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.
Geography
The most important geographical feature of the area surrounding Lausanne is
the Lake Geneva, which in French means "foggy lake". The northern bank of
the lake rises up onto a plateau. Lausanne is built against the side of this
plateau, with about 500 meters of elevation difference from its southern
edge bordering the village of Ouchy and its northern edge bordering Le Mont
sur Lausanne. As such, Lausanne is blessed with dramatic views of the lake,
and of the alpine mountain range, including a view of Mont Blanc on a good
day.
The areas surrounding Lausanne is an extensive wine growing region,
stretching all along the northern (Swiss) banks of the lake.
Education
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology - Lausanne)
University of Lausanne (Université de Lausanne)
École hôtelière de Lausanne
Culture
Sporting activities are very popular in Lausanne, with water sports
available on the nearby lake and mountaineering in the nearby mountains.
Cycling is also a popular pastime, with the vineyards in the surrounding
hills providing spectacular views and challenging routes. There is an annual
marathon, road cycling race GP Lausanne, and triathlon competition among
other things.
Each summer sees the City festival, or Fete de la Cite in the beginning of
the month of July. There are also Film festivals, and the Bach Festival. The
Le Festival et Concours Bach de Lausanne follows the La Nuit de Musées in
the fall season.
Lausanne is also the site of many 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)
