’s home to two foundations, three restaurants, three cantonal museums and 25,000 m2 of open-air art, all in the heart of the city of Lausanne. For real culture vultures, this is the place to be. Start your tour of the neighbourhood at the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne (Cantonal Museum of Fine Art), with its collection of 10,000 works, before continuing on to Photo Elysée, the museum of photography, with its images of the world. If modern art is your bag, don’t miss MUDAC (the museum of design and modern applied arts): the collection of design, ceramics, glass, jewellery and graphic art is so diverse it won’t fail to amaze you. Still haven’t had enough? Then finish with two foundations: Toms Pauli and Felix Vallotton. The former focuses on textiles, while the latter is home to archives on the life and work of Felix Vallotton. Stop off at Café Lumen for a quick, regional snack served simply. How about a small focaccia sandwich after your day of culture?
📍 Plateforme 10, Place de la Gare 16/17, 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Street art in Lausanne
Play the guide through the streets of Lausanne on the trail of neighbourhood art. Tags, graffiti, murals, street art – Lausanne has it all to pep up your artistic and cultural wanderings. If you’d prefer a rough route to follow, start in the Flon neighbourhood, in the centre of town, with your map at the ready. First, check out the works on the esplanade, including the building painted completely black and featuring trompe-l’oeil statues. Pass by the University of Music (HEMU) with its murals, then walk as far as the Passage de Chauderon, where you’ll find the Fièvre skate park and its graffiti, then change neighbourhoods! On the Chemin du Martinet in the Malley neighbourhood, you’ll find two murals to admire. The final part of this urban art odyssey lies between Maladière and the ‘bowl de Vidy’ skate park, where you’ll find large murals and small tags. Tip: Follow the itinerary suggested by the Lausanne Tourist Office, which serves as the perfect guide.
Find the Lausanne Street Art itinerary on the tourist office website.
The Rolex Learning Center Library
Inside EPFL, you’ll discover one of Europe’s most special libraries. Designed by the architecture firm SANAA, from above it looks just like a slice of Swiss Emmental cheese. Exploring this exceptional space involves a series of ups and downs. The building appears to be constantly moving. It’s definitely worth a visit, we promise. From Monday to Friday, the centre is open to the public, not just EPFL students, so take the opportunity to browse the shelves of the library or the fabulous cultural centre, which is also part of the site.
📍 EPFL, Rolex Learning Center, 1015 Ecublens, Switzerland
Cinema in Lausanne
Cinema fans should be aware that Lausanne is truly a city of the 7th art. Zinéma, the city’s premier multiplex, is the place to go if you like arthouse and experimental cinema, or there are the hundred-year-old cinemas, like the Capitole. The best thing to do is catch a screening by the Lausanne cinémathèque (film library). It’s the sixth largest in the world and regularly hosts screenings in Lausanne cinemas. Unsurprisingly, its library is vast, containing no fewer than 85,000 titles. You’ll be able to watch classics, new films, tribute films and retrospectives. Are you sitting comfortably? Then let’s begin...
Maybe you weren’t sure, but now you’ve got proof! There’s absolutely no doubt that Lausanne is a Swiss cultural gem. With its student feel, great food scene and range of culture, the city has more than one trick up its sleeve, and we’re delighted to be able to help you discover all its secrets during a weekend break or longer stay. Prepare to leave Lausanne more cultured than when you arrived!