Health tips
The Vaud capital cultivates a lifestyle that enables you to flourish. Our feature. Page 40
A hub of medical excellence at the heart of the Health Valley. Page 48
Taking care of yourself is almost second nature in the capital of Vaud. Since the 19th century, the city has cultivated a lifestyle focused on wellness. This tradition is reflected in its sports and leisure facilities, its fitness centres, its clinics and the reputation of its university hospital. Its key role in Health Valley, a health research ecosystem in French-speaking Switzerland, further reinforces this pursuit (page 40).
On the edge of Lake Geneva, steeped in greenery and the nearby Alps, Lausanne also stands out for its location, which creates an ideal break for recharging your batteries. “This calm, this freedom that nature brings us, we’re so lucky to have all that,” says Kacey Mottet Klein. The actor, known for his appearances in three films and a series in 2025, loves his hometown and draws his energy from it (page 34). To make the most of this setting, we take you on a journey from north to south, where the Camino de Santiago passes through Lausanne, winding its way through forests, clearings, lively neighbourhoods and peaceful alleyways (page 52).
The town is peaceful, but never static. It nourishes both the heart and mind with an offering of cultural attractions and events worthy of a big city. This energy is appreciated by Ashley Puckett, organiser of the TEDxLausanneWomen conferences (page 30).
This balance also finds its strength in the city’s open-mindedness, proud of its 160 nationalities and its priority on community. Lausanne has been a cultural crossroads for centuries, embodying a vibrant cosmopolitanism in which different populations can come together and enrich each other (page 6).
In this 15th issue, we bring you more stories, both big and small, that reveal the charm of Lausanne: the subtle flavour of the black garlic sold by Claude Jabès at the market, lateen sailing on Lake Geneva, the 50th edition of Athletissima, workshops where you can learn a new craft, and museums to discover the city’s treasures.
So, let’s take this invitation to stop for a break and experience Lausanne to the fullest, together.
ARCHIVES
More than a decade passed between the spring of 1971, when the foundation was laid in the construction of Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) to replace the ageing and over-crowded Cantonal Hospital, and its official inauguration on 7 September 1982. Today, the CHUV is one of the five university hospitals in Switzerland and employs more than 12,000 people. And it continues to grow. On 14 May 2025, the facility opened its new children’s hospital.
The Lausanner, a tourist welcome and information magazine about life in Lausanne
Editorial: Lausanne Tourisme
Direction : Steeve Pasche and Sermena Sulejmani
Editorial production : Large Network
Graphics : Saentys and Large Network
Editorial Manager: Trinidad Barleycorn, Large Network
Production: Nathalie Roux and Marie-Laure Beausoleil
Writing : Trinidad Barleycorn, Julien Crevoisier, Laurent Donzel, Erik Freudenreich, Laurent Grabet, Alexandre Lanz, Leandra Patané, Anne-Catherine Renaud
Photography : CEMCAV / CHUV (p. 2) – PPR Media Relation AG (p. 5) – François Wavre/ Lundi13 (p. 5, 24, 34) – Eddie Taz (p. 6) – DR (p. 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18, 26, 29, 47) –Naomi Magnin (p. 10) – Gabriel Cunha Rio/Inception Photography (p. 12) –Matthieu Croizier (p. 13) – Eva ROGGENSTEIN/spo.studiophoto (p. 13) – Marco Lopez (p. 14) – noureliz.ch (p. 14) – Food Halle 15 (p. 14) – Trinidad Barleycorn (p. 15, 23) – Aurélien Barrelet (p. 16-17) – Portrait de Benjamin Constant (1767-1830), dessiné et gravé par Laderer et publié par Pagnerre (p. 20) –KEYSTONE-SDA-ATS AG Switzerland (p. 26) – humansproject.ch (p. 26) –Fondation de l’Hermitage (p. 27) – celebrityabc (p. 27) – Thomas Nyffeler (p. 28) – Félix Vallotton, Cinq heures, 1898. Détrempe sur carton, 35,6 x 58,2 cm. Collection particulière. Photo: Droits réservés (p. 29) – Saentys (p. 30) –Jordi Ruiz Cirera (p. 32) – Guillaume Mégevand (p. 33) – Ursula Meier, 2008, Home / Joann Sfar, 2010, Gainsbourg (vie héroïque / Ursula Meier, 2012, L’enfant d’en-haut / Christine Carrière, 2015, Une mère / André Téchiné, 2016, Quand on a 17 ans / Xabi Molia, 2018, Comme des rois / André Téchiné, 2019, L’adieu à la nuit / Maxime Caperan, 2025, Un monde violent (p. 36-37) –Giglio Pasqua/Suisse Tourisme (p. 40) – David Stettler (p. 42-51) – Marc Ninghetto (p. 44) – Jonathan Viey/Vaud Promotion (p. 46) –Valentin Flauraud/ Keystone (p. 48) – Laurent Kaczor/LT (p. 50) – Laurent Grabet (p. 52-54) © Photos Lausanne Tourisme – LT/Laurent Kaczor (p. 59, 60, 65, 69, 73, 79) – LT/diapo.ch (p. 59, 60, 61, 63, 68, 69, 73, 79) – Switerland Tourism/Giglio Pasqua (p. 60, 43) – P. Waterton (p. 60, 61) – LT/Maxime Genoud (p. 61) –
Christian Meixner Fotografie (61, 73) – Switzerland Tourism/Colin Frei (p. 63) –CIO/Lydie Nesvadba (p. 65) – Switzerland Tourism/Andre Meier (p. 67) –William Gammuto sarl (p. 67) – LT/Alix Besson (p. 68) – Sarah Jacquemet (p. 69) – Nuno Acácio (p. 71)
Image search : Sabrine Elias and David Stettler, Large Network
Cover : Jeremy Peltier and Mehernaaz Damania photographed by Nicolas Schopfer on the deck of the Jetée de la Compagnie in Ouchy
Advertising : Michel Chevallaz +41 79 213 53 15
Printing : Gremper SA, Basel Available in French and English
Writing, administration and announcements : Lausanne Tourisme Av. de Rhodanie 2 Case postale 975 CH-1001 Lausanne +41 21 613 73 73 www.lausanne-tourisme.ch e-mail : direction@lausanne-tourisme.ch
Printed in May 2025
With the support of
Our Huntsman Pocket Knife. 15 functions, legendary design. This is the Swiss icon you will want to have with you everyday.
TALK OF THE TOWN
Lausanne: a cosmopolitan city reputed for its strong community spirit
Page 6
LAUSANNE IN MOTION
Top new spots
Page 13
Art, something for everyone
Page 15
Athletissima: 50th edition of the legendary meeting
Page 18
BEHIND THE SCENES
As co-manager of Bellerive-Plage, Erwan Buttay is on all fronts to welcome up to 8,000 people a day
Page 24
The green section of the Camino de Santiago
Page 52
EDITION JUNE 2025/26 - N° 15
First revealed as a child in Home, Kacey Mottet Klein shines on both big and small screens, with four releases in 2025
Page 34
LAUSANNE, CITY OF WELLNESS
With its natural surroundings conducive to relaxation, nestled between lake and greenery, the Vaud capital has been cultivating a real health-focused lifestyle
Page 40
Lausanne locales that are not to be missed
Page 58
For centuries, the Vaud capital has welcomed entire communities in search of peace or prosperity. Here, we shine a spotlight on three locals who keep the heart of the city beating to the rhythm of their cultural roots.
By Julien Crevoisier
Of the 195 nationalities officially recognised by the United Nations, more than 160 are present in Lausanne. The city on Lake Geneva has undeniably grown into a cosmopolitan city (see also The Lausanner 04). French mingles joyfully with Spanish, Albanian, Turkish, Wolof and Mandarin. Lausanne is Switzerland’s fourth-largest city, and in 2023 more than 42% of the population were foreign nationals. That rate is similar to London (41%) but significantly higher than that of Paris (15%) or Milan (21%).
“For a city of its size, Lausanne is home to significant ethnic and cultural diversity,” says Luca Pattaroni, an urban sociology professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). “This percentage is mainly explained by the city’s appeal for its standard of living, but also because Switzerland does not have birthright citizenship. That means that it takes foreign residents longer to naturalise.” The Vaud capital also stands out for the quality of its community spirit, thanks to the social diversity of its neighbourhoods.
“Unlike what we see in some foreign cities with a comparable degree of diversity, in Lausanne, the working and middle classes live side by side, including in the city centre.”
Once again this summer, the heart of Lausanne will beat to the rhythm of cultures from all over the world. One of the most recently created events, the Lauz’One Festival, was launched specifically to bring cultures and communities together (see page 11). The event was started by a group of friends from university. “Lausanne is in essence multicultural. We wanted to pay tribute to this diversity through a free event open to all ages,” says Xavier Crépon, a member of the organising committee.
The capital of the canton has been a place of refuge throughout the centuries: first for the French Protestants fleeing their country following the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre in 1572 and
Louis XIV’s revocation of the Edict of Nantes a century later. Switzerland’s economic boom in the 20th century led to the immigration of many workers from southern Europe.
By the 1970s, the foreign population had reached 35% in the western suburbs of Lausanne, particularly in Crissier, Renens and Écublens. In 1971, the Lausanne bureau for immigrants (BLI) was created to foster social integration, notably through cultural events (such as the Diver’cité festival, held in December since 2021).
At the same time, more than half of the foreigners in Switzerland were of Italian background. In fact, the restaurant Chez Mario, a Lausanne institution that opened on Rue de Bourg in 1958, was one of the first pizzerias in the country. Today, the French represent the biggest proportion in the Lausanne mosaic, followed by the Italians, the Portuguese and the Spanish. →
“IN SPAIN, I PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE BECOME A FLAMENCO
Many people from Spain arrived in the region in the late 20th century. They too settled on the shores of Lake Geneva in search of work and have left a lasting impression on the city. Sylvia Perujo is one of those who have inherited this Iberian culture. Born in Switzerland to Andalusian parents, she co-directs the Al-Andalus association with her brother, Antonio Perujo, where they both teach flamenco. Created in the 1990s by their father Francisco, the association now has nearly 400 members.
For Sylvia Perujo, music and dance are powerful vectors of integration and a way of affirming one’s dual identity, “If I had grown up in Spain, I probably wouldn’t have become a flamenco teacher.”
Every year, the Al-Andalus association organises Feria Flamenca, one of the biggest events for flamenco aficionados in French-speaking Switzerland. The 13th edition will take place on 21 and 22 June at the theatre in the town of Renens, located 15 minutes by bus from the
centre of Lausanne. On stage, the Perujos, semi-professional dancers and local amateurs, including young children, will follow in the footsteps of the most famous artists on the flamenco scene, who have come straight from Spain or France for the occasion.
The melting pot of the Lausanne region has undeniably contributed to enriching the city’s cultural and culinary scene. “It has become normal to travel to the four corners of the world just by walking through the city. People have got used to it, and they keep asking for more.” But for Sylvia Perujo, diversity cannot be reduced to its festive and gustatory impact. “Renens has long had a reputation as a dormitory outside the city for the working classes. But its inhabitants have developed a vibrant community life and attract businesses and wonderful spaces for cultural exchange. Today, the city’s reputation and its image in the collective imagination have completely changed. I’m proud of what we have accomplished here.” ■
“INTEGRATION WAS A CHALLENGE. OUR COMMUNITY HAS HAD TO PROVE ITSELF”
Made up of nearly 3,000 people in 2023, the Kosovo-Albanians constitute the fifth largest foreign community in Lausanne, just behind the Spanish. Many fled their country of origin in the 1990s as war raged in the former Yugoslavia. Among them was Ilir Bytyqi, who arrived in Switzerland in 1994. That same year, he helped to set up the association Ilirët , which acts as a guide for the many Kosovars who have emigrated to Lausanne. Some of them were traumatised by the armed conflicts and lacked direction.
“The idea was to strengthen our ties through folk dancing, singing and instrumental melodies,” says the former medical student turned nurse. Thirty years later, the association has put on more than 400 shows and still has nearly 70 active members, aged between 8 and 70.
“The community is now better recognised for its contribution to Swiss society, whether in the economy, culture or sport.”
“Many of them were born and raised in Switzerland and are an integral part of the society that welcomed their parents or grandparents. But the attachment to their roots remains strong.”
Set up in the Grand-Vennes Socio-Cultural Centre, the association meets every Friday evening to practise the art of Albanian dance. Ilir Bytyqi is hopeful that this outreach will arouse the curiosity of young people from the neighbourhood, who come from diverse backgrounds. “Sometimes, you get the impression they’re a little lost. But some have come to meet us and join us at parties. It gives me great satisfaction to help them in any way we can.”
Ilir Bytyqi is delighted that the perception of his community has changed so much over the years:
“In the 1990s and 2000s, the image of Albanians was often associated with certain negative clichés relayed by the media. Integration was a challenge. We had to prove ourselves. Thanks to the professional success of many Albanians and cultural initiatives like ours, the image of the community is much more positive. It is now better recognised for its contribution to Swiss society, whether in the economy, culture or sport.”
Tidiane Diouwara
The canton of Vaud is home to some 24,000 people of African origin, particularly from Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon. Mauritanian journalist Tidiane Diouwara arrived in Switzerland 30 years ago, at age 28. He founded the Lausanne Afro Fusions Festival (LAFF), which was first held in 2016 on Place de l’Europe and Place des Pionnières (formerly Place Centrale). Now, it is celebrated on Esplanade de Montbenon.
These days, the Lausanne resident by adoption is delighted to see that people of African descent are becoming more visible in Swiss society: “My academic background and my good command of French have helped me to be accepted fairly easily. But I’ve also sometimes felt heavy stares in the past. Some were not used to seeing a non-white journalist in a Swiss regional newsroom. Today, it happens much less frequently. Mindsets have changed.”
Now in his 50s, he believes that the African presence has asserted itself and found its place in Lausanne. “I see it in the popularity of LAFF among the people of Vaud of all origins, both the public and the some 70 volunteers who give their time to make the festival happen. Diversity is also more visible in the institutions and we increasingly come across mixed couples in the street.”
This year, LAFF will celebrate its 10th edition, working with the same magic formula that has turned it into a success. The festival highlights rhythmic, danceable genres such as afrobeat, soukouss, mbalax, reggae, rap, and reggaeton. “That’s what our audience wants.” Nearly 20 artists from all over Africa – but also from Switzerland – will perform on one of the two stages set up on Esplanade de Montbenon, against its breathtaking Alpine backdrop. The guest of honour will be Cabo Verde, home of the legendary singer Cesária Évora, who passed away in 2011.
In addition to the concerts, the event will feature dance workshops, African craft stalls, food trucks and a discussion panel on a topical theme. Once the concerts are over, the party will continue with after hours at the Casino de Montbenon banquet hall.
MIAM FESTIVAL
7 TO 9 JUNE 2025
Specialties from around the world will be enjoyed alongside local culinary gems at this festival’s 11th edition.
Free lausanneatable.ch
FESTIVAL DE LA CITÉ
1 TO 6 JULY 2025
Nearly 100,000 spectators and hundreds of artists from nearly 30 nationalities will bring Lausanne’s old town to life for the festival’s 53rd edition.
Free 2025.festivalcite.ch
COLOMBIA VIVE FESTIVAL
18 TO 20 JULY 2025
A warm atmosphere is guaranteed at the 23rd edition of this event celebrating Colombian culture and cuisine.
Friday and Sunday: CHF 10 colombiavive.com
Saturday: CHF 25
BLUES RULES CRISSIER FESTIVAL
4 TO 8 JUNE 2025
For fans of sounds of the American South, head to the ’Crississippi’ plain for the 15th edition of this open-air festival.
Tickets starting at CHF 55 blues-rules.com Festival OFF free (on 5 and 8 June)
21 AND 22 JUNE 2025
A dive into Andalusia with flamenco performances to the sound of cajones, castanets, and guitars. Spanish specialties and workshops.
Saturday: free al-andalus.ch
Sunday: CHF 15 (free admission for children under 12)
FESTIVAL CARAMELO
4 TO 6 JULY 2025
A three-day celebration in Ouchy powered by Latin American and Caribbean rhythms.
Free caramelo-festival.org
LAUSANNE AFRO FUSIONS FESTIVAL (LAFF)
21 TO 24 AUGUST 2025
Around 20 artists from across Africa will take the stage. Guest of honour: Cabo Verde.
Free lausaff.org
FESTIVAL LAUZ’ONE
8 TO 10 AUGUST 2025
With hip-hop, reggae, K-pop – and even the traditional alphorn – this festival stands out for its eclectic lineup.
Free lauzonefestival.ch
26 SEPTEMBER TO 11 OCTOBER 2025
The 6th edition of this event dedicated to the Mediterranean basin will pay tribute to Dalmatia.
Free lausanne.ch/agenda-et-actualites/lausanne-mediterranees.html
The art of cocktail making has become widespread. And Lausanne has no shortage of talent in the area. Meet Randy Schaller, mixologist.
Aquafaba, chilli liqueur, roasted pistachios or homemade shiso syrup: Randy Schaller prepares his cocktails and mocktails like gourmet recipes, with precision and originality. “Creating a successful blend requires skill. If you don’t meticulously follow the proportions, it quickly falls apart,” says the Swiss vice-champion of mixology in 2023. A graduate of HEC Lausanne and singer in three metal bands, including Voice of Ruin, the self-taught artist says he refined his art while touring, “It was while travelling for our
Le Vestibule le-vestibule.ch
Holy Monkey holymonkey.ch
concerts in Japan, Nepal and Russia that I discovered spirits and flavours that have helped my creativity to flourish.”
Randy Schaller has since turned his hobby into his profession. In 2020, he launched his own cocktail brand, Élixir de Joie, and teamed up with two friends to open Le Vestibule, a bar inspired by American speakeasies, in the heart of the historic La Cité district. There, he prepares classics as well as signature cocktails made with absinthe or brandy, along with other ingredients. “But always with fresh fruit juices, because they influence the taste of a cocktail much more than the alcohols themselves.” The bar quickly caught attention and
Aux Reflets des Isles auxrefletsdesisles.ch
Eat Me eat-me.ch
is recommended in several guides, including the European Falstaff and the Swiss Bar Guide.
To give even more space to his creativity, the entrepreneur opened Holy Monkey at the end of 2023, right next to Le Vestibule. This bar-pizzeria revisits Tiki culture, which developed in the United States in the 1930s and is inspired by a fantasy interpretation of life on the Pacific Islands. He also lives out his passion by running mixology workshops and tasting the creations of his colleagues at Aux Reflets des Isles, a Creole restaurant and Lausanne’s pioneering cocktail bar, Eat Me, Jaja and the Lausanne Cocktail Club, “where you can dance until dawn!”
Le Jaja
@jajalausanne
Lausanne Cocktail Club
lausanne-cocktail-club.ch
La Bise, like the wind that sweeps over Lausanne, bringing to mind the sweet chill of ice cream. La Bise, like the gentle kisses on the cheek that symbolise a friendly greeting. The name is ideal for this welcoming artisan ice cream maker that took over from GeA Gelateria on Rue Enning. “The previous managers left us their secret recipes,” current owner Julien Golano confides. Along with traditional flavours, he added original best sellers, such as saffron-orange blossom and matcha. Enjoy luscious, creamy ice cream, always made on the spot, and the vintage charm of the completely revamped setting.
La Bise – labiseartisanglacier.ch
Rue Enning 8, Lausanne
Fancy an Earl Grey madeleine, carrot-cumin croissant or tiramisu brioche? At Piquenique, the watchwords are original and seasonal ingredients. Emily Groves and her husband Rhys Williams, who have also been running Deli Social since 2022 (see The Lausanner 09 ), have opened their new takeaway location right in the centre of town. “We produce pastries in small quantities to avoid waste, a trend that comes to us mainly from London,” the Welsh chef explains. “For our small team, we make things work through collective effort.”
Piquenique – New-wave bakery – piquenique.shop
Escaliers du Grand-Pont 5, Lausanne
Traditional cooking revisited with regional products and wines is the credo of chefs Nathalie Cruchon and Benjamin Deschamps. They run DéCi, in the Sous-Gare district, offering refined, ever-evolving cuisine. At DéCi, eating local means tapas, seasonal dishes, and surprise menus. The place is divided into two parts: a ’bistronomic’ (gastronomic bistro) restaurant and a wine bar. “We work with winemakers from Vaud and elsewhere in Switzerland,” says Nathalie Cruchon, herself the daughter of winemakers. “Our clientele are epicureans. They want to be surprised and try everything.”
DéCi Gourmet bar decicomptoirgourmand.ch
Avenue d’Ouchy 8, Lausanne
Maza invites you on a journey with its shared dishes, inspired by European, Chinese and Middle Eastern cuisine. The restaurant is run by Robin Burnier, originally from China, and her husband Julien Burnier, of Egyptian and Swiss descent. “By drawing on the traditions of our different origins, we develop creativity in our dishes,” Julien says. Their two sous-chefs regularly update the menu with gourmet pairings such as lamb shoulder spring rolls, whitefish tartare on herb crisps, and rump steak tataki with coriander.
Maza – maza-restaurant.ch
Rue Marterey 29, Lausanne
Electro, funk, disco, jazz and rock vinyl records are mixed with books on art, graphic design, design and photography at Music Sounds Better With Books, or MSBWB for short. This concept store is the brainchild of three friends: DJs Louis and Julien (Upside Records) and graphic designer Dennis (Mosoma Books). “We sell new and second-hand vinyl records,” Louis says. “We also organise events around music and books, such as book signings, meetings with artists and book presentations.”
Music Sounds Better With Books (MSBWB) – msbwb.ch
Place du Tunnel 10, Lausanne
Would you like to go to work with peace of mind, knowing that your four-legged friend is not home alone all day long? You’re not alone. Woofy welcomes your furry friend for the day or for longer stays during holiday breaks. “We take a different approach to a dog kennel through our educational enrichment program,” says founder and manager Melis Ataol. “We have four rooms offering experiences that promote sensory enrichment, physical stimulation, relaxation and socialisation.” The dogsitting centre can accommodate up to 19 dogs, who get multiple walks a day. Four last-minute spots are always available.
Woofy: dog daycare and hotel – woofy.ch
Avenue des Bergières 10, Lausanne
Want to create inspiring handmade pieces? Below are some recommendations from four budding artists, delighted that they were introduced to woodworking, ceramics, jewellery making and fluid painting.
Eric Benkemoun, 48, information systems consultant
“I’d wanted to work with wood for a long time, but I didn’t have the skills or any equipment to try it. When I saw a voucher on a website for a 2.5-hour workshop at Knock on Wood, I went for it. I used a rasp, a jointer, a plane and a sander to make a serving board for appetizers. I’m very happy. The intro workshop was simple and well supervised; the idea was that we’d leave with something. I plan to come back to learn how to make furniture, then perhaps become a member so that I can use the workshop and benefit from advice.”
Knock on Wood – kowcraftfactory.com
Rue Pré-du-Marché 23, Lausanne
Lola Audry, 29, manager of a Cuppin’s pastry shop
“I did a jewellery design workshop at Baies d’Erelle. It was a present from my sister-in-law – the perfect gift!
Virginie Terrettaz, 27, social worker working with people with disabilities
“We came from Valais for the Super Atelier’s ceramic brunch, a birthday present from my friend Camille. This place is a real find. In 3.5 hours, you can create pieces while enjoying an excellent brunch and chatting with the other ten or so participants. I’d never done ceramics before, but I like to tinker and create things. The workshop is for all levels. I made a plate with a red gingham pattern and two coffee cups. I’m thrilled with the result. I’d like to do their other workshops and why not start ceramics classes.”
Le Super Atelier – lesuperatelier.ch
Rue du Nord 11, Lausanne
I loved the time I spent with the jewellery designer Erelle. She only takes one or two people at a time, so can really take good care of you. I chose to make a necklace set with an amethyst. You have to be meticulous, but it’s very accessible. I’ve always been drawn to creative pursuits, and I really loved this initial experience. I’m going to order some materials so I can keep it up at home. If the passion grows, I’ll do other workshops or take classes.”
Baies d’Erelle – baiesderelle.com
Rue de l’Ancienne-Douane 3, Lausanne
Julien Villière, 43, client advisor in the printing industry
“My wife heard about this unique fluid painting workshop, organised by Atelier Aikoo, on TikTok. You paint large figurines, especially bears, to create unique works of art. My daughter wanted to celebrate her 12th birthday there with her friends and I went with them. They loved the workshop and so did I! Painting while letting the colours flow is very satisfying. I loved mixing them, thinking about how to apply them and seeing the result as it’s being created. It’s a cool, creative experience for all ages. I’ll come back with my other kids to complete our collection of bears.”
Atelier Aikoo – atelieraikoo.com
Avenue de Tivoli 56, Lausanne
Musée de la machine à écrire
Rue des Terreaux 18B Lausanne
The only museum in Switzerland devoted to typewriters and office equipment, it displays several hundred pieces from the collection of Jacques Perrier, a typewriter mechanic. The Bar à taper, a small café, is open to visitors with free access to typewriters.
Wed to Fri: 12 – 6 pm, Sat: 10 am – 5 pm
Pay what you want
Guided tours available for a fee upon reservation machineaecrire.ch
Musée Bolo
EPFL, bâtiment INF Station 14 Lausanne
Founded in 2002 by engineer Yves Bolognini, Musée Bolo explores the history of computing, digital culture, and video games through one of the most extensive collections of its kind, featuring machines and objects from around the world.
Mon to Fri: 8 am – 7 pm
Free admission
Guided tours available for a fee upon reservation, on the first Saturday of each month museebolo.ch
Musée de l’Absurde
Avenue de Cour 14B
Opposite the Botanical Gardens Lausanne (location to be confirmed)
Designed by the visual artist and director Sandra Romy, this 12 sq m travelling exhibition space tours throughout the Lake Geneva region operating during good weather. From 12 July to the end of September 2025, it will be in Lausanne to present the exhibition Végéstation by Anne Bory, works by other artists, workshops and performances.
Pay what you want musee-absurde.ch
ArchéoLab
Avenue du Prieuré 4
Pully
Built within the remains of a secondcentury villa, this interactive space is aimed at a young audience, letting them explore daily life in Roman times. They can also conduct investigations while learning about archaeological techniques.
Visits on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Free admission on the first Saturday of each month
Children/reduced rate: CHF 8
Age 16 and over: CHF 10 archeolab.ch
Musée de la chaussure
Rue du Rôtillon 10
Lausanne
A space of just 12 sq m, making it Lausanne’s smallest museum, packs 5,000 years of history of footwear. And it’s all about calceology. Its founders, Dr. Marquita Volken, a specialist in archaeological leather, and her husband Serge Volken, a leather artisan, are also the guides.
First Saturday of the month: 2 – 6:30 pm or by appointment
Free admission shoemuseum.ch
La Muette –literary spaces
Chemin Davel 2 Pully
This immersive experience is enjoyed in the house where Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz once lived. He was one of Switzerland’s greatest writers and died in 1947. Readings and meetings with artists are organised once a month.
Tue to Fri: 2 – 6 pm, Sat and Sun: 11 am – 6 pm
Booking recommended
Free admission on the first Saturday of each month
Full admission: CHF 14, reduced admission: CHF 10, free admission for children under 16 lamuette.ch
The biggest sporting event in French-speaking Switzerland, Athletissima was founded on a stroke of genius by Jacky Delapierre. A look at Athletissima’s back story, as the iconic director passes the baton.
On 20 August 2025, Lausanne will celebrate the 50th edition of Athletissima. The international athletics meeting is inextricably linked to the Olympic Capital. This year is looking to be an exceptional edition, with athletes in attendance who have shaped the history of the event, such as the legend Usain Bolt. But it will also be the last with Jacky Delapierre at its helm. “We launched the event in 1977 to celebrate the inauguration of the Pierre-de-Coubertin stadium in Vidy,” he recalls. “At the time, there were no internationally recognised athletics meetings in French-speaking Switzerland.”
Aiming high, despite a budget of only 20,000 francs, Jacky Delapierre, then a recently retired middle-distance runner and president of the local athletics club, managed to attract stars such as American Olympic medallists Mac Wilkins and Dwight Stones, as well as New Zealander John Walker. On 8 July 1977, nearly 6,000 people crowded into the stadium to watch their performances at this first Lausanne Meeting. The atmosphere was electric, despite the pouring rain. The athletes enjoyed the event so much, however, that they spontaneously announced over the microphone that they would gladly return to try their luck in better weather. And so the second edition of Athletissima was held... just three weeks after the first! While the gigantic Fête des Vignerons – an event held only four times a century – was in full swing just a few kilometres
away in Vevey, the second edition attracted 13,000 spectators.
“We only took the name Athletissima in 1985, when we relocated to the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, better suited for television,” Jacky Delapierre says. These days, with a budget of 5.3 million Swiss francs and broadcast in 169 countries, Athletissima is the biggest sporting event in French-speaking Switzerland. Every year, the stars of world and Swiss athletics come together, giving performances that are often some of the best of the season. “The athletes appreciate our hospitality, meals, financial soundness, as well as the setting and an audience that they consider to be one of the best on the circuit.”
After almost half a century heading up the event, the founder will hand over the reins, on 1 January 2026, to Julien Carrel, 37, former captain of the Lausanne Volley Club and seasoned organiser. But he will not be leaving the ship just yet: “We’ll be tackling this wonderful challenge together,” Julien Carrel says. “We believe that La Pontaise has reached its limits, so we are also advocating for the construction of a new stadium.”
athletissima.ch
Some of the top legends in athletics have trodden the Lausanne track. In addition to Usain Bolt, a big fan of the meeting, who will be coming to La Pontaise for the seventh time this year, the event has been graced by giants including Carl Lewis, Stéphane Diagana, Florence Griffith-Joyner and Renaud Lavillenie. People in French-speaking Switzerland also remember the feats accomplished by Lausanne natives Anita Protti and Sarah Atcho, as well as those of Léa and Ellen Sprunger or Pierre Délèze.
1,500m handcycling by Switzerland’s Franz Nietlispach in 1991 100m by the American Leroy Burrell in 1994 Pole vault by Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva in 2005 110m hurdles by China’s Liu Xiang in 2006
KEY MOMENTS
First edition, in the rain Second edition
The Lausanne Meeting moves and becomes Athletissima
Entry into the IAAF Grand Prix
Entry into the IAAF Mobil Grand Prix
Entry into the prestigious Wanda Diamond League
Launch of the City Event, a free competition, dedicated each year to a discipline and organised in the city, the day before Athletissima
Lateen sailing, as practised on the boat
La Vaudoise, is on the application list for Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage status.
Listed as a historical monument in the canton of Vaud, La Vaudoise could soon benefit from international recognition. Moored in Ouchy, this 30-tonne wooden boat is recognisable for its two triangular sails, called lateen sails, mounted at an angle. The vessel is a testament to a navigational skill that is in the inscription process for recognition as Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage. “On 15 March 2025, together with Switzerland’s Federal Office of Culture and seven Mediterranean countries, we submitted an application to safeguard lateen sailing,” said Roland Grunder, president of the Association des voiles latines du Léman and spokesperson for the Confrérie des Pirates d’Ouchy, the organisation that owns the boat. Adapted to coastal or lake winds, these sails allow you to sail upwind. “So you go faster than with traditional sails, which require tacking, i.e., zigzagging,” he explains.
The lateen rig was imported into Switzerland in the 13th century by the House of Savoy and only sailed on Lake Geneva. “They were used to transport goods. The sails were therefore larger than the Mediterranean ones, which were mainly used on fishing boats.”
An outing on the Vaudoise
Six lateen sailboats can still be seen on the lake, but only La Neptune, in Geneva, and La Vaudoise are original and protected. La Vaudoise, originally named La Violette, was the last of its kind to be launched in 1932. The vessel almost had its career cut short when it was put up for sale for the value of its wood in 1948. However, La Violette was saved by the Pirates d’Ouchy, who gave it its current name. Since then, they have perpetuated the tradition by participating in numerous events and, from mid-May to end of September they organise public or private outings.
pirates-ouchy.ch
A defender of individual liberty, Benjamin Constant – a Lausanne native –was both a novelist and a political activist. His avant-garde thinking is still studied today in universities, especially in the United States.
By Anne-Catherine Renaud
Adolphe, his work about the torments of love, holds the official record as the world’s most widely read novel out of Lausanne. Born in 1767 at No. 7 on Place Saint-François, Benjamin Constant could have made his mark on history for his literary talents alone. But a life-changing encounter altered the course of his career forever, when, in 1794 in the Montchoisi district, he met novelist Germaine de Staël. Of Swiss origin and daughter of minister Jacques Necker, she was the queen of the literary salons of Paris. “Captivated by her eloquence, he fell in love with her intellectually and romantically and considered her his equal,” says modern history professor Léonard Burnand, director of the Institut Benjamin Constant at the University of Lausanne and author of the 2022 biography Benjamin Constant, which won an award from the Académie Française.
To win over Madame de Staël and maintain correspondence with her, the writer sent her five letters a day and assiduously frequented the places where she stayed around Lake Geneva, such as Château de Coppet – where family mementos are still kept – and Château de Mézery. He went so far as to break his watch so that it would not show the time he had to leave her. They became a couple in 1796, but their relationship was a rocky one.
It was Madame de Staël who awakened in Benjamin Constant the man of action behind the man of letters. On moving to Paris with her, he began writing prolifically for the opinion press and fighting all forms of censorship. Not just a political theorist but also a practitioner, he was
elected to the French National Assembly in 1819, becoming the leader of the liberal opposition. “Benjamin Constant defended individual rights without promoting total individualism. He advocated respect for a person’s private life while encouraging citizens to get involved in the public sphere,” Léonard Burnand says. Almost two centuries since his death, his legacy has not faded. His political writings are still on the syllabus at universities, especially in the United States, where freedom is a core value of the Declaration of Independence.
Due to the fame he achieved in his lifetime, Constant was honoured in 1830 with a ceremonious funeral in France, with one-fifth of Parisians accompanying his coffin to Père-Lachaise Cemetery. Benjamin Constant is nonetheless a child of Lausanne. The city has named a square and an avenue after him and displays four commemorative plaques in his honour.
The Vaud capital served as the backdrop for key events in his life. It is where he lost his mother, who died shortly after giving birth to him. It is also where he met Madame de Staël, the love of his life. Lausanne, again, was the setting for the last act of their passion: in 1811, they parted company on Rue de Bourg.
Mother Nature does things right, and illustrator Lisa Voisard delights in showing off nature’s handiwork. In her new book, she celebrates the little miracles that make our food a thing of wonder.
“How do chips and pizza grow?” Lisa Voisard asks in her new book Miam la nature. From potatoes to chips, from wheat to bread, every food has a story to tell. Through her graceful pencil strokes and skilful harmony of colours, the Lausanne-based illustrator, who has just opened her studio-shop on Rue du Petit-Chêne, invites us to rediscover the multiple facets of fruit and vegetables. We eat them every day, but we don’t always pay attention to their natural beauty.
Once prepared in delicious dishes, ingredients can also become a sensory experience that stays with us as a fond memory throughout our lifetime. For Lisa Voisard, one of these memory-inducing foods is carac, a sweet speciality from Vaud, made with shortcrust pastry, ganache and green icing. “It’s the most typical of the sweet treats I remember from my childhood. I would ask for one every time we went to the bakery,” she says.
Her first book of illustrations, Ornithorama, published by the Lausanne-based publisher Helvetiq in 2020, was followed by Arborama and Insectorama, on trees and insects, respectively. With Miam la nature, Lisa Voisard goes in a new direction. “I wanted to create a colourful book
that was lighter and less scientific than the previous ones. I love drawing food. It’s really aesthetic and presents lots of beautiful things to illustrate. And I also love eating, so that made for two good reasons to embrace the subject.”
You can devour Miam la nature together as a family activity, starting at age 6. It’s like sharing a dish bursting with new flavours. “I supplement the drawings with information to help people understand what they’re eating, both about the food itself and the culture to which it belongs. The book is also sprinkled with a few easy-tomake recipes.”
Miam la nature, Helvetiq, 2024 CHF 29,90
In each edition, The Lausanner introduces you to a different stall at a Lausanne market. Meet Claude Jabès, a black garlic pioneer in French-speaking Switzerland.
Interview by Anne-Catherine Renaud
Claude Jabès is a discriminating gourmet who has published three volumes of Allégories gourmandes, a collection of his culinary articles that appeared in the magazine L’Hebdo from 1997 to 2002. What is his favourite ingredient? The chillies that he adds to all kinds of preparations, which he has been selling at the market for 16 years. When he discovered black garlic, he expanded his range by adding this high-end condiment to delicious creams, sauces and tapenades. One big advantage: black garlic does not give you bad breath.
How did you discover black garlic?
Claude Jabès : It’s a fairy tale. I was selling garlic from the Drôme (France). A Japanese customer kept buying more and more from me. One day he came and set down a head of black garlic, made from garlic I sold him, on my stand. Developed in Asia at the beginning of the 20th century, black garlic was rare on our markets at the time. When I tasted it, I had an epiphany! Its flavour is a cross between grape, fig, balsamic vinegar and morel mushroom. The following Saturday, a customer asked me if I sold black garlic. That’s how it all started.
Who taught you the recipe?
I figured it out in my kitchen, with love and a saucepan! Black garlic requires a precise maturation process that takes several weeks, between caramelisation and drying. There are as many methods as there are types of fresh garlic. It took me months to select the variety that allows me to achieve the optimal result. I have partnered with a farmer from Démoret (Vaud) who grows it.
After caramelising the bulbs, I incorporate them into various preparations that I have been selling since April 2017.
What products do you sell at your stall?
Loose black garlic cloves at CHF 12 per 100 grams. It’s not expensive, considering the very high level of quality that I offer my customers, but it’s still a luxury product. I offer black garlic specialities that I prepare, such as hot sauce, hummus, balsamic cream and spicy mustard, all certified organic. They can be used in salads, served with meat and fish, or simply spread on bread as a salty snack. Black garlic caviar –a coarsely crushed mixture of garlic, herbes de Provence and olive oil – goes well with entrecôte steak. But my fortifying potions are the best sellers.
Are you a bit of an alchemist?
I trained as a healer. I developed Cadeau du ciel (gift from heaven), a blend of black garlic, acacia honey and cider vinegar, to strengthen the immune system. You can stir a spoonful into your coffee, but it’s also delicious with smoked salmon. Les trois noirs (the three blacks), which combines black garlic, cumin and elderberry, is particularly effective against colds. With black garlic, I’m touching on two areas: indulgence and health.
What do you like most about Lausanne market?
Meeting people! I have developed a great relationship with my customers. Direct contact is my thing.
At the market
Rue de la Madeleine 18
Every Saturday from 7:15 am to 2:30 pm
“WITH THIS JOB, YOU HAVE TO BE ON ALL FRONTS”
Erwan Buttay, co-manager of the Bellerive-Plage swimming pool, juggles team management, swimmer safety with plenty of surprises.
Interview by Erik Freudenreich
Built in 1937, the Bellerive-Plage swimming pool is a delight with its vast lawns, three large pools, iconic diving board and direct access to Lake Geneva. It welcomes up to 8,000 visitors on the hottest days. But behind the summery atmosphere lies meticulous planning, orchestrated throughout the year by Erwan Buttay and the rest of the pool crew.
With thousands of visitors every day, you must run into some surprising situations. Do you have an unusual story to share?
Erwan Buttay: Definitely! One sunny but windy day, I was told about a swimmer in the open water, about 2 km in the direction of Evian. He was a 14-year-old boy who had decided to swim across the lake to impress a friend, just like in a movie! We picked him up, slightly hypothermic and very tired. Now that was an adventure!
What are the day-to-day challenges of running a swimming pool?
Our main goal is to prevent accidents and drowning. That requires constant monitoring of swimming areas and good risk management. In Lausanne, we attach great importance to training our lifeguards. We also take measures to remain compliant with hygiene standards and raise public awareness.
What about contact with the public?
People come to have a good time and are relaxed. However, we need to be firm and respectful about the rules and preventing risks. A frequent question is about using inflatables on the lake. They’re really popular, as it’s free for our customers. Of course, we also welcome tourists. They particularly appreciate the pool’s setting in nature right on the lake, cleanliness and water safety.
What do you like most about your job?
The fact that no two days are alike. I like being out in the field, close to the action, even if prevention is a big part of the work. It’s a job where we have to react fast, and the working
environment is unique. I myself come from a swimming background, having been a club swimmer since childhood.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I start at 6.45 am to set everything up and check the weather forecast. At 7 am, I brief the cleaning teams. Then we run water analyses and checks. The lifeguards arrive at 9 am to see how things will go for the day and where they’ll be stationed. For my part, I check safety conditions: water temperature, wind, etc. –before opening the complex at 9:30 am The rest of the day is very busy: a bit of admin, a lot of fieldwork, supervising the teams, dealing with unforeseen situations such as lost children or conflicts, as well as rescue operations. Around 6 pm, we prepare for the end of the day with the clean-up crews.
What qualities are required for this job?
You need to think analytically to identify risks, have a sense of responsibility, and be adaptable, available and able to react fast. The team is large, so leadership and good interpersonal skills are also essential. With this job, you have to be on all fronts: one minute, it could be a technical breakdown, and the next, an incident at the poolside or a problem at the cash desk.
How long have you worked at Bellerive?
I took over as manager of the pool in 2014. Two of us work here all year round. During the period when the facility is closed, we transfer our offices to the Montchoisi skating rink and pool to continue working from there. In October, for example, we start recruiting the 37 lifeguards we need. In the spring, we start preparing for the season with various maintenance operations.
What three places in Lausanne would you recommend?
The Tour de Sauvabelin, where I like to go after a jog through the wooded paths of Lausanne, to enjoy the amazing 360° view. The Vidy pyramids are the ideal place for having a barbecue. I also like the Ouchy lakefront in summer for its festive atmosphere.
Bellerive swimming pool lausanne.ch/bellerive
Open from 17 May to 14 September 2025
Whether born in Lausanne or just passing through out of artistic passion, these public figures have left their mark on the city with their international aura.
On 7 February 2025 in Los Angeles, the mezzo-soprano from Lausanne won the Grammy Award for the best metal performance, alongside French metal band Gojira and composer Victor Le Masne, for their memorable rendition of Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!) at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.
The heavy metal singer turned opera star – and daughter of conductor Marcello Viotti – shared her excitement on Instagram: “In these troubled times, this award sends an important message: we win for a performance that reunited two different music worlds, opera and metal. This shows that when we build bridges and not walls… when we think out of the box and unite our differences instead of letting them separate us… we can create something beautiful, unique, and so powerful.”
In January, the French actor came to Lausanne for the first time to take part in what was a brand-new experience for him. Invited by his friend Renaud Capuçon, Artistic Director of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (OCL), he voiced Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf played by the OCL for two nights at the Métropole performance hall.
“The day before, he worked with the conductor and then rehearsed with the orchestra. The following day, the dress rehearsal and the first concert took place,” said Hélène Brunet, press officer, about the preparation for his audience-acclaimed performance.
The editor-in-chief of American Vogue spent nearly two hours in Lausanne visiting the exhibition Treasures of the Petit Palais Geneva at the Fondation de l’Hermitage, shortly after it opened in January 2025. Anna Wintour was accompanied by the curators and Sylvie Wuhrmann, the museum’s director. The head of the Hermitage told Elle Suisse, “Anna Wintour was passing through the region. She really wanted to visit the Fondation, which she had never visited, and our exhibition.”
The American novelist, who lives between New York, Paris and Berlin, gave a 14-lecture course on the Craft of Writing Fiction at the University of Lausanne in early 2025. In an interview with L’Illustré, The Big Picture author said he was delighted to spend more time in the city. “I love Lausanne. The Cinémathèque suisse is wonderful, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra is one of the best in the world, and Chorus is a great jazz club. Movies and music are two of my passions.”
Born on 7 September 1945 in Lausanne, the socialite died in Paris on 31 December 2024. Nicknamed the “Catwoman” for her extensive cosmetic surgery, she still spoke of her love for her home town one year before her death, in Interview : “I had a fantastic childhood. We lived by the lake and near the mountains, so in the summer I would swim and in the winter I would ski.” After her studies, she lived in Paris with the filmmaker Sergio Gobbi. In 1977, she took a hunting trip to Kenya that would change her life, as that is where she met billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein. After eloping to Las Vegas, they were married a second time in Lausanne and had two children. Following their highly publicised divorce in 1998, she obtained a huge settlement.
Sylvester Stallone supports AI in Lausanne. The actor is one of the investors who contributed to the funding round in which the startup Largo.ai, based at the EPFL Innovation Park, raised $7.5 million. In doing so, he also becomes a strategic partner in this firm specialised in predictive analytics for film and television. Largo.ai already collaborates with 600 studios worldwide and states that “many films using its platform have been released in theatres or on Netflix, and some have even been nominated for Oscars”.
How many trees have been planted in Lausanne through the “One Tree, One Child” initiative launched in 2001? More than 35,000, mainly in the upper parts of the city. The programme was created to contribute to reforestation after Hurricane Lothar. In 2024 for the first time, the parents of the 1,478 children born the previous year planted their tree on the lakeside. The 25th edition will take place on 4 October 2025.
A new club, an app to help you party the night away, and successful evenings for the over-60s – Lausanne’s nightlife has something for every generation.
Lausanne by Night is already renowned for its atmosphere, but it has boosted its appeal even further with the arrival of a new venue: the Noche Club, located in the Galeries Saint-François. It’s an intimate venue designed to create an amazing night (in Spanish, noche) for everyone: “We host disco, house, and afro house music nights, as well as more commercial music, with classics from the 1990s to the 2010s,” says Mathias, the club’s co-founder. This vibrant venue, with its spectacular light show, will also host MTV - Back 2 the Hits, and hip-hop nights in the future. “We want to create a real sense of energy, a place for people to meet and chat in a welcoming, innovative and immersive environment,” adds Jérémie, his business partner.
The whole night out in a single app Hango is another new arrival, successfully launched by two Lausanne residents, Mickaël Borrajo and
Edouard Henzi. Their idea was to include an entire city’s nightlife – including bars, clubs and special events – in a single app while also offering discounts on entry fees and on drinks through the Hango Pass to encourage users to discover other venues. “Lausanne was the perfect city for developing Hango,” Mickaël explains. “Its nightlife is really centralised, so you can quickly go from one venue to another. There are so many bars, internationally renowned clubs and excellent concert venues as well as a lot of students.” Its two creators aim to roll out the app across Switzerland as a whole in the near future.
The Forever Young evenings organised at the MAD Club in partnership with Pro Senectute have also been a roaring success. From 8.30 to 11 pm, the Jetlag floor welcomes the over 60s, filling the dancefloor with classic pop and disco tunes. The party then continues in the rest of the club, which opens from 11 pm.
nocheclub.ch hango.ch mad.club
To mark the centenary of the death of the painter and printmaker Félix Vallotton, Swiss institutions have come together to pay tribute to him. In Lausanne, the city of his birth, the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts (MCBA) and the Félix Vallotton Foundation will unveil over 200 of his works in the Vallotton Forever retrospective, held from 24 October 2025 to 15 February 2026. A second exhibition will focus on the origins of his work. Alongside this, a book published by Éditions Zoé and edited by Daniel Maggetti, a professor at the University of Lausanne, will showcase the artist’s posthumously published novels as well as his unpublished plays.
The card game Odin, created by Lausanne publisher Helvetiq, has won the As d’Or prize, a prestigious award given to the best board game of the year, at the 2025 Festival international des jeux de Cannes. “When I heard our name, I was overjoyed and extremely proud of our team”, said Hadi Barkat, Helvetiq’s founder. “For a small independent company like ours, being recognised by a panel of professionals is a seal of approval.” The discard game sold out immediately after the award was announced, but is now back in stock.
At the first-ever 101 Best Hotels in Switzerland awards, held in Interlaken on March 30, the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne claimed the top spot in the Grand Resorts category.
In the heights of Lausanne, Aquatis, the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe, brings you a unique experience with its immersive exhibition Mission Polaire. Developed by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, it explores the Arctic and Antarctic through the life of these regions’ inhabitants, their unique biodiversity and the challenges of climate change. The exhibition runs until 22 March 2026.
From 28 June to 6 July 2025, Switzerland will host a Basketball World Cup for the first time, as the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup comes to Lausanne’s Vaudoise Arena. The tournament brings together the world’s 16 best under-19 national teams.
After creating a form for reporting street harassment, available at lausanne.ch/signaler, the city council is continuing its commitment to women’s safety by announcing a partnership with The Sorority Foundation, the author of a free app that was developed in France in 2019. Available in 15 languages, it lets women and gender minorities who are in danger in the street, at work or at home send an alert to the 50 nearest users. The app is a complementary tool, so in an emergency, it’s essential for users to contact 117 or 112 as a priority (the app provides direct access).
After splitting in 2010 following a 20-year career and 10 albums, Lausanne’s group Sens Unik is making a big comeback, reported 24 Heures. The pioneers of Swiss and French-speaking rap are reuniting, with Carlos Leal, Just One, Deborah, Bio, and Jiggy Jones, for a series of open-air concerts this summer.
Set to be completed in 2028, the new design for Place de la Riponne will be created by the Lausanne-based firm Paysagestion, whose project was selected by a jury of professionals and local residents. “It meets the city’s goal of providing an attractive and lively pedestrian square with plenty of trees,” says Mayor Grégoire Junod.
Far from Nashville, where she grew up, Ashley Puckett is thriving in Lausanne. She loves the city for all its culture and diversity.
Interview by Alexandre Lanz
Ashley Puckett lives in the historic district of La Cité. For the past 15 years or so, the Olympic Capital has continued to delight her. Drawing on her inexhaustible positive energy, she is busy with all sorts of activities. Very active on Instagram and TikTok under the name The Puckett List, where she shares “everything worth repeating”, she has also been the organiser of TEDxLausanneWomen conferences for the past 10 years, held each November, and is the founder of the strategic communications agency Puckett Consulting. Two more recent ventures include The Suite Spot, a podcast on taboo topics launched in May 2025, and an autobiography currently in the works.
What brought you from Tennessee to Lausanne?Ashley Puckett : I first came here by chance in 2004 as an au pair. I had never left the United States and I confused Switzerland with Sweden. I was still a baby wearing a T-shirt with the phrase, “Blondes have more fun”!
Did you decide to stay straight away?
No, I went back to the United States to finish my degree in international business and came back in 2010. I was 27 years old and in a relationship with a guy from Lausanne. I had just lost my brother and at the same time I found out that I was pregnant... When I separated from the father of my daughter, my status as a single mother who didn’t speak French did not make my life any easier.
How did you integrate? This time, I avoided surrounding myself with other expats so that I could really learn French. I was starting from scratch. At the dinner table, I didn’t even know
how to ask for salt! These integration challenges shaped my feminism. I joined the team that organises TEDxLausanne talks in 2012 and realised that we needed something that really focused on many taboo issues concerning women. So I launchedTEDxLausanneWomen in 2014.
How would you describe Lausanne?
It’s a dream city. I feel like Alice in Wonderland. In the car-free district of La Cité, I can open the windows and talk to my neighbours. When my daughter was little, she used to wade in the fountains there. At the train station, you could be standing next to a man in ski boots or another in a suit and tie.
There’s nowhere else in the world like it! I also think the city is changing fast.
What is changing?
It’s diversifying. That shows in the fast-growing food offering. Five years ago, it was all hot dogs, pizzas and burgers. Now we have places like Deli Social on Place du Tunnel. The cultural
scene is also booming. For its size, Lausanne is still the most dynamic city in Switzerland.
How do you take advantage of that energy?
Within a small area, I can go to an exhibition at one of the museums at Plateforme 10, then I can enjoy a wine tasting at the Street Cellar, in Le Flon, followed by a concert at Les Jumeaux Jazz Club in the same neighbourhood or a Comedy Night at Montana’s American
Sports Bar, on Avenue du Théâtre, before ending my evening dancing at Folklor, on Place de la Riponne. That abundance of cultural things to do is second to none.
Where do you take your friends visiting for the first time?
I start with the Cathedral, where you can tour the catacombs in summer. The view of the lake, Évian and the Alps from the esplanade is incredible. Then I take them to Lutry, in
Lavaux, which will forever be one of the most beautiful regions in the world. My friends never want to leave! Lausanne is a city you come back to.
What is your Lausanne motto? The city of slopes promises to sculpt beautiful glutes – but don’t invest in high heels!
puckett.consulting tedxlausanne.com
BAABUK
Avenue du Rond-Point 25, Lausanne baabuk.ch
SHOPPING
RESTAURANT
MAMA-CUISINE HABESHA
Rue de la Borde 19, Lausanne mama-cuisine-habesha-lausanne.ch
STREET CELLAR
Rue du Port-Franc 2a, Lausanne streetcellar.ch
BAR
“Lausanne is the best city in Switzerland for second-hand shops, but I also love shopping in designer boutiques like Baabuk.”
“For me, this Ethiopian restaurant, opposite the Salvation Army in the Tunnel district, is the best place to go in the city.”
“I love this bar in Le Flon. They’re so nice and family– and pet-friendly too. Their tapas are so good!”
Keen to live like a local and get to know their favourite spots? Then you need The Lausanners – visit thelausanner.ch for the inside scoop.
With locals from all sorts of backgrounds, the Lausanners community shares experiences and top tips throughout the year to bring you new ways to enjoy Lausanne. In this issue, we’d like you to meet Axel Louissaint, 29, professional basketball player, and Doris Siprak, 34, content creator.
Interviews by Leandra Patané
AXEL, THE SPEEDY DUNKER
@thequickaxel
Axel, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a professional basketball player, born in Switzerland, with a Haitian background. I get up every day with a clear goal: to be better than the day before.
What made you decide to join The Lausanners?
For me, Lausanne offers a perfect balance between sport and creativity. Joining The Lausanners is an opportunity to pass on my energy and encourage others to develop their potential.
What unusual aspect of Lausanne is worth exploring?
The Louve underground river, visible only from the third level of La Riponne car park, is worth a visit. Similarly, you can always catch one of the great exhibitions at the Beaulieu Congress Centre, including one on Banksy running until June 2025.
What would your plans be for a dream day?
Wake up at 5:30 am, then jog along the lake, followed by a strength training session and basketball practice. After a poke bowl at Le Spot, I dive into my various projects at the Fripsquare café. The day ends at the Les Arches bar, with friends.
Where can you exercise in the region?
The Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Vidy is the perfect spot. I do sprints on the track, play basketball on the courts right next to it or join a game of beach volleyball. All this in the best of settings, with the lake as a backdrop and a mate drink from the
Super Natural Club, a Lausanne manufacturer, to top off the moment.
Do you still see yourself in Lausanne in 10 years? Absolutely. I grew up in Yverdon-les-Bains (VD), then travelled extensively in Switzerland, Spain and Serbia for my basketball career. Eight years ago, I moved to Lausanne out of love, to be with Jasmine (dancer with the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, see her interview in The Lausanner 12, – ed.). This is where we’ve built our life and both become Lausanners. It’s a city that has everything: a magnificent lake, a lively centre and incredible diversity.
Beaulieu Congress Centre Avenue des Bergières 10, Lausanne
Le Spot Rue du Midi 12, Lausanne
Fripsquare
Chemin de la Joliette 5, Lausanne
Les Arches Place de l’Europe, Lausanne
Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin
Route de Vidy, Lausanne
DORIS, THE SHINY FOODIE @cannellerebelle
Doris, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a marketing consultant, content creator and project manager. I like to combine strategy and creativity. On my Instagram, I share my culinary world, ideas for activities and good deals.
What does your perfect Saturday look like?
I start with a stroll through Parc de l’Hermitage, with its breathtaking view of the city and the Alps. Then, it’s off to the Hermitage restaurant, L’Esquisse, for a delicious brunch in this enchanting setting. In the afternoon sun, nothing compares to a paddleboarding session on the lake. If the weather is not on our side, the exhibitions of the three museums at Plateforme 10 are an excellent alternative. At the end of the day, I join friends at the Street Cellar, a bar that I appreciate for its selection of local wines and its urban atmosphere.
Is there an event that has made a particular impression on you?
Every year, the non-profit Lausanne à Table, for which I worked, organises the Miam Festival. For me, the event is always a highlight, especially the 2019 edition. I was the project manager and brought together flavours from around the world,
while promoting local products in an offbeat, festive atmosphere. The next edition will be held from 7 to 9 June 2025. Don’t miss it!
Which spots capture the essence of Lausanne?
It’s hard to choose, but I would say historic cafés like Le Barbare and La Pinte Besson, where history intermingles with a warm atmosphere.
What’s the best way to explore the city?
Don’t miss the Choco Treck! Held in September, it’s a novel way to explore Lausanne. You visit some of the best chocolatiers, with sweet surprises at every stop (the Lausanne Choco Tour is another way to discover chocolatiers throughout the year – ed.).
Do you see yourself living in Lausanne in the long term?
Yes. I have my friends, my habits and such strong ties here that I can’t see myself living anywhere else. In fact, it was my family and friends who encouraged me to become a Lausanner, given my personality. And actually, it’s obvious to me, because this role perfectly captures my relationship with Lausanne.
L’Esquisse
Route du Signal 2, Lausanne
Plateforme 10
Quartier des Arts
Place de la Gare 16-17, Lausanne
Street Cellar
Rue du Port-Franc 2a, Lausanne
Le Barbare
Escaliers du Marché 27, Lausanne
La Pinte Besson
Rue de l’Ale 4, Lausanne
“GROWING UP IN LAUSANNE KIND OF PROTECTED ME”
Since Kacey Mottet Klein found fame as the child star of Home alongside Isabelle Huppert, he’s worked on film after film with the greats of cinema. But he comes to Lausanne to recharge in nature, far from the hustle and bustle of film sets.
Interview by Trinidad Barleycorn
Twenty-six years old and almost two decades into his career: Kacey Mottet Klein’s success story is like something out of Hollywood. Except that his story began as a seven-year-old, dragging his feet one Sunday in Lausanne while his family took him to see the Triathlon. He was spotted in the crowd by a producer, and the next year he would star in Ursula Meier’s magnificent Home
Then it all took off. He played a young Serge Gainsbourg in Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, worked on ten films before he turned 18, and discovered the excesses of the adult world at an early age (he’s admitted to drinking his first vodka at Cannes when he was nine).
He was 13 when Ursula Meier gave him her seal of approval with his first role written specifically for him, opposite Léa Seydoux in Sister. His masterful performance earned him Best Actor at the Swiss Film Awards and his first Césars nomination.
“Acting isn’t just saying your lines. It’s becoming the character, bringing them to life,” Kacey Mottet Klein explains in Birth of an Actor, the Ursula Meier documentary about him. “At the end of the shoot, it’s strange. You say goodbye to the character, you grieve for them. [...] But there’s also a sense of relief. The relief of returning to yourself, and of not going crazy.”
It means a welcome break: he’s been in nearly 25 productions with the big names of French-language cinema, from Catherine Deneuve to Fanny Ardant, Mathilde Seigner, Fabrice Luchini and Kad Merad. So far this year, he’s played Richelieu in All for One, before robbing a lorry in Un monde violent. In a few months, he’ll portray a soldier with superhuman powers in the series Les Sentinelles and the
aide-de-camp to the eponymous general in the film De Gaulle.
After spending a long time living abroad, you’re back in Switzerland. For good this time? Kacey Mottet Klein : Switzerland has always been where I recharge my batteries, but my work means I spend most of my time abroad. Since early 2024, I’ve lived in Pully, just outside Lausanne. Before then, I spent three years in Brussels, then six years in Morocco with my ex-partner, while still making regular visits to Switzerland. At the moment, I’m seriously thinking about moving to Paris, a city I love and where my partner and some of my best friends live. At the moment, I travel there and back by train. When you’ve grown up somewhere as nice as Lausanne, it’s difficult to detach yourself from it completely.
What helps you recharge your batteries in Lausanne?
The lake above all. My brothers have a boat, we go wakeboarding in the summer and I swim a lot. In the winter, after exercising, I love bathing in the cold water before going to a sauna. I also absolutely love the nature around here – the forest and the mountains. I love long walks. Having the sense of calm and freedom that nature brings us is such a wonderful opportunity. In Paris, you have to go a long way to find large green spaces, which can be a bit anxiety-inducing. Life in Lausanne in the summer is just amazing. If I had to pick one time when I never want to leave, it would be summer.
Is there anything else you miss when you’re abroad?
Grated Gruyère from Coop! It’s my comfort food. I call it “Gruyère in a ball” because it’s more compact than other brands [laughs]. I pack it in my luggage. And the first thing I always do when I come back to Switzerland is to make some spaghetti bolognaise topped with it.
What’s your most cherished memory of Lausanne?
The day I was scouted to be in Home, but also attending the premieres of my films surrounded by my family and friends, as well as family barbecues at my parents’ old house in Grandvaux. →
Tell us about the day when it all began... I was seven, and we were on the Quais d’Ouchy to watch my brother Lucien in the Lausanne Triathlon when Elena Tatti, the founder of Box Productions, spotted me and suggested I come to the casting for Home. I don’t really know what was going through my head at that moment, but it wasn’t cinema. I wanted to be a pilot, then a police officer, a surgeon or a lawyer. My love for cinema came much later, and the idea of making it my career didn’t come until later still.
What convinced you to go to the casting?
We just thought it would be fun. We never really believed I would get anywhere. The funny thing is that the production team first told us that I hadn’t been chosen before calling us back two weeks later to say they’d made a mistake and they actually did want to offer me a role!
What did you think of your first shoot?
It was pretty fun. We filmed in Bulgaria during the summer holidays, so it didn’t affect my education. I thought it would be my only film. Then they asked me to be in Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, which was shot in Paris. There, I had a nanny who was also my teacher. Learning was difficult after five or six hours of work. I also had to lose my Vaud accent.
Was it difficult?
No. I took lessons with a speech therapist and it became a habit. Now, I’m a chameleon when it comes to accents. In Morocco, I picked up the typical Casablanca accent, in Lausanne, I speak with a Vaud accent and as soon as I cross the border to go to Paris, I have a French accent.
What memories do you have of your school days at École Vinet and later at École Roche in Lausanne?
A lot of pizzas from Fratel on Rue de l’Ale and sandwiches from Le Monopole on Place Chauderon! [Laughs.] I went there every lunchtime. Rosario, the owner, became one of my dearest friends. My time at school and my childhood were very positive, although they’re a bit hazy with the chaos of all my travelling for work. I really enjoyed growing up in Lausanne, even if I had – and still have – a love-hate relationship with it.
What do you mean?
Lausanne is where my heart is. I love being here and coming back, but when I leave, it makes me appreciate it all the more. Growing up in Lausanne kind of protected me, but being in the media spotlight in a small city wasn’t always easy, especially because people didn’t necessarily recognise my job. In Paris, when I said I was an actor, no-one cared. In Switzerland, I’ve even been asked what my real job is. That said, I’m so touched by the attention I’ve always been given by the Swiss public. It’s always lovely to get stopped in the street in Lausanne.
What was your experience of fame as a child? I suffered from it, but it was also my own fault. I was humble when I was working, but I had a real ego with my friends. I liked showing my success through money because it was easier than admitting I was proud to be an actor.
Do you regret starting out in cinema so young? No, it was a real opportunity despite everything. What I regret is having missed out on important
stages in my psychological development. Something in me doesn’t work properly because I worked a lot as a kid. I’ll often think about how the complications in my life stem in large part from that, whether it’s addiction, the excesses I struggle with or the things that I miss because I never experienced them as a child. But postponing my childhood also brought me a lot of positive things, like the fact that I gained a lot of maturity very quickly – even if I’m still split between that early maturity and the gaps in it which mean that, at times, I feel like I’m seven or eight again, like I’m the child I was before I went into film.
You’ve often mentioned your struggles with addiction. How are things going at the moment? I went to rehab in October and November 2024. I needed to, because my cocaine addiction was becoming a problem. It’s important to me that I talk about it. It helps me and maybe it might help others, because it’s an issue that affects a lot of people and it shouldn’t be taboo.
2025’s a busy year for releases for you. Yes, at the end of the year, I’ll be in De Gaulle, which is a major production that’s highly anticipated in France. I play Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel, the soldier and right-hand man to Charles de Gaulle, played magnificently by Simon Abkarian. It was amazing to be immersed in such an impressive world, in terms of both the size of the team and the budget devoted to recreating the historic settings and events. Before then, you can see me in Les Sentinelles, a Canal+ science-fiction series, in September. It was an exceptional experience, especially because of my strong
friendship with the other three main actors, which is rare on a set. It was also my first series and my first action shoot.
How did you prepare for the role?
I’m pretty active, but I had to pick up the pace. I suggested to the other actors that we do a boot camp in Paris. We went there every morning before and during shooting. It was intense – 45 minutes of sweating while a trainer shouts at you in English! Unfortunately, in our line of work, we don’t get to do many stunts ourselves for insurance reasons. Unless you’re Tom Cruise! [Laughs.]
You’re currently filming in Geneva.
Yes, it’s an RTS series, Uniformes, which is about the everyday lives of police investigators. The script was overseen by a police superintendent.
Was it like your childhood dream coming true?
Yes! I often considered joining the police, even after going into cinema. To be honest, I still think about it. I’m fascinated by the judicial and criminal police, and by specialist units. I was lucky enough to shadow a police sergeant major to prepare for my role. →
20 October 1998
Kacey is born in Lausanne to a Swiss-French mother and an American father who returned to the USA when he was three. The youngest of four, he grew up in Bussigny, then Grandvaux, with his mother, a school nurse, and his step-father, a teacher
2009
Wins Best Emerging Talent at the Swiss Film Awards
2013
Becomes the youngest Césars nominee and wins Best Male Actor for the role at the Swiss Film Awards for his role in Ursula Meier’s Sister
2014
Leaves education to devote himself to acting, then moves to Brussels to be with his partner
2016
Named one of the ten European Shooting Stars at the Berlin Film Festival, an award given annually to the best European talents
2017
César-nominated for André Téchiné’s Being 17
2018
Moves to Morocco for love
2024
Returns to Switzerland
You’ve spoken in the past about wanting to direct. Where are you at with that goal?
I’m still a bit scared by the idea. I don’t feel ready. But it’s still one of my goals, as it is for a lot of actors. In our line of work, we’re completely dependent on getting a phone call. Instead of waiting to be chosen, some turn to writing so they can be in control of their own productivity.
Are you still worried that the phone might just stop ringing?
Oh yes! I think it affects all actors, regardless of their level. There are always quiet periods, periods of doubt, and it’s probably the hardest part of the job. You have to be able to deal with the instability and be passionate about other things as well.
Like what?
Well, for me, business. Since 2020, I’ve been the artistic director for a hotel group, working on projects combining the hotel industry and film. I’m also in discussions with the Lausanne Palace. We’d like to organise panel discussions together. And I’d also love to give lessons or run workshops. I’ve been in touch with La Manufacture and ECAL in Lausanne to discuss possibilities.
Is the fact that the Cinémathèque suisse is in Lausanne important to you?
Yes, very! The legendary Capitole cinema, which was recently bought and renovated by the Cinémathèque, is absolutely magnificent. Their archives are exceptional – they’re some of the largest in the world. There are also amazing
LEISURE LE ZINÉMA
RESTAURANT
Rue du Maupas 4, Lausanne zinema.ch
cultural events in Lausanne, like the fantastic Rencontres 7e Art film festival founded by Vincent Perez. Despite all of that, I find that there’s still a lack of cultural ambition in Switzerland in general. We could do more. Lausanne is the perfect place for greater cultural development, with the Capitole, its superb museums, its décor and its infrastructure, and I’m pleased to see that Switzerland, and Lausanne in particular, is gradually offering more and more possibilities to people who want a career in cinema so they don’t have to leave any more.
Lausanne is also home to the headquarters of Bande à part Films, founded by Ursula Meier, Lionel Baier (read his interview in The Lausanner 14 – ed.), Jean-Stéphane Bron and Frédéric Mermoud. Do you keep in touch with them?
They’re all extremely prominent in Lausanne’s cultural scene – an amazing group of four writer-directors who make great films. I’ve stayed pretty close with Ursula, of course, and Lionel, her best friend. In 2023, I travelled with her to New York and Bogota for retrospectives on the films we’ve made together. I know she’s writing a new feature film. I hope it’ll include a little role for me! [Laughs.] ■
L’APPART
Rue de Bourg 29, Lausanne appart-lausanne.ch
“A tiny cinema that’s really cute, showing an eclectic selection of films. Like the Bellevaux cinema, it’s one of those independent theatres that are fighting to remain open and are truly essential. The director is passionate about film.”
“I love this restaurant, which is relatively new. It offers relaxed fine dining in an amazing setting, with just a few tables. You feel like you’re at home, and it’s excellent.”
Five free and festive weekends around ve parks in Lausanne on July and August
gardenpartieslausanne.ch
Illustrations
With its natural surroundings so conducive to relaxation, the Vaud capital began developing a real health-focused lifestyle in the 19th century. And the city has kept up with new trends in wellness ever since.
Nestled on the shores of Europe’s largest alpine lake, Lausanne charms with its reputation as a city where life – and a visit – are both a pleasure. And its preserved natural setting enhances that feeling. With 350 hectares of parks and gardens, Lausanne is one of the greenest urban areas in Europe. In 2019, the British magazine Monocle named Lausanne the “World’s Best Small City”, highlighting its commitment to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, embodied in its vast green spaces and investment in renewable energy. Its mountainous surroundings dense with vineyards, as well as the nearby countryside, give it an invigorating energy.
Built on three hills, Lausanne is surrounded by green slopes that offer spectacular views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. Quality infrastructure, cultural effervescence and a wide range of wellness services complete its image as a “city of health”.
This reputation goes back quite far, as Vincent Barras, doctor and medical historian, explains, “Starting in the 19th century, Lausanne and its region focused on the health and wellness industries. The tradition, a result of European Romanticism, considers the Alps to be a place of beneficial, unspoilt nature and its inhabitants to be “very healthy”. This opposes the perception that the large-scale industrial urban environment is harmful to health. The first wave of visitors were English tourists who came to heal, regenerate and do themselves some good.”
Local entrepreneurs, doctors and hotel owners then
organised an economy centred on these health principles. “Clinics started to develop, such as Cecil or Bois-Cerf,” Vincent Barras says. “The advertising brochures of the time refer to Lausanne as the ’Mecca of Medicine and Wellness’. That was the city’s first golden age, and it became extremely famous for this in Europe.” This luxury medicine, which was initially aimed at the European elite, also had positive repercussions for the population of Lausanne with the development of public medicine. “Many wellness clinics continue to capitalise on those historical foundations today,” he adds. “During the 20th century, exercise was integrated into the 19th-century health movement.” This medical tradition continues to shine with the development of Health Valley, the innovation ecosystem of cutting-edge medical and research
institutions in French-speaking Switzerland (see page 48).
These days, the natural environment still entices locals and visitors to spend time outdoors, thus promoting physical activity. Active travel is encouraged, supported by the installation of public lifts to offset the differences in elevation and a growing network of bike lanes. In 2023, they stretched along nearly 130 km, almost twice the length in 2010. Outings along the lake, on foot, on rollerblades or by bike, the large parks, the hiking trails and the numerous water sports activities are all opportunities to reconnect with nature.
There is no shortage of sporting opportunities to keep fit and boost your well-being. Patricia Soave,
head of fitness and wellness training at the Sports and Wellness service, a joint structure of the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), points out that there is something for everyone, with a wide range of fitness options, numerous sports clubs and outdoor facilities. “It ranges from extreme activities such as crossfit, which requires great athletic ability, to gentler methods such as tai chi, which is part of the current wellness trend. In the region, the most readily accessible – and free –activity is the Parcours Vita, a fitness trail laid out in magical places in the forest (at Vidy or Chalet-à-Gobet – ed.).”
It is no surprise that the Vaud capital is also the first Swiss city with more than 100,000 inhabitants to have been awarded the
Commune en santé (Healthy Municipality) label. Julie Wuerfel, from the City’s Climate and Sustainability Office, explains how the city earned this distinction, “Lausanne’s public policy for 2025-2028 is structured into five guiding principles to promote health, namely a population capable of taking action for global health, greater social equality in health matters, living environments conducive to health, healthy and active lifestyles, and enhanced mental health.”
From sport to spa Lausanne is also great at pampering people who prefer to relax without too much effort. The city is packed with a wide range of wellness centres and spas, including those in the city’s three five-star hotels, the Royal Savoy, the Lausanne Palace and the Beau-Rivage Palace.
Stéphane Reumont, Spa & Wellness Manager at the Beau-Rivage Palace for almost 20 years, says, “Many people come from throughout the region: 70% of our clientele live between Sion and Geneva.”
Spa resorts have their roots in the distant past, Vincent Barras says. “The geological structure of the Alps, with its abundance of springs, has fostered the development of balneotherapy, which dates back to ancient times. The current popularity of spas stems directly from this culture. However, until the 20th century, people had to go to the spring for hot water. Today, the spring comes to you.”
A few minutes from Lausanne, at Domaine Bovy in Chexbres, in the heart of the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, vinotherapy is getting innovative. This form of therapy uses the antioxidant properties of polyphenols in grapes to relax and revitalise. The experience is enjoyed on site, directly at the place of production. “Our idea is to offer these treatments in the heart of the vineyards,” says Murielle Nussbaum, co-founder and CEO of La Vigne – Swiss Wine Therapy, winner of the Global Best of Wine Tourism award in Switzerland in 2022, at the Great Wine Capitals event held in Argentina. “We recover vineyard residues with each harvest, so our products are 100% natural.” Pomace, lees and leaf infusions offer a wide range of treatments, and vinotherapy often includes tasting of wines from the region.
la-vigne.ch
“Travelers
Jeremy Peltier, an independent sports coach, has made the Olympic Capital his playground, taking advantage of the diversity of its landscapes and infrastructure to personalise his sessions.
A former footballer trained at Paris Saint-Germain, Jeremy Peltier then turned to sports coaching. In Lausanne, where he has lived and worked for 20 years, the sports educator has found the ideal setting for combining sport and nature. He tells
us about the city, where he loves to work up a sweat.
What makes Lausanne special for getting exercise?
Jeremy Peltier: The city is in an exceptional location: between the amazing lakeside and the mountains only 40 minutes
away. Compared to other cities and regions, it offers a wide variety of activities to meet all wants and needs. For walking, jogging, cycling or rollerblading, there are flat paths along the lake. And for changes in elevation, they’re everywhere. You can also easily
climb to the heights of the city, to Chalet-à-Gobet for example, to take advantage of the running and mountain biking trails in the middle of the forest.
The areas around Lausanne are also worthwhile... Yes, Lavaux has extraordinary
landscapes, just a few minutes from Lausanne. Above Cully, for example, there are places to walk, run or cycle in the heart of nature. I take my clients there regularly. We take the gentle climb up to Chexbres, with a gorgeous view of the lake. Unlike in Paris, where I grew up, distances are short in the Lausanne region. Whether I go training in Ouchy or in Lavaux, I always feel like I’m on my home turf! I also like running along the lake, because there are little beaches everywhere you can stop to exercise. It’s a real luxury in the open air.
How much do you use the urban environment in your programmes?
I offer a lot of urban training. Lausanne lends itself well to it, with its hills, urban developments and nearby nature. Some places have specific characteristics that are useful. For example, at the Olympic Park, which is partly sloping, you can do a lot of cardiovascular or flexibility exercises. What’s more, with all the cultural activities on offer, you can combine business with pleasure!
Do you integrate use of the lake into your classes?
Of course! I take my clients swimming or to try one of the many water sports available. Paddleboarding, for example. In harmony with nature, it requires lots of physical resources and offers a complete workout. Plus, many people appreciate the air quality. It’s a comment I often hear from clients who travel. They feel they’re recharging in Lausanne.
jeremypeltier.com
La Croix d’Ouchy Avenue d’Ouchy 43, Lausanne, restaurant-croix-d-ouchy.ch
“This restaurant is excellent, a Lausanne institution that you should definitely not miss. I am an epicurean. I really enjoy eating, even though people think that sports coaches ration their food!”
BaiBua – Thai bistro Chemin des Croix-Rouges 8, Lausanne, baibua.ch
“This Thai restaurant is family-run. The mother is in the kitchen and her daughter serves the food. The place is tiny. It can seat about 10 people. But it’s amazing! The papaya salad is to die for, and their massaman curry is super good. They also do takeaway.”
Hoot Concept Store Rue des Côtes-deMontbenon 3, Lausanne, hoot.ch
“I really like the shop from this Swiss clothing brand. It’s in a really fun part of Le Flon district, next to other cute little shops, along with a barber, street art and a small Italian restaurant.”
With its vast green spaces conducive to relaxation, such as Parc Bourget and Vidy beach –forming the largest natural area on the shores of Lake Geneva –paths for walking or sports and facilities for water activities, the lakeshore invites you to take full advantage of the water. Two rowing centres, LausanneSports Aviron and the Rowing Club Lausanne, welcome both beginners and experienced rowers. Swimming is also part of everyday life for many Lausanne residents. “Water has a calming effect on stressed people and strengthens the immune system. In winter, however, swimming must be
done under serious supervision depending on the person’s state of health,” Patricia Soave says.
Lausanne has also developed a wide range of facilities for swimming enthusiasts (see below). “In the early 20th century, swimming pools were built as part of the vast health movement,” historian Vincent Barras says. “Swimming in the lake is a more recent development, at least on the scale we know today. This is particularly true for swimming in cold water, urban swimming, which has been attracting more and more followers in recent years.”
Bellerive-Plage: the large complex (see also page 24), built in 1937, lets you enjoy both the pool and the lake.
Montchoisi: the pool, opened in 1942, continues to delight all generations with its famous artificial waves.
Bellevaux, Boisy, Montétan and Vieux-Moulin: four neighbourhood swimming pools are accessible free of charge.
Mon-Repos: the indoor swimming pool was completely renovated in 2023.
Vaudoise aréna: the largest indoor complex in Switzerland, with five pools, as many diving boards and a light-filled wellness area covering 45,000 cu. metres.
Les Bains des Rives: from December to March, these baths create a temporary bubble of wellness by the lake with the installation of relaxation facilities, including two saunas with capacity for about 15 people, a refreshment bar and changing rooms.
Since settling in Lausanne 15 years ago, Mehernaaz Damania has found an environment conducive to teaching yoga.
Mehernaaz Damania is a certified Hatha Yoga teacher. Originally from Mumbai, India, she also trained in the United States, Australia and the UK. At her centre, Wellness Lausanne, on Rue de Bourg, the coach takes a holistic approach to health.
Where in Lausanne do you cultivate your own well-being?
Mehernaaz Damania: The lake is a real treasure for the city. There are nice spots for walking, picnicking or just admiring the breathtaking Alps and the swans. I also love the Cathedral. It’s gorgeous, a true symbol of Lausanne, well positioned overlooking the city. For people who, like me, love nightlife, there are plenty of bars and places to go dancing for all ages. I love dancing. It frees me. In Mumbai, we go dancing at least twice a week.
What yoga practice do you offer at your centre?
It’s not just a yoga centre, but a holistic space that takes a broader approach. I teach traditional yoga, which has many benefits: physical, mental and emotional. The goal is selfrealisation, although I don’t teach spiritual practice. I specialise in treating neck and back pain. I make sure that people adopt
the correct posture. Some people don’t know their bodies and they risk doing exercises incorrectly.
What state of mind are people in when they come to you? They’re very stressed and arrive at the centre running! I find that life in Europe is very hectic, with lots of obligations and responsibilities. With the waves of layoffs we see everywhere, employees end up doing the work of several people. What strikes me is how little prevention companies do, even though burn-out and sick leave can be avoided. The problem is also that people have little time to exercise. It’s a vicious circle. They want to do too many things, think they’re superwomen and supermen, and end up not listening to their body when it says “stop”.
wellnesslausanne.com
MEHERNAAZ’S TOP SPOTS
Golden India Avenue du Tribunal-Fédéral 1, Lausanne, goldenindia.ch
“I love this Indian restaurant. The food is very good. The portions are really generous, and the staff are very friendly.”
Falconeri
Rue de Bourg 30, Lausanne, falconeri.com
“For my shopping, I like this Italian brand boutique that offers quality, well-cut clothing. I find beautiful pieces at reasonable prices, especially when they have sales. In particular the cashmere creations.”
MAD Club
Rue de Genève 23, Lausanne, mad.club
“I’ve been to this club several times recently. I especially like the Jetlag floor, which hosts parties for the over-28s.”
The research of Jocelyne Bloch, professor of neurosurgery, and Grégoire Courtine, professor of neuroscience, has helped paraplegics to walk again.
The city stands out for its scientific advances, particularly research in paraplegia, and its university hospital, ranked among the best in the world.
The greater Lausanne area has positioned itself as a centre of excellence for innovation in healthcare and biotechnology at the heart of Health Valley. Inspired by California’s Silicon Valley, the nickname refers to French-speaking Switzerland’s dynamic health-oriented ecosystem, which has a high concentration of academic institutions, companies and research centres working together to advance life sciences. Lausanne, in particular, is home to Biopôle, Switzerland’s largest life sciences campus, which opened in 2008; the ISREC Foundation (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research),
created in 1964; numerous startups supported in their development; and University of Lausanne (UNIL) and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where, for example, the neuroscience research of Professors Jocelyne Bloch and Grégoire Courtine has enabled paraplegics to walk again. That feat made headlines around the world!
In the world’s top 15 Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), which took 15th in the Newsweek ranking of the World’s Best Hospitals in 2025, also plays a central role.
“Our reputation is based on scientific and academic recognition,” says Stéphane Benoit-Godet, head of communications at the CHUV. “Our teams publish in top-notch journals, speak at international conferences and collaborate with centres of excellence outside Switzerland. The CHUV is also featured in prestigious rankings, such as Newsweek ’s list of best hospitals, and participates in economic initiatives such as Biopôle and Innovaud (innovation and investment promotion agency for the canton of Vaud – ed.).”
Does the unique setting of Lausanne play a role in the growth of medical tourism?
“It’s difficult to say whether it’s Lausanne, the CHUV’s reputation or the reputation of certain professors that most influence the choice of international patients,” Stéphane BenoitGodet says. “In addition to the exceptional environment offered by Lausanne, the excellent care and staff expertise are still the region’s main draws. The CHUV does not have an active policy to attract international patients, as it is a government service and does not advertise. We do receive patients from other countries, but their number has remained stable over the past 10 years. Their admission depends more on our capacity to accommodate them than to efforts to develop."
The city has also positioned itself at the forefront of healthcare. The foundations of professional
nursing were laid in Lausanne, thanks to Valérie de Gasparin Boissier. She also founded the world’s first secular nursing school, École de La Source, in 1859, a year before the famous Florence Nightingale opened her school in England. Today, La Source is the largest nursing school in French-speaking Switzerland.
Numerous clinics have developed, strengthening the region’s reputation for therapeutic care, fitness and beauty treatments. For more than a century, the quality of care in many fields has attracted an international clientele. The dentist Charles-François Vallotton, who passed away in 2014 at age 99, had treated renowned public figures for decades at his practice on Place Saint-François, explained his son, Jacques Vallotton, in the biography
Le dentiste des célébrités: la vie discrète d’un médecin lausannois au XXe siècle. His patients included Audrey Hepburn, Yul Brynner and Charlie Chaplin, who lived in the region, as well as Elizabeth Taylor and Gina Lollobrigida.
Discretion is still a key motivation for celebrities treated in Lausanne, although some have made the headlines. In April 1959, the Journal de Montreux reported on Grace of Monaco’s sightseeing visit to Château de Chillon, shortly before her scheduled appendicitis operation at the Clinique Cecil. In 1964, La Nouvelle Revue de Lausanne mentioned Anita Ekberg’s visit to a clinic in Pully. In 2007, Keanu Reeves was seen several times in the city, while he was staying in the region to support his sister, who was being treated for leukaemia at the CHUV.
Health is also about what you eat. In Lausanne, the range of restaurants, food stores and food trucks is diverse and creative, offering a variety of cuisines, particularly vegetarian and with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients.
The region also shows its taste for good food with a rare density of gourmet restaurants: 52 restaurants in Lausanne are listed in the 2024 Michelin Guide! The development of organic
food is reflected in the many specialised shops cropping up and the success of markets. Every year, the Guide Délicieux lists around 100 places to eat well in Lausanne. An online version is also available. Finally, the organisation Lausanne à Table spotlights healthy and local food with a rich and inspiring programme.
Kiss The Ground: large local organic supermarket, which aims to achieve zero food waste and reduce packaging.
Boulevard de Grancy 8, Lausanne, kisstheground.ch
Bioseo: food store opened in June 2024, which sells organic fruit and vegetables, along with light refreshments.
Rue Élisa-Serment 5, Lausanne, oseo-vd.ch/epiceriesl-agriette-bioseo
Racines: café, restaurant, deli, pastry and vegan food shop featuring locally sourced organic products.
Rue Neuve 11, Lausanne, plantbased-racines.ch
L’Ec(h)o: vegetarian restaurant serving meals made with fresh, seasonal products, while respecting environmental resources.
Rue de Bourg 11, Lausanne, restaurant-lecho.com
Tibits: vegetarian restaurant offering a menu of revisited Swiss gourmet classics and dishes inspired by world cuisines, with the charm of the historic frescoes of the former Buffet de la Gare.
Place de la Gare 11, Lausanne, tibits.ch
FREE OR DONATION BASED ACTIVITIES
Lausanne-sur-Mer
Initiations to water sports at the Pyramides de Vidy. 80 activities over 22 days, from June to August. Free of charge.
lausanne-sur-mer.ch
Olympic Week
Sports and Olympic activities for young people age 6 to 15, at the Olympic Museum during the October school holidays. Free of charge.
olympics.com
Urban Training Sports sessions, all levels, in the heart of the Olympic Capital. Free of charge.
urban-training.ch
RELAXATION AND BALANCE
Le Sérail de Jade
This centre offers various Hammam rituals, including massages of different durations. seraildejade.com
Lausanne Palace, Le Spa
An oasis of calm for relaxing in the heart of Lausanne.
lausanne-palace.ch/spa/le-spa
Gym Poussette
Classes for parents accompanied by their child (from 0 to 2 and a half years old). A physical activity for meeting people. Free of charge. gympoussettes.ch
Les Samedis de Sévelin
Théâtre Sévelin 36 opens its doors two Saturdays a month for dance and movement activities accessible to children, people with reduced mobility and seniors alike. Free of charge.
theatresevelin36.ch
Unisanté walks
These walks for sedentary people are accompanied by Pierre Corajoud, author and publisher of walking guides. Free of charge.
unisante.ch/fr/promotionprevention/activite-physique/ prestations-prevention/ balades-sante
Outdoor yoga Yoga classes for all levels. They take place either at the Promenade Schnetzler or on Esplanade de Montbenon. Pay what you want.
laurecannesson.yoga/ ateliers/cours-exterieur
Spa du Royal Savoy
A fitness centre just a few minutes from the lake, with a private spa for women.
royalsavoylausanne.com/fr/spa
Guerlain Spa at the Beau-Rivage Palace
1500 m² dedicated to well-being just steps from the lake, with both indoor and outdoor pools.
brp.ch/spa-guerlain/le-spa
Nuevalunayoga
Different approaches to yoga-related classes (relaxation, mindfulness for children, prenatal, slow flow, rock beat, Pilates, weekend flow, etc.).
nuevalunayoga.ch
Farfalla
Aromatherapy and natural cosmetics shop. Essential oils act on sensory and physical well-being.
farfalla.ch
The route to Santiago de Compostela is attracting an ever-wider audience. Discover the Lausanne section and enjoy this oasis of greenery.
By Laurent Grabet
From the very first steps, nature takes over: forests, clearings and water points mark out the Lausanne section of the Way of St. James, the famous pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. From the heights of the city to the lakeshore, an invigorating and sporty hike awaits walkers: 28 km, or 6 to 8 hours of walking, with an elevation gain of 300 m and an elevation of almost 800 m.
“The Lausanne section is probably the most beautiful, with the most variety and richest landscapes and heritage in the 2,000 km of Santiago de Compostela routes,” says Béatrice Béguin, former president of the Association des amis du chemin de Saint-Jacques. Her colleague, Olivier Cajeux, who is responsible for maintaining the path, shares her enthusiasm. “It’s one of the most beautiful sections, because it’s the only one that takes you into a large city without having to cross obscure industrial areas. In fact, it offers a real forest bath.” The pilgrimage on the Way of St. James began in the 9th century and leads to the apostle’s shrine in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. These days, the “Camino” attracts more than just the devout believers (see box page 54).
Our journey through Lausanne begins in 1 Montpreveyres, on the Jorat plateau, which you can get to in 30 minutes
from the city centre (Metro m2 to the Epalinges-Croisettes terminus, then bus 360). You are immediately immersed in greenery, thanks to the clever rerouting through the Bois de Ban in 2023, far from the noisy Route de Berne. When passing through a clearing, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Vaud Alps and the Fribourg Prealps.
The route follows itinerary 4 of SwitzerlandMobility, the national network for non-motorised traffic, and is officially signposted. The symbol of the Camino is the scallop shell. In the past, pilgrims wore it on their return as proof of completion, but now many pilgrims carry it throughout the journey. Today, the stylised yellow symbol on a blue background represents the famous shell and marks out the route. However, it is not always present. You therefore need to keep your eyes peeled to find your way around. The best solution is to use the SwitzerlandMobility app.
The trail briefly crosses the Jorat Nature Park and skirts around the Bressone pond, a protected reserve where fauna and flora flourish in the peaceful setting. We take advantage of the tranquillity for a welcome stop, then continue on to the Mauvernay Sports Centre, a popular starting point for mountain bikers, runners and trail runners. We go around the vast meadow on the right before diving back into the forest. The paths are impeccably maintained, and simple trainers are adequate to tackle them with ease.
There are no chapels or churches on this stretch. After all, we are in Protestant territory. But the unspoilt nature lends itself to contemplation.
“Nowadays, pilgrims are rarely motivated purely for religious reasons. Hiking is a favourite sport of the Swiss, and this route takes on a special dimension when you spend several days in contact with nature.” People end up reconnecting with themselves,” says Olivier Cajeux.
Once past the golf course and the Chalet-à-Gobet equestrian centre, the gentle descent begins. This stretch is enchanting as we walk alongside the Flon River and are tempted in some spots to go for an invigorating swim. The city is close by, but we are still in the heart of nature. The transition to the urban environment is gentle. We first come into contact with the city as we pass under a motorway viaduct, before a stairway takes us back to the woods, this time Bois de Sauvabelin. In the middle is an 2 artificial lake, created in 1888 as a new place for residents to go for strolls.
A few steps away, the iconic 35-metre-high wooden
3 Sauvabelin tower offers a clear, 360° view of the capital of the canton of Vaud, Lake Geneva, the Alps, the Jura and the Plateau, for those willing to climb the 151 steps of its double helix staircase.
You easily give in to stop for a delicious meal served at the Pinte du Lac de Sauvabelin or, further down, at the restaurant Le Chalet Suisse, both of which have beautiful terraces. For those who have travelled far, a place to stay lies just a few minutes away. The Catholic parish of Saint-Amédée, an official stop on the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route, welcomes pilgrims in summer, by reservation only.
The descent continues towards the 4 Fondation de l’Hermitage, the art museum located in the gorgeous park of the same name. There, nestled discreetly in a thicket, is the tomb of the banker and former owner of the estate, Charles Auguste Bugnion (1843-1922), who strikingly seems to be addressing the pilgrims directly with his epitaph: “I kept the faith.” We then reach the old town and walk in front of the Château Saint-Maire, seat of the Vaud cantonal government. Against one façade, the 5 statue of Major Davel, a heroic figure of the canton’s independence, inevitably catches your eye. As does the panoramic view that unfolds from the Château’s esplanade.
A few metres below stands the Notre-Dame Cathedral. This Gothic masterpiece in molasse stone, which is celebrating its 750th anniversary in 2025 (see The Lausanner 14), features many symbols of the Camino de Santiago, but you have to look for them. For example, you can see them on the back of a stall in the Montfalcon chapel or on the funerary statue of Otto I de Grandson. “When the Cathedral was under construction, in the 13th century, long before the Reformation, this pilgrimage was very important,” Olivier Cajeux says. “A special service in honour of St James is still →
celebrated there once a year.” The expert adds that the Lausanne Cathedral is a popular stop: “There are pews for resting in silence. It’s cool and offers shelter. It’s a moment suspended in time, when the steps taken during the day resonate within us. We think of the other walkers we’ve met on the road and of the people we love.”
Next, we take the 6 Escaliers du Marché down to the Place de la Palud, then go up to the Place de Saint-François, with its terraces and 13th-century church. A few more metres to go, on our right, and we reach the Parc de Montbenon, like a balcony overlooking Lake Geneva. Its huge esplanade is perfect for a stroll. If you want to prolong the experience, you can sit down for a bite at the Brasserie de Montbenon, renowned for its seasonal cuisine, or at the iconic Japanese restaurant Myo Sushi Bar.
The rest of our stroll takes us through 7 small residential streets. “We can take this detour to avoid walking along Avenue de Provence, as was previously the case. That means we can reach the big Vallée de la Jeunesse park in the peace and quiet that the occasion calls for,” Olivier Cajeux says.
We meander through the park, a remnant of the 1964 National Exhibition, before finishing our route on the 8 beaches of Vidy... perfect timing for an
For the past several years, the Camino de Santiago has surged in popularity. In 1992, 10,000 people would walk these paths. Thirty years later, the figure has skyrocketed, reaching 438,000 walkers, of which nearly 2,000 Swiss people who set off from the Via Jacobi, the Swiss section of the network. The 645 km long route links Rorschach, in the canton of St Gallen, to Geneva, crossing Lausanne from north to south.
improvised dip in the lake. Hardier walkers will continue the 9 km along the lakeshore to the charming little town of Morges. But most generally stop for the night at the Jeunotel Youth Hostel. This is an opportunity to visit the Lausanne-Vidy Roman Museum next door. Afterwards, you can end the evening, for example, by sampling the fish specialities of the La Vaudaire restaurant, watching the sunset over the lake. ■
With its central position in Europe, Lausanne has always been a stopover for pilgrims, adventurers, merchants and exiles (see also page 6). The Vaud capital is also on the Via Francigena, the thousand-year-old route linking Canterbury to Rome and one of the three great Christian pilgrimages, along with the routes to Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela.
AVENUE DU MONT-D’OR
BARS, CAFES & RESTAURANTS
1 Aux Reflets des Isles Chemin de Renens 43 1004 Lausanne
2 BaiBua - Thaï bistro
Chemin des Croix-Rouges 8 1007 Lausanne
3 Brasserie de Montbenon
Allée Ernest-Ansermet 3 1003 Lausanne
4 Chalet Suisse
Route du Signal 40 1018 Lausanne
5 Chez Mario Rue de Bourg 28 1003 Lausanne
6 DéCi Comptoir gourmand Avenue d’Ouchy 8 1006 Lausanne
7 Deli Social Place du Tunnel 11 1005 Lausanne
8 Eat Me Rue Pépinet 3 1003 Lausanne
9 Golden India Avenue du Tribunal-Fédéral 1 1005 Lausanne
10 Holy Monkey
Rue Cité-Devant 6 1005 Lausanne
11 Jaja
Rue de la Barre 1 1005 Lausanne
12 L’Appart
Rue de Bourg 29 1003 Lausanne
13 L’Éc(h)o
Rue de Bourg 11 1003 Lausanne
14 L’Esquisse
Route du Signal 2 1018 Lausanne
15 La Croix d’Ouchy Avenue d’Ouchy 43 1006 Lausanne
16 La Pinte Besson
Rue de l’Ale 4 1003 Lausanne
17 La Vaudaire Chemin du Camping 7 1007 Lausanne
18 Lausanne Cocktail Club Rue Pépinet 5 1003 Lausanne
19 Le Barbare Escaliers du Marché 27 1003 Lausanne
20 Le Monopole
Place Chauderon 1003 Lausanne
21 Le Spot
Rue du Midi 12 1003 Lausanne
22 Le Vestibule
Rue Cité-Devant 4 1005 Lausanne
23 Les Arches Place de l’Europe 1003 Lausanne
24 Mama-Cuisine Habesha
Rue de la Borde 19 1018 Lausanne
25 Maza
Rue Marterey 29 1005 Lausanne
26 Montana’s American Sports Bar
Avenue du Théâtre 2 1005 Lausanne
27 Myo Sushi Bar
Allée Ernest-Ansermet 1 1003 Lausanne
28 Pinte du Lac de Sauvabelin
Chemin des Celtes 1 1018 Lausanne
29 Pizzeria Fratel E Napule
Rue de la Tour 8 1004 Lausanne
30 Racines
Rue Neuve 11 1003 Lausanne
31 Street Cellar
Rue du Port-Franc 2a 1003 Lausanne
32 Tibits
Place de la Gare 11 1003 Lausanne
BAKERY, ICE CREAM
33 La Bise
Rue Enning 8 1003 Lausanne
34 Piquenique - Comptoir moderne
Escaliers du Grand-Pont 5 1003 Lausanne
ALIMENTATION
35 Bioseo
Rue Elisa-Serment 5 1018 Lausanne
36 Kiss The Ground Boulevard de Grancy 8 1006 Lausanne
SHOPPING, WORKSHOPS
37 Atelier Aikoo
Avenue de Tivoli 56 1007 Lausanne
38 Baabuk
Avenue du Rond-Point 25 1006 Lausanne
39 Baies d’Erelle
Rue de l’Ancienne-Douane 3 1003 Lausanne
40 Falconeri
Rue de Bourg 30 1003 Lausanne
41 Farfalla
Rue Saint-François 9 1003 Lausanne
42 Fripsquare
Chemin de la Joliette 5 1006 Lausanne
43 Hoot Concept Store
Rue des Côtes-de-Montbenon 3 1003 Lausanne
44 Knock on Wood
Rue Pré-du-Marché 23 1004 Lausanne
45 Le Super Atelier Rue du Nord 11 1005 Lausanne
46 Music Sounds Better With Books (MSBWB)
Place du Tunnel 10 1005 Lausanne
HOTELS, SPAS AND WELLNESS
47 Youth Hostel Jeunotel
Chemin du Bois-de-Vaux 36 1007 Lausanne
48 Beau-Rivage Palace Chemin de Beau-Rivage 21 1006 Lausanne
49 La Vigne – Swiss Wine Therapy
Rue du Bourg de Plaît 15 1071 Chexbres
50 Lausanne Palace
Rue du Grand-Chêne 7 - 9 1003 Lausanne
51 Nueva luna yoga
Passage Saint-François 6 1003 Lausanne
52 Royal Savoy Avenue d’Ouchy 40 1006 Lausanne
53 Sérail de Jade Rue de Bourg 20 1003 Lausanne
54 Wellness Lausanne
Rue du Bourg 35 1003 Lausanne
55 Woofy: dog daycare and hotel Avenue des Bergières 10 1004 Lausanne
SWIMMING POOLS
56 Bellerive-Plage Avenue de Rhodanie 23 1006 Lausanne
57 Piscine de Mon-Repos Avenue du Tribunal-Fédéral 4 1006 Lausanne
58 Piscine de Montchoisi Avenue du Servan 30 1007 Lausanne
59 Vaudoise aréna Chemin du Viaduc 14 1008 Prilly
MUSEUMS, VENUES, CINEMAS
60 ArchéoLab Avenue du Prieuré 4 1009 Pully
61 Centre de Congrès Beaulieu Avenue des Bergières 10 1004 Lausanne
62 Chorus Avenue Mon-Repos 3 1005 Lausanne
63 Cinémathèque suisse (Cinéma Capitole) Avenue du Théâtre 6 1005 Lausanne
64 Fondation de l’Hermitage Route du Signal 2 1018 Lausanne
65 La Muette - espaces littéraires Chemin Davel 2 1009 Pully
66 Musée Bolo EPFL – Bâtiment INF, station 14 1015 Lausanne
67 Musée de l’immigration Rue Saint-Martin 36 1005 Lausanne
68 Musée de la chaussure
Rue du Rôtillon 10 1003 Lausanne
69 Musée de la machine à écrire
Rue des Terreaux 18B
1003 Lausanne
70 Musée romain de Lausanne-Vidy Chemin du Bois-de-Vaux 24 1007 Lausanne
71 Plateforme 10
Place de la Gare 16-17
1003 Lausanne
72 Théâtre Sévelin 36 Avenue de Sévelin 36 1004 Lausanne
73 Zinéma
Rue du Maupas 4 1004 Lausanne
CLUBS
74 Jumeaux Jazz Club
Rue de Genève 19 1003 Lausanne
75 Folklor
Place de la Riponne 10 1005 Lausanne
76 MAD Club
Rue de Genève 23 1003 Lausanne
77 Noche Club
Galeries Saint-François 12bis 1004 Lausanne
TRANSPORTATION
Gare Lausanne-CFF
Place de la Gare 1003 Lausanne
Transports publics lausannois (tl)
m1 Metro
m2 Metro
DISTRICTS
TOWN CENTRE/ RÔTILLON/FLON
CITÉ – MON-REPOS
TRAIN STATION – OUCHY
SAUVABELIN
PULLY
It is around the Cité hill, sculpted by the Flon and Louve rivers, that the medieval town grew.
Its cobble-stoned pedestrian streets as well as its monuments bear witness to this. Then, as soon as you cross the Bessières Bridge, the scenery changes completely. The Caroline district possesses a shopping mall, many bars, restaurants and boutiques. A bit further to the east, the Mon-Repos Park offers a green and tranquil haven, interrupted from time to time by the twittering of birds in its aviary.
The Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Switzerland, was consecrated in 1275. Don’t miss the rose window, the painted portal, the 13th-century choir stalls, the ancient and modern stained glass windows and the great organs. The bravest will admire the panoramic view from the belfry (entrance fee) after climbing the 224 stairs. Open tours of the Cathedral and free guided tours during the summer.
Within the walls of the Old Bishop’s Palace, this Lausanne historical museum speaks of the town’s rich past and features a famous model that offers an exceptional view of the 17th-century Cité. Temporary exhibitions, inspired by the research conducted on its collections, explore the thousand years of this heritage. A novel approach to the town’s history: smart multimedia!
A direct but abrupt route between the Cathedral and the town centre, this wooden stairway first mentioned during the 13th century exists in its present form since the beginning of the 18th century:
roofed and winding, with a very steep cobbled street running alongside. An integral part of Lausanne’s popular iconography, it is lined on the west with a picturesque row of boutiques and cafés.
Open to the public, it’s one of the most popular parks for Lausanne inhabitants of all ages, with its huge lawns, aviaries of exotic birds, playgrounds and ephemeral sculptures.
DISTRICT TOWN CENTRE
This is where the city’s energy is most animated both by day and night.
From ancient buildings to trendy new districts, tread the cobblestones and broad avenues to make the most of shopping amongst major brands and local designers. It’s also the axis of nightlife with concert halls and an opera, plus bars and clubs that will keep you awake until the early hours of the morning.
Stroll down its various alleys to catch a glimpse of an orangery as well as a neoGothic tower overlooking a cave and a waterfall.
Lausanne’s residents like to meet up in this central square dominated by a mediaeval church that has become a hub for music and dialogue with contemporary art in all its guises. The square welcomes every Wednesday and Saturday morning the famous market stands of Lausanne.
In the intertwining lanes of one of Lausanne’s oldest neighbourhoods that was recently renovated, works of art, a Titeuf fresco, small, original shops and bohemian cafés now attract the trendy crowds. One of the trendy neighbourhoods in Lausanne, the Rôtillon feels like a corner of Italy in the heart of the town.
It’s the town’s architectural success: this district of former warehouses that begins at the Place de l’Europe was rehabilitated as a living area with a wide array of restaurants, bars, clubs, boutiques, cinemas and exhibition spaces. A must is to enjoy a drink on one of the rooftop terraces.
A polychrome statue, symbolising justice, stands imposingly on the Renaissance fountain in the centre of this pedestrian square, where the Town Hall is also located. Opposite, tourists and children wait, every hour on the hour from 9 am to 7 pm, for the ballet of animated figures to the sound of the carillon.
Making the most of one of the town’s most beautiful openings on Lake Geneva and the Alps, you can lounge on the lawns in front of the District Court, where there is a statue of William Tell, Switzerland’s mythical hero.
Built at the end of the 19th century on Place de la Riponne, this Italianatestyle edifice houses a host of treasures in its various science museums, such as the largest taxidermied great white shark in the world.
The town created this museum, unique in the world, in 1976 in exchange for the legacy of 5,000 works of outsider art belonging to artist Jean Dubuffet. Located opposite the Beaulieu Palace, this institution today owns over 70,000 works, 700 of which are displayed permanently, and exports its exhibitions all over the world.
The neighbourhoods located between the Ouchy quays, by the lakeside, and the Lausanne train station are perfect for a revitalising stroll.
They unveil several green oases, elegant Belle Époque dwellings bordering broad avenues and four internationally renowned museums. Since 2008, the rubber-tired m2 metro has replaced the “Ficelle” (the “String”), which was, in 1877, one of the first metropolitan railways in the world.
Inagurated at the end of the 19th century, this square’s vast lawns, football fields, playgrounds, fountain and shady alley draw in families in all seasons. Reach the Crêt de Montriond by a winding path to discover a 360° panorama of the Lavaux vineyards, Lake Geneva and Alps.
This magnificent place, overflowing with flowers and great trees, is located at the foot of the Montriond Hill, a stone’s throw from Milan Park. You can admire close to 4,000 plant species from all over the world. Alpine, medicinal, carnivorous and tropical plants have been brought together in this haven of greenery in the heart of town. The Vaud Museum of Natural Sciences organises science exhibitions during the year.
MUST-SEE
DESTINATIONS
Enjoy Lavaux and the famous Chillon castle
Unique in the world, the Olympic Museum forms Lausanne’s main cultural attraction. Each of its three levels is dedicated to a particular aspect of modern Olympism, largely featuring new interactive communication media. You may need several visits to explore everything. In any case, a pause at the Olympic Museum restaurant is welcome, with its terrace on the uppermost floor that offers a splendid view of Lake Geneva and the Alps. In the park, admire the collection of sculptures and test your speed on a proper running track. Strolling through the landscaped terraces, you’ll reach the monument on the shores of the lake.
For a romantic or gourmet cruise, or simply to cross Lake Geneva, the steamships of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation (CGN) are a must do during your holidays in western Switzerland. Step aboard in Lausanne-Ouchy and sail for instance to Chillon Castle or admire the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, always with the Alps as a backdrop.
Initially privately held, until opened to the public in 1928, this park was laid out during the 19th century in the English fashion by a banker. Allow your children to caper about in the wild meadows surrounded by copses, flower bed displays and statues, or to play with the water from the pond. Since 2007, a Thai pavilion with a golden roof adorns this green area; it was given to the town by His Majesty the late King of Thailand in gratitude for the years he spent in Lausanne between 1933 and 1951.
On foot, on a bike or on roller-skates, follow the shores of Lake Geneva from the Old Port to the Haldimand Tower. You’ll discover no less than three major Lausanne parks along your way: the Élysée, the Olympic Park and Park Denantou, as well as the Place du Général Guisan’s rose garden that contains a large number of different varieties of roses.
This new arts quarter, one of its kind in Switzerland, is located right next to the train station and is home to three internationally renowned museums: the MCBA, Photo Élysée and the mudac.
This new cultural platform brings together fine arts, photography, contemporary arts and design complemented by the presence of the Toms Pauli and Félix Vallotton Foundations. A welcoming and relaxing venue with catering facilities, its architectural design and the quarter’s atmosphere create a unique urban, modern and lively space.
Inaugurated in 1841, the MCBA is one of the oldest museums in Switzerland to be dedicated exclusively to art. Ducros, Gleyre, Steinlen, Vallotton and Soutter are all Vaud painters who have established the reputation of the Vaud Museum of Fine Arts, both nationally and internationally. The Canton of Vaud’s artistic legacy is a fixture in the museum with nearly 300 works of art on display dating from the 18th century right up to today. The brick building with its monolithic shape pays tribute to the history of the site, which housed the old locomotives’ depot.
Photo Elysée is one of the major museums entirely dedicated to the photographic medium. It addresses the medium’s constant reinvention through the great figures that have left their mark on its history by imagining new ways of seeing or being seen, while revealing emerging photography in a privileged manner. The museum is also the custodian of a unique collection and of several photographic funds, among which those of Charlie Chaplin, Sabine Weiss and Jan Groover.
Resolutely contemporary, the mudac is interested in all forms of design and loves to build bridges between styles. Design, graphics, fashion: the museum challenges accepted notions and casts a fresh eye on art. In its permanent space, it presents the most important collection of contemporary glass art in Switzerland and Europe. As for the temporary exhibitions, they always go where we least expect them to, highlighting in turn ceramics, furniture, as well as media and jewellery.
The western part of Lausanne is dominated by the university campus that includes the University and the Federal Institute of Technology.
A location close to the lakeside loved by the 30,000 students who can take part in a broad array of nautical sports.
This outdoor swimming pool is equipped with large pools, up to 10-metre diving boards and fun paddling pools for children. Would you rather chill out? Lounge on the large lawns or on the (supervised) beach with direct access to the lake. Restaurants and refreshment stalls on the spot. Next to the pool, the Bellerive crazy golf is an invitation to playful relaxation ideal for families or friends.
Between shoreline forest and meadows, the Louis-Bourget Park is a nature park that hosts a bird sanctuary, a pond bordered with fireflies, a fitness trail and a large playground. It’s also an ideal destination for hot summer evenings: come and use the barbecues and grills set on the lawns before enjoying a game of football or relaxing on Vidy beach! You’ll also meet many walkers strolling on the pleasant path that runs along the lakeside.
With its shape inspired by the movement of an athlete, Olympic House is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world. Designed to reflect the IOC’s overarching mission to make the world a better place through sport, it brings together the entire staff of the IOC – that is 500 employees – under one roof. (Closed to the public.)
The Lausanne-Vidy Roman Museum offers a presentation of the Gallo-Roman Lousonna (Lausanne), as well as various temporary exhibitions. In a bucolic setting that blends greenery, a body of water and ruins, don’t miss the walk around the remains of the Lousonna vicus (village) dating from 15 BC, one of the largest in Switzerland.
The Espace des Inventions aims to stimulate interest in scientific, technical and artistic culture, and is intended for all, particularly children. There, you will find interactive and entertaining exhibitions that will pique your curiosity and tease your brain cells. Closed from April 27 to December 31, 2025.
The university campus includes the Lausanne Federal Institute of Technology and Lausanne University, the first buildings of which were erected in the 1970s. Since then, the site has rapidly expanded and integrated buildings, the architecture of which is admired beyond Swiss borders. It’s the case of the Rolex Learning Center’s gentle undulations, created by the Japanese architecture firm SANAA, that serves as a place of learning, meeting and exchanges, and includes a library housing more than 500,000 volumes.
North of the town, vast expanses of forest, representing 40% of the municipal surface area, offer many opportunities for walks and outdoor sports activities.
At an altitude of 873 m, Le Chalet-à-Gobet is the culminating point of the Lausanne urban area, 500 m above Lake Geneva. Sauvabelin’s bucolic setting, with its lake, park and tower, will delight you.
This innovative architectural complex, easily reached by metro, integrates the largest freshwater aquarium in Europe and the Lausanne Vivarium.
Follow the discovery trail that includes 50 tanks displaying about 20 aquatic ecosystems from across the five continents.
NOV. - 31ST
A pop-up hotel room, a sled run, a small Christmas train, a giant Christmas tree, several themed markets and plenty of other surprises await you.
This village includes a hotel school, a ski slope, an equestrian centre as well as a golf course. Its sports centre offers running and mountainbike trails (changing showers available).
Created in 1888 in the heart of an oak forest, the Sauvabelin lake rapidly became a soughtafter strolling area for Lausanne people. You can rent a small boat during the summer or walk along its shores. The surrounding park is very popular with children, who discover unusual animals such as woolly pigs, grey cows, booted goats and mirror sheep.
In the centre of the Hermitage Estate sits an imposing mansion built around 1850 and which today houses a famous museum of paintings. In the English-style gardens populated with majestic trees, benches invite you to contemplate a unique panorama of the old town, the lake and the mountains.
This tower built of solid, local wood in a spirit of environmental respect is one of the many destinations for a hike above the town since 2003. Enjoy the 360° view from a height of 35 metres after climbing the 151 steps of its double spiral staircase. Free access.
If you’re staying in accommodation that pays the overnight tourist tax, you can freely use public transport (bus, train, metro) during your whole stay (maximum 15 days) in Lausanne and its surroundings with your Lausanne Transport Card.
But that’s not all! Thanks to our partners, you benefit from exceptional discounts and advantages from many museums, shops and other leisure activity providers. ZONE OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK VALID FOR HOLDERS OF THE LAUSANNE TRANSPORT CARD
Cheese-making: in the morning
Open daily
Le Restaurant - Le Marché Gruérien
Here are useful contact details to keep at hand and make your stay easier. You have access to all the necessary information at our two information offices.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
112 International number for emergency calls
117 Police (crimes and theft, emergencies only)
118 Fire brigade
140 Roadside assistance service
144 Ambulance
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
+41 21 314 11 11 CHUV
Lausanne University Hospital
+41 848 133 133 Centre for on-call doctors
LOST PROPERTY OFFICE
LAUSANNE POLICE STATION
Rue du Petit-Chêne 36 +41 21 315 15 15
Monday to Friday: 7 am → 7 pm www.lausanne.ch/en
USEFUL MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Find here the applications that are useful for your stay in Lausanne. Calendar, hotels, self-service bike rentals, public transport and much more!
MORE INFORMATION AT: www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/mobile-apps
CURRENCY
Swiss franc (CHF)
1 euro = 1 CHF (indicative rate, base 2025)
EXCHANGE OFFICE
Lausanne train station
Monday to Friday: 6.30 am → 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 7 am → 7.30 pm
AT THE TRAIN STATION
Pl. de la Gare 1/Av. de la Gare 43 bis +41 848 888 888
Monday to Friday: 8 am → 6.30 pm; Saturday: 8 am → 4 pm; Sunday: 3.30 pm → 6.30 pm
LAUSANNE RIPONNE
4, place de la Riponne +41 848 888 888
Monday to Friday: 9 am → 6 pm; Saturday: 9 am → 1 pm www.poste.ch/en
Two information and welcome centres of the Tourist Office are at your service a stone’s throw from the train station and at the Cathedral. You will find a host of services at your disposal there –public transport passes, maps, recommended routes and excursions from Lausanne, various brochures, help and emergency services, etc. – as well as culture and leisure news.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICES
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER Av. Louis-Ruchonnet 1 Close to the CFF station
TOURIST INFORMATION POINT Lausanne Cathedral
Find timetables on: www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/en/tourism-office
Information point for the town of Lausanne, the “info cité” office’s mission is to inform, orient and guide Lausanne people and passing guests.
Place de la Palud 2 1002 Lausanne
Monday to Friday: 8 am → 5 pm +41 21 315 25 55 www.lausanne.ch infocite@lausanne.ch
Push open the doors of our Lausanne culinary artisans for a unique experience
Walk the streets of the town to discover its historical or wine-growing heritage
City Pass
Discover the highlights in Lausanne and the area at an unbeatable price
Solve riddles to discover the city in an original way with family or friends
Spend a moment out of time at Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage site
A leisure offer accessible to all
To entertain your children while you visit the town, Lausanne Tourisme offers them a Travel Journal packed with fun and creative activities.
Come and pick up a Travel Journal for each of your children aged 5 to 12 in one of our tourist information offices.
www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/en/travel-journal
The City of Lausanne puts on various activities for those on a modest budget. Here are a few examples of outings to be enjoyed as a family or among friends.
BETWEEN CHF 1 AND CHF 9
• Climbing the Cathedral tower (from CHF 1 to CHF 5)
• Flon bowling alley (between CHF 5.50 and CHF 9 per person)
FREE OF CHARGE
• Vidy Bowl for skaters
• Many multi-coloured birds at the Mon-Repos Park aviary
• Free entry to most museums on the first Saturday of the month
• Mountain biking at Chalet-à-Gobet
• Climbing the Sauvabelin Tower
• Bellerive minigolf (free up to age 4, CHF 6 until age 15, then CHF 8)
• Vidy miniature train (CHF 3 per journey)
Tourist information: close to the train station / Cathedral
