Lausanne Travel Guide

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Introduction

by Frommers Travel Guides

66km (41 miles) NE of Geneva; 214km (134 miles) SW of Zurich

Lausanne, whose 140,000 inhabitants make it the second-largest city on Lake Geneva and the fifth-largest in Switzerland, is built on three hills overlooking the lake, called Lac Léman by the city's inhabitants. The upper and lower towns are connected by a small metro (subway).

Lausanne has been inhabited since the Stone Age (it was the ancient Roman town of Lousanna). In 1803 the canton of Vaud, of which Lausanne is the capital, became the 19th to join the Swiss Confederation.

For centuries Lausanne has been a favorite spot for exiles and expatriates, attracting, among others, deposed monarchs. Lausanne flourished particularly in the Age of Enlightenment, when it was associated with Rousseau and Voltaire, two of the leading writers in the 18th century. Even today the city is cited by many French-speaking Swiss as the place they would most like to live because of its low-key elegance and sense of grace. Regrettably, it's no longer a center of the intellectual or artistic elite. Voltaire and the likes have given way to water-skiers, swimmers, and "Sunday sailors," most of whom have never heard of Rousseau, much less read him. Even so, Lausanne retains an aesthetic charm and a cultural tradition -- today it's the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee.

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Lausanne Travel Experiences

Day in Lausanne

We woke up in the morning and I ate soooooo much at the breakfast buffet that they had at the hostel. I had to try to get my money's wort... Continue reading »

by Real Traveler Kyle
Lausanne The Olympic

During my visit in Lausanne my lovely friend Geraldine took me to the "you must see places" such as the Olympic Museum, The Chillon Castl... Continue reading »

by Real Traveler Alex
Tournée des bars de Lausanne

À notre retour à Vevey, un ami à François et Marie-Christine nous a retrouvés et nous nous sommes tous rendus à Lausanne pour souper (en... Continue reading »

by Real Traveler Benoît et Robert
L'Alimentaium de Nestlé

Robert et moi avons amorcé notre dernière pleine journée en Suisse par la visite de l'Alimentarium de Nestlé à Vevey. L'Alimentarium est... Continue reading »

by Real Traveler Benoît et Robert
Day trip to Montreux

We set out to see Montreux after 3 days of the snow and to relief our legs from the pain of the ski boots!!It was a Sunday, and guess wha... Continue reading »

by Real Traveler jean nee