Lausanne, Switzerland

Lausanne is a city in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, at the shores of Lake Geneva (French: Lac Léman), opposite of Évian-les-Bains, France, and about 60km north-east of Geneva. It is the capital of the Vaud canton. Population (as of December 2003): 126,766. It lies in the middle of a wine-growing region.

History

The Romans built a military camp which they called Lousanna at the site of a Celtic settlement. The city which grew from the camp was ruled by the Dukes of Savoy and the Bishop of Lausanne, and then by Berne from 1536 to 1798. In 1803, it became the capital of a newly formed Swiss canton, Vaud.

Miscellaneous

The International Olympic Committee has its headquarters in Lausanne, and the Olympic Museum is also located there.

Education

• École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology - Lausanne)
• University of Lausanne (Université de Lausanne)
• École hôtelière de Lausanne

Museums

• Cabinet des Médailles cantonal
• Collection de l'Art brut (Art Brut Collection)
• Espace Arlaud
• Espace des Inventions (Science Center for Kids)
• Fondation de l'Hermitage (Hermitage Foundation)
• Fondation Claude Verdan - Musée de la main (Museum of the Hand)
• Fondation du vivarium de Lausanne
• Forum d'architectures de Lausanne
• Forum de l'Hôtel de Ville (Forum of the Town Hall)
• Musée cantonal d'Archéologie et d'Hitoire (Cantonal Museum of Archeology and History)
• Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts (Cantonal Fine Arts Museum)
• Musée de design et d'arts appliqués contemporains, mu.dac
• Musée de l'Elysée (Elysée Museum)
• Musée cantonal de Géologie (Cantonal Geological Museum)
• Musée Historique de Lausanne (Lausanne Historical Museum)
• Musée et jardins botaniques cantonaux (Cantonal Museum and Botanical Gardens)
• Musée Olympique Lausanne (Olympic Museum)
• Musée de Pully (Pully Museum)
• Musée romain de Lausanne-Vidy (Lausanne-Vidy Roman Museum)
• Musée de la Villa romaine de Pully (Pully Roman Villa Museum)
• Musée cantonal de Zoologie (Cantonal Zoology Museum)
• Roseraie de la Vallée de la Jeunesse (Rosegarden)
• Etablissement horticole de la Bourdonnette - serres de la Ville (Horticultural Establishment of La Bourdonette - Municipal Glasshouses)

Photos of Lausanne

Photos of Lausanne, taken in June 2001: