Sights in Lake Geneva Region
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Musée Olympique
This museum is surprisingly interesting given that its subject does not elicit universal interest. Housed in a lavish building in the Parc Olympique, atop a tiered landscaped garden, it tells the Olympic story from its inception under Pierre de Coubertin to the most recent competition. Videos, archival film (usually including footage of the most recent games), touch-screen computers and memorabilia (anything from the Olympic flame torches used since 1936 to a pair of sprinter Carl Lewis’ track shoes) all help bring this sporting saga to life.
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Tour de l'Ale
The cylindrical Tour de l'Ale, tucked away at the end of Rue de la Tour, is the only surviving vestige of medieval Lausanne's defensive walls. It was built in 1340 at the extreme western point of the medieval suburb of Ale. That we can admire the tower at all is due to those townspeople who opposed demolition plans in 1903.
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Cathédrale de Notre Dame
The Gothic Cathédrale de Notre Dame, arguably the finest in Switzerland, stands proudly at the heart of the vieille ville. Raised in the 12th and 13th centuries on the site of earlier, humbler churches, it lacks the lightness of French Gothic buildings but is remarkable nonetheless. Pope Gregory X, in the presence of Rudolph of Habsburg (the Holy Roman Emperor) and an impressive following of European cardinals and bishops, consecrated the church in 1275.
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Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts
Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts has many works by Swiss and foreign artists, ranging from Ancient Egypt to Cubism. The core of the collection is made up of works by landscape painter, Louis Ducros (1748–1810), and three other locals. The permanent collection is closed during the frequent temporary exhibitions. It is mooted that the collection will be moved to a new lakeside location in the coming years.
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Place de la Palud
The name of medieval Place de la Palud suggests that this 9th-century market square was originally bogland. For five centuries it has been home to the city government, now housed in the 17th-century Hôtel de Ville. To get here from the cathedral, a covered timber stairway leads down to Rue Pierre Viret, from where two more stairways lead further downhill, one to the modern Pl de la Riponne and the other to Pl de la Palud.
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Musée National Suisse de l’Audiovisuel
Thousands of radios and TVs of all vintages are held in what is also known as the Musée National Suisse de l’Audiovisuel. Throwing more light on the history of radio and TV are audiovisual archives from around the world. The whole is housed in the former Grand Hôtel, a belle époque gem whose star room is the Salle Sissi, an art-nouveau marvel with lake views.
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Palais de Rumine
The neo-Renaissance Palais de Rumine was built to lord it over Pl de la Riponne in 1904 and, aside from the parliament of the Vaud canton, is home to several museums. This is where the Treaty of Lausanne was signed in 1923, finalising the break-up of the Ottoman Empire after WWI. It contains the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts and a number of other museum collections.
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Musée de Montreux
The Musée de Montreux recounts the history of the town and locality. Displays range from a handful of Roman finds and coins through to period furniture, bathtubs and street signs. The steep streets around the museum and further uphill are the core of the original Old Town of Montreux and merit a wander.
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Église de St François
Église de St François is a bit of a hybrid today but in the beginning it was part of a 13th-century Franciscan monastery. You can admire some restored frescoes inside. It is hard to imagine that the church and monastery once stood amid peaceful green fields!
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Palais de Rumine museum collections
These cover natural history, zoology (with the longest - almost 6m - stuffed great white shark on show in the world), geology, coins, archaeology and history. The latter gives an overview of the history of the Vaud canton from the Old Stone Age to modern times.
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Musée de Design et d’Arts Appliqués Contemporains
The Musée de Design et d’Arts Appliqués Contemporains is a centre of modern design that frequently holds intriguing temporary exhibitions. Entry to the museum is free on the first Saturday of the month.
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Fondation de l'Hermitage
Fondation de l’Hermitage is a charming 19th-century residence constantly hosts high-calibre temporary art expositions. Take bus 16 from Place St François.
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Musée de l'Elysée
The Musée de l’Elysée is worth keeping an eye on if you like photography. It stages temporary expositions that are often excellent.
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Château de Chillon
This extraordinary, oval-shaped castle was brought to the world’s attention by Lord Byron, and the world has been filing past ever since.
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Château St Maire
The haughty, turreted Château St Maire is a 15th-century castle that was once the residence of the bishops of Lausanne and now houses government offices.
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Collection
This extraordinary collection, put together by French artist Jean Dubuffet, opened in 1976 in what was a late 18th- century country mansion.
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Musée Historique de Lausanne
The Musée Historique de Lausanne traces the city’s history. Entry is free on the first Saturday of the month.
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Musée Romain Lausanne-Vidy
Musée Romain Lausanne-Vidy housed on the site of a Roman villa contains a modest collection of ancient artefacts.
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Maison Visinand
The charming Maison Visinand is a cultural centre and theatre with regular exhibitions.
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