The canton of Vaud comprises the region around Lake Geneva and it is the most visited part of French-speaking Switzerland after Geneva.

Lausanne

After Geneva, this city on the banks of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) is the most visited city in French-speaking Switzerland. It is an important city that is home to the International Olympic Committee. Lausanne's attractions include a picturesque old town with narrow streets and a couple of interesting museums.

Practical Information

Lausanne Tourisme

Gare CFF, Place de la Gare, Lausanne

Tel (021) 613 7321

Website www.lausanne-tourisme.ch

Open 9am-7pm daily

Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office

60, avenue d'Ouchy, Ouchy

Tel (021) 613 2626

Website www.lake-geneva-region.ch

Open Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm

Coming & Going

Lausanne is best accessed by train with trains to Geneva running about once every 20 minutes. There are also very frequent trains to Bern and TGV trains to Paris.

Ferries depart from Ouchy, a suburb south of the city centre, and serve other cities on the lake including Montreux and Evian-les-Bains in France.

Local Transport

Lausanne has a very good public transport system for a relatively small city (website www.t-l.ch). Buses and trolleybuses go to most parts of the city and there is also a metro, which is handy for travelling between the train station and Ouchy. Short trips cost SFR 1.80, a one-hour ticket costs SFR 2.40-2.80 and a 24-hour ticket costs SFR 7-8. A weekly pass costs SFR 26.

Accommodation

Lausanne Guesthouse & Backpacker

Chemin des Epinettes 4, 1007 Lausanne
Tel (021) 601 80 00

Youth Hostel Lausanne VD

Chemin du Bois de Vaux 36, 1007 Lausanne
Bus 2 (stop: Bois-de-Vaux)
Tel (021) 626 02 22

Sights

Cathedral

Lausanne's 12th century cathedral was concecrated in 1275 by Pope Gregory X and is noted as one of Switzerland's most beautiful Gothic churches.

Admission free; tower SFR 2

Open summer 8.30am-7pm daily; winter 8.30am-5pm daily

Musée de l'Art Brut

This fascinating art museum is a stark contrast to the more famouse art galleries that you may encounter elsewhere in Europe. It focuses on crude art created by eccentric and criminally insane artists.

11, avenue de Bergières, Lausanne

Bus 2, 3

Admission SFR 6, students SFR 4

Open Tue-Sun 11am-1pm & 2pm-6pm

Musée Olympique

Located near the headquarters of the IOC, Lausanne's Olympic Museum features exhibits on both the summer and winter Olympic games as well as interactive displays.

Parc Olympique, 1, quai d'Ouchy, Ouchy

Website www.olympic.org/uk/passion/museum/index_uk.asp

Admission SFR 14, students SFR 9

Open Jan-Apr Tue-Sun 9am-6pm; May-Sep 9am-6pm daily; Oct-Dec Tue-Sun 9am-6pm

Montreux

This resort city is famous for its annual Jazz Festival, which is considered one of the world's best. If you're not visiting for the festival, the city's main attraction is the 11th century Château de Chillon.

Accommodation

Youth Hostel Montreux-Territet VD

Passage de l'Auberge 8, 1820 Montreux-Territet
Train Montreux-Territet
Tel (021) 963 49 34

Sights

Château de Chillon

This impressive 11th century castle was made famous when Lord Byron penned a poem about François de Bonivard who was a prisoner in the château's dungeons during the 16th century.

Train Veytaux-Chillon Trolleybus 1

Admission SFR 7, students SFR 5.50

Open Jan-Feb 10am-5pm daily; Mar 9.30am-6pm daily; Apr-Sep 9am-7pm daily; Oct 9.30am-6pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-5pm daily

Musée de Vieux Montreux

This small museum has exhibits on local history.

40, rue de la Gare, Montreux

Admission SFR 6, students SFR 4

Open Apr-Oct

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