Unusual visit: did you know these 10 fun facts about Lausanne?

1. Find the Thai pavilion that has taken up residence on the shores of Lake Geneva

A curiosity if ever there was one, this exotic little edifice stands out in the Lausanne landscape. Nestling in the heart of the Denantou park, close to the lake, this miniature royal palace is sure to attract the attention of curious strollers. For the record, Thai kings Rama VIII and Rama IX chose to live in Lausanne from 1933 to 1951, and as a tribute, the building was erected in 2007 in the Jaturamuk style by Thai craftsmen in collaboration with the city’s parks and promenades service.

2. Use the lifts hidden around the city

Not for nothing is Lausanne nicknamed the city of three hills! Its elevation and sloping streets are a delight for visitors, and the people of Lausanne boast (not without a sense of humour) that they have the most beautiful legs in Switzerland – no less! But rest assured, the less adventurous can take advantage of the twenty or so public lifts that have sprung up all over the city as shortcuts. You’ll find them near the bridges and footbridges of Lausanne, including those at Bessières, Chauderon and the Grand-Pont.

3.  Unravelling the mysteries of the famous pliers embedded in a paving stone at La Riponne

It’s a mystery that dates back to 1973, when the square was paved. One of the 142,430 cobblestones (if you can count them) in the square turns out to be different from the others. It reveals a pair of pliers trapped in the concrete. Did the tool belong to a clumsy worker? Or someone who was supposed to make a murder weapon disappear? Perhaps even an entire toolbox buried beneath the square? It’s hard to say… “La pince de la Riponne“ remains a mystery that continues to fascinate, and a book on the subject was even published in 2016. If you feel like investigating and examining the evidence, you’ll have to look near the public benches. Here’s a hint: when you look at the Palais de Rumine, walk to the left, near the large flower containers. Good luck!

4. Stroking the woolly pigs of Sauvabelin

To all animal lovers, head to Sauvabelin Lake to admire some of Switzerland’s endangered species. Among the booted goats, Rhaetian grey cows, Appenzell hens, mirror sheep and Valais red sheep, the woolly pigs are certainly the most unusual. One thing’s for sure: children will love them!

5. Calling the hours with the Cathedral Watch

You may have visited Lausanne Cathedral during the day, but have you been there at night? Between 10 pm and 2 am, a watch calls out the hours to the inhabitants from the Belfry Tower. As the Watch of Lausanne Cathedral, his or her role is no longer to watch over the city, but to perpetuate a tradition that goes back more than 600 years. It’s well worth staying awake a bit longer for that… What’s more, the view of sleeping Lausanne from the tower is breathtaking!

6.  A glimpse of Lausanne’s underground rivers 

Walking around the city, you’d never suspect that two rivers flow right beneath your feet. The Louve and the Flon – which have given their names to a square and a district of Lausanne – were buried there over 100 years ago. But these rivers are not totally invisible. To get a glimpse of the Louve, you’ll have to go down to the Riponne car park (an unexpected place, don’t you think?): on the third level, a porthole allows you to admire the gallery where the river flows, before it meets the Flon, a little further down.

7. In the heart of nature, just a few metres from the centre

However, if you’d like to get out into the great outdoors, we’ll meet you at the Devil’s Bridge. It’s one of the stops on the Vuachère trail, an 8-kilometre walk along the river. Barely 100 metres after leaving the residential district of Montolivet, you’ll feel as if you’re in the middle of a forest, far from the city. The sound of the current and the serenity of the place will make you forget the hustle and bustle of the city.

8. Strolling through the vineyards in the heart of the city

A little corner of Lavaux hidden away in the heart of Lausanne? No, you’re not dreaming: the Languedoc Hill does indeed conceal an urban vineyard of around 600 vines. Situated to the south-west of the city, the Languedoc path takes you to this little corner of urban paradise. Walk up the path, enjoy the peace and quiet, admire the view of the lake and the Alps and discover this unusual place: the only urban vineyards in Lausanne… or almost! In the heart of the historic Cité district, the vineyards of the Vaud Parliament also boast 157 Chasselas vines – exactly the number of MPs and State Councillors.

9.  Discover the frescoes in the Passage Saint-François

We know what you’re thinking: it’s not often you get to explore a city via a subway. And yet it’s possible, thanks to the talented Dora Formica! This designer from Lausanne has painted a fresco in the Passage Saint-François depicting the city, illustrated with anecdotes to help you find out more about the Bourg-Saint-François District. It’s a truly unusual way to discover Lausanne!

10. Discover old kiosks transformed into trendy living spaces

Perhaps we should start by recalling what an aedicula is, don’t you think? It’s an architectural term dating from the mid-nineteenth century, used to describe a small building of a religious or secular nature erected in the public space. The beautiful city of Lausanne boasts no fewer than 24 of them! At one time kiosks, sheds, bus shelters or even toilets, some have now been converted into spaces with a place in our everyday lives. This is the case, for example, of the one in Place Saint-François, which has become an emblematic café in the city, or those in the Beaulieu and Montriond districts, which have also been transformed into charming little café-restaurants.