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An exhibition, a concert under the stars, a new theatrical creation… In Lausanne, culture comes in all its forms and all year round, to the delight of culture lovers.
Art from every angle
From design to fine art, sport, history, science, art brut and photography, more than 20 museums in Lausanne invite lovers of culture to discover and explore new worlds. In autumn, the Lausanne / Pully Museum Night – when some 24 cultural institutions open their doors late into the night … is a must.
Lausanne’s must-see museums
What could be more obvious, when you find yourself in the heart of the Olympic Capital, than to visit the museum dedicated to the history of the Games? Welcome to the Olympic Museum – one of the most popular in Switzerland – that presents the cornerstones of Olympism – sport, art and culture – in an interactive and entertaining way.
Internationally renowned, Photo Élysée is one of the world’s leading museums devoted entirely to photography. It has now taken up residence at the heart of Plateforme 10, Lausanne’s brand new arts district.
Mudac – the Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts – takes an inquisitive and incisive look at the objects that shape our lives, brilliantly asking deliciously impertinent questions.
Nestling in its new Plateforme 10 urban setting, the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts – with its superb collection of some 10,000 works – presents a range of high-quality temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
Lausanne is also home to the famous Swiss Film Archives, one of the ten richest in the world thanks to its collections of films, photos, posters and documents. Its eclectic programme is an invitation to explore the fabulous history of Swiss and international cinema.
Far from conventional artistic codes, discover the surprising and moving works of self-taught artists in the famous Collection de l’Art Brut, around the “inventor” of Art Brut himself, French artist Jean Dubuffet.
At Aquatis, the largest aquarium-vivarium in Europe located in the heights of the town, you can explore and marvel at the freshwater fauna and flora of the five continents.
Visitors to the Fondation de l’Hermitage, a sublime nineteenth-century mansion surrounded by parkland, can experience a whole range of emotions as they contemplate one of the many exhibitions devoted to fine arts, from the Renaissance to the present day.
At the foot of the Cathedral, the former bishop’s palace has been home to the Lausanne Historical Museum for a hundred years. It now features a new permanent exhibition with a completely redesigned narrative and scenography.
The permanent exhibition at the Musée Romain de Lausanne-Vidy tells the story of the daily lives of local people adjusting to the new culture of the Roman Empire, some twenty centuries ago, on the shores of Lacus Lemannus.
The human hand is a fabulous instrument for grasping and manipulating. It is thanks to the hand that man has gained the ability to materialise the ideas born in his brain. And that deserves a museum dedicated to it! The Hand Museum is located right next to the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV).
In addition to all these incredible museums, there are numerous art galleries where painting, sculpture and applied art have a foothold. Some of them have set up shop in the old Flon warehouses, which designers and architects have converted into spaces dedicated to activities and art.
The Cathedral, Lausanne’s landmark among landmarks
Built in the 12th century on the hill of the ancient Cité, Lausanne Cathedral – the largest in Switzerland – majestically overlooks the city. Considered one of the finest Gothic monuments in Europe, it attracts more than 500,000 visitors every year.
“It’s the watch, the hour of 10 has struck…”
At nightfall, as you stroll through the pedestrianised streets of the Cité, don’t be surprised to hear the watch’s cry echoing over the old town’s rooftops. Perched at the top of the belfry, he or she calls out the full hours every night, from 10 pm to 2 am, perpetuating a Lausanne tradition that goes back more than 600 years.
Multiple musical resonances
It’s worth lending an ear to this city’s multiple musical resonances, an expression of the diversity of genres that coexist harmoniously in Lausanne. In the classical range, the Lausanne Opera House boasts a façade as brilliant as the virtuosos who perform on its stage. Classical and operatic singers, musicians and dancers love this stage as much as the public. In-house creations and world-renowned works follow one another, to the delight of the public.
The Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (OCL), the Lausanne Opera House’s flagship ensemble, has continued to spread its wings in recent years. Since 2021, it has been led by French violin virtuoso and conductor Renaud Capuçon. The OCL embraces a vast repertoire ranging from early baroque to contemporary works, and has no qualms about surprising audiences by experimenting with other musical genres – such as a collaboration with the famous MAD CLUB to mix classical and electro music.
Alongside these renowned institutions, popular music in all its forms also makes the heart of the Cité beat: jazz clubs, cabarets, world music and underground music are not to be outdone!
Theatre to cater for all tastes
On the lakeside, the Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, a European theatre centre, puts on nearly 600 performances every year. Presented in Lausanne and abroad, its productions and co-productions always promise powerful artistic experiences.
In the Malley District, the Théâtre Kléber-Méleau, an unfiltered creative space housed in a former gasworks, offers a surprising contrast between industry and poetry. Its plays are based on both classical and contemporary texts, and place great emphasis on music.
Tucked in behind the Cathedral, the Petit Théâtre offers an excellent programme for young audiences.
Lausanne is also a breeding ground for small experimental theatres and open stages of all kinds; there are more than thirty of them.
A festival of culture
In the summer months, the city is ablaze with sounds, shapes and delightful colours. The various festivals that take place here are all opportunities to enjoy the long, beautiful summer evenings, when the temperature is cooler and you can linger over a concert or an open-air show.
Every year in July, the city puts on the Festival de la Cité, a not-to-be-missed free cultural event that is particularly popular with Lausanne residents. Whether you’re a local, a family or a tourist, there’s something for everyone at the Festival de la Cité, with a programme that skilfully combines theatre, music, dance, circus acts and street art.
You can also take advantage of the Think Cinema Lausanne (Rencontres 7e Art) festival, an annual event initiated by Lausanne actor Vincent Perez, which celebrates the passion for cinema through a host of screenings and renowned guests.
In Programme Commun, the Théâtre de Vidy, Arsenic, Théâtre Sévelin 36 and Swiss Film Archives invite you to move freely between artistic venues and disciplines.
In April, the BDFIL comic strip festival becomes the annual rendezvous for comic strip lovers.
In May, the Chocolate Festival celebrates electro music on the shores of Lake Geneva, with both well-known and emerging artists.
In June, the Festival Les Printemps de Sévelin offers a programme of contemporary dance combining international performances and Swiss premieres.
In the autumn, the Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival (LUFF) has fun ruffling the feathers of its audience.
The JazzOnze+ Festival takes you on a discovery of the diversity, richness and creative energy of today’s jazz.
Dedicated to classical music lovers, the Lausanne Bach Festival features works by Bach and his contemporaries.
Les Urbaines, an interdisciplinary and often undisciplined festival, offers free access to a selection of astonishing contemporary creations.
Discover the Lausanners