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Cathedral’s night watchman
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Useful information
Address
Place de la Cathédrale 13
1005 Lausanne
1005 Lausanne
Schedules
From 31.03.2025 to 29.09.2025
Open
Closed
Lundi
09:00 - 19:00
Mardi
09:00 - 19:00
Mercredi
09:00 - 19:00
Jeudi
09:00 - 19:00
Vendredi
09:00 - 19:00
Samedi
09:00 - 19:00
Dimanche
09:00 - 19:00
From 01.10.2024 to 31.03.2025
Open
Closed
Lundi
09:00 - 17:30
Mardi
09:00 - 17:30
Mercredi
09:00 - 17:30
Jeudi
09:00 - 17:30
Vendredi
09:00 - 17:30
Samedi
09:00 - 17:30
Dimanche
09:00 - 17:30
5 CHF
Child -16 years old
2 CHF
Price: 5 CHF
Last visit of the tower: noon and 30 minutes before closing time (see opening hours of the tourist information office at the Cathedral).
Magnetic loop
Partially wheelchair-accessible
Parking place not wheelchair-accessible
Even today, the cathedral watchman continues to call out the time from ten at night until two in the morning! A visit with the watchman was an unforgettable experience for me!
When looking for a beautiful view to observe Lausanne from above at sunset, the first place that comes to mind is Lausanne Cathedral, overlooking the town.
If you wish to gain height in Lausanne, head to the Cathedral. After a few dozen metres of elevation in the small streets of the old town, here you are in the Cité, at the foot of the Cathedral. It’s now time to climb the steps that lead to the top of the belfry. From there, you’ll have a 360° view over Lausanne, as well as on the Cathedral’s bells. One important tip: leave before they ring!
A Lausanne institution, go and see – or rather listen to – the Cathedral watch who calls the hours from 10 pm to 2 am. Set up in past times to warn of fires, the tradition has been perpetuated, but the watch now calls the passing hours after dark to the city’s night owls.
Explore the impressive Cathedral of Notre Dame, a gothic masterpiece that offers a breathtaking panoramic view over the town from its belfry.
Majestically overlooking the urban landscape, Lausanne Cathedral is one of the town’s architectural and historical jewels. Climb to the top of its belfry to have a fantastic panoramic view over the city. Don’t hesitate to stroll in the lanes of the Cité (the historic district) to discover its hidden treasures.
More info
As the spiritual capital of French-speaking Switzerland, the Cathedral of Lausanne is of interest to people from all parts of the world. Constructed during the XIIth and XIIIth centuries, consecrated 20th October 1275 in the presence of Pope Gregory X and Rudolf of Habsburg. It became a protestant cathedral in 1536.
From that point Jean Cotereel, the third builder, continued the work on the site by constructing the western section, giving it a porch and two towers, one with a belfry, the other one remained uncompleted. It was only in 1275 that the Cathedral was consecrated, by both Emperor Rudolph of Hapsburg and Pope Gregory X. In 1536, during the Reformation, the Cathedral underwent significant changes when a new liturgical area was built in the nave. Thereafter, it was restored a number of times in the 18th century and again in the 19th century under the leadership of the famous French architect Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc. The Cathedral has a highly significant multi-coloured interior. Dating back to the original construction, this design was covered over during the Reformation and then revealed at the beginning of the 20th century. The paintings are still visible in the Chapel of the Virgin as well as on the statues of the painted doorway, which is unique in all of Europe and has been completely restored since October 2007. The rose window is among the masterpieces of European artistic heritage. Its panes depict the medieval view of the world arranged around the figure of God the creator.
You may have already visited the Cathedral of Lausanne in daylight but have you been there by night? Discover more about the Cathedral’s night watchman!
Between 10pm and 2am, Alexandre Schmid stands at the top of the Cathedral’s bell tower and shouts out each hour to the residents. As the Cathedral’s night watchman, this role was historically meant to watch over the city but it now remains to perpetuate a 600 year-old tradition. Not to mention that the view over Lausanne asleep is breathtaking! It’s definitiely worth staying awake a while longer, right?
From that point Jean Cotereel, the third builder, continued the work on the site by constructing the western section, giving it a porch and two towers, one with a belfry, the other one remained uncompleted. It was only in 1275 that the Cathedral was consecrated, by both Emperor Rudolph of Hapsburg and Pope Gregory X. In 1536, during the Reformation, the Cathedral underwent significant changes when a new liturgical area was built in the nave. Thereafter, it was restored a number of times in the 18th century and again in the 19th century under the leadership of the famous French architect Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc. The Cathedral has a highly significant multi-coloured interior. Dating back to the original construction, this design was covered over during the Reformation and then revealed at the beginning of the 20th century. The paintings are still visible in the Chapel of the Virgin as well as on the statues of the painted doorway, which is unique in all of Europe and has been completely restored since October 2007. The rose window is among the masterpieces of European artistic heritage. Its panes depict the medieval view of the world arranged around the figure of God the creator.
You may have already visited the Cathedral of Lausanne in daylight but have you been there by night? Discover more about the Cathedral’s night watchman!
Between 10pm and 2am, Alexandre Schmid stands at the top of the Cathedral’s bell tower and shouts out each hour to the residents. As the Cathedral’s night watchman, this role was historically meant to watch over the city but it now remains to perpetuate a 600 year-old tradition. Not to mention that the view over Lausanne asleep is breathtaking! It’s definitiely worth staying awake a while longer, right?
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