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Lausanne is full of magnificent places with a holiday feel, that are uncannily similar to landscapes that evoke faraway locations. Who says you have to travel a long way to get a change of scene?
1. Rôtillon quarter: with the feel of Cinque Terre in Italy!
With its little colourful houses, and its narrow alleyways where you can lose yourself with an ice cream in your hand, le Rôtillon reminds us of Cinque Terre, the superb villages in the north-east of Italy. Le Rôtillon is one of the oldest quarters of Lausanne, and it is known for its passages and its sloping roads. Then if you’d like to find a nice bargain, this is the place, with so many local designers around the area!
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Cinque Terre, Italie
2. Lavaux: with the feel of Alto Douro in Portugal!
Ah Lavaux… its steep roads are perfect for a sunny walk, with its fantastic view of Lake Geneva and, above all, vines as far as the eye can see: as soon as you arrive in Lavaux, you are on holiday. But wait – doesn’t this landscape remind you of the famous valley of Alto Douro in Portugal?
Lavaux
Rio Douro
3. The Royal Pavilion: with the feel of Bangkok in Thailand!
If you want to be transported to Thailand, head to the north of Denantou Park, where you will find the famous Thai pavilion. To give you a brief history, this building was given directly to the town of Lausanne in 2005 by the King of Thailand (yes really!), who himself lived in Lausanne for nearly 20 years. No wonder then that its architecture brings to mind the many temples in Bangkok!
Pavillon thaï de Lausanne
Temple de Bangkok
4. Vidy: with the feel of the island of Elba in Italy!
A summer without lazing on the beach is like Lausanne Cathedral without its famous watchmen: unthinkable! And you’re in luck, because with Lake Geneva and its crystalline waters, you can enjoy long days of sunbathing by the lakeside. In an aerial view, the beach at Vidy looks surprisingly similar to the island of Elba in Italy. Come and compare for yourself…
Vidy – ©victormichaud_photo
Ile d’Elbe, Italie
5. The Chemin des Plaines: with the feel of Provence!
There’s no denying the atmosphere of Provence in this street near the Théâtre de Vidy! Its houses with colourful shutters and the violets that smell fantastic in summer are certainly there for a reason. You can almost hear the sound of the crickets!
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Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
6. The Palais de Rumine: with the feel of the Vienna Palace of Justice in Austria!
Although there are plenty of sunny days in summer in Lausanne, there is still a chance of the odd rainy day as well. But there is no time to get bored: if it rains, you can visit one of the many museums in town! We recommend that you discover the Palais de Rumine, to teleport right back to the town of Mozart. There is a striking resemblance between this museum in Lausanne and the entrance hall of the Palace of Justice in Vienna! You could almost confuse the two.
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7. Le Pointu: with the feel of the Flatiron Building in New York!
Of course, the building is not as tall as the Flatiron Building in New York. But depending on your viewing angle, there is quite a resemblance, and certainly just as much charm (if not more, but we are not very objective). It is also the home of Le Pointu, a fantastic restaurant with brunches to die for. Just head to Rue Neuve 2 in Lausanne to take the same photo, then have a nice meal with friends!
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Flatiron building, New York
8. Promenade de la Ficelle: with the feel of the Highline in New York!
Across the Atlantic, they have the legendary Highline, a footpath set up on an old New York subway line. In Lausanne, we have the Promenade de la Ficelle: a green space set up along the route of the M2. It takes its name from the old rack railway that linked Ouchy and Flon, which was known as – you’ve guessed it – “la Ficelle”. If you go to Délices metro station, you can walk along the Highline of Lausanne.
La promenade de la Ficelle
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9. Ouchy: with the feel of the island of Hvar in Croatia!
With beautiful boats along its docks, Ouchy really gives Lausanne the feel of a little Mediterranean port town. It almost transports us to the island of Hvar off Split in Croatia (minus the palm trees, granted). Just looking at the photos makes you want to dive into the lake. Our tip: if you feel like setting sail, you can rent pedalos right there in Ouchy!
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Ile de Hvar, Croatie
10. Le Café de l’Hôtel de Ville : des airs de Paris !
Le Café de l’Hôtel de Ville nous rappelle sans aucun doute ces jolis cafés parisiens au charme unique, avec leurs terrasses sur lesquelles observer les passants en sirotant un petit verre. On adore sa façade toute en bois et son côté authentique !
Terrasses parisiennes
We told you so, Lausanne is definitely a city where it’s easy to escape thanks to its super diversified landscapes! And you, what are the places that allow you to disconnect in Lausanne?
Places mentioned in the article
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