Built on the banks of the Geneva Lake, Lausanne is a thriving city with a long tradition in the history of Central Europe. Once inhabited by the Celts, the area came under Roman domination and developed serious fortifications, a complex network of paved roads and pipe systems. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the city’s location was slightly altered, for security purposes. It was moved to a hilly site that could be more easily defended. Ruled by the Duke of Savoy and the Archbishop of Lausanne for centuries, the city had a somehow linear and calm evolution.
Heart of the French-speaking Switzerland, Lausanne is an inviting and highly appealing destination for tourists who are after the quiet of an ancient city. Geographically speaking, Lausanne offers great touristic leisure perspectives given the proximity of the Geneva Lake. Tourists find the different elevation levels of the city funny, but at the same times confusing. There is a 1,000 ft difference between the border of the lake and the upper side of the city, so, visitors should really know what street they want to get at, particularly when exploring the city on foot.
Given the fact that the International Olympic Committee has the headquarters in Lausanne, many visitors turn to the Olympic Museum as to a great source of information to learn more about the history of the Olympic Games. Usually the museum houses several exhibitions at a time, not to mention the great park that contains various works of art on sporting themes. Statistics show that this is the second most visited museum in Switzerland, so there is certainly something you shouldn’t miss. Useful information ranges from the history of the Greek Olympic Games to the latest news on the coming sports events.
The heart of modern Lausanne is Place St-Francois, shortly called Sainf by the locals. This is the square where most of the cultural and modern buzz goes on, which explains the high touristic popularity of the place. There is Eglise St. Francois that dominates the square, a symbol of Lausanne as such. Built by the Franciscans in the 13th century this church was the very centre of a strong monastic complex that was later transformed to serve the purposes of the Reformation. Now it is completely stripped of the regular religious imagery and changed into a normal parish church. However, it still speaks of the past and grants refuge from the bustle of Lausanne’s life. Just go inside and have a look to see how it feels.
If you feel like taking a break from a walking tour, there are plenty of cafés and bars for you to take a break. If you’re by the Geneva Lake, it is very likely you’ll be offered some great fish dishes. Or you may try a tomme, which is nothing else than baked cheese with lettuce. Many of the local dishes revolve around cheese as the main ingredient. Having malakoff, fried, hot cheese served with fresh bread or pastry is another good choice when trying local cuisine. The second course could be the traditional saucisson vaudois, sausages made of pork and beef and served with a puree of potatoes and leek. Such treats are not expensive, since they are the basis of the local cuisine. Bon appetit!