Trips & Tips: Switzerland

Lausanne: the French side of Switzerland

View of Lac leman (Lake Geneva) from Quai D'Ouchy; the island across is part of France.

Lausanne is a city on top a hill, the southern tip of which is Lac leman (Lake Geneva) and is the capital city of the canton Vaud. It is one of the French-speaking cities in Switzerland and one of those few cities that have public street elevators (lifts) to get up or down the street levels!

View of lower street level and Old Town and the cathedral (behind) from the higher street level.

My main reason for visiting Lausanne was to experience the Lavaux vineyards, a 32-kilometre terraced vineyards and a UNESCO World heritage Site , and the jazz festival in Montreux But I must say that when I got to the city centre, I was pleasantly surprised that the city centre itself is worth visiting.

It has a very efficient tourism office, complete with all printed maps and brochures on things to do in Lausanne, just like in most cities in France, or any other western European city. So my suggestion is always make the tourism office your first stop in your western Europe trips.

Lausanne has a very efficient and convenient transportation system, though walking around the city is also very pleasant. For those who love biking (I'm not into biking), you may explore the city and the other small vineyard villages by bike.

Lausannne is very clean and very pleasant with no beggars and clowns on its streets.

Here are some things I enjoyed doing during my 4-day stay in Lausanne

1. A walk along Quai D 'Ouchy where I found peace and calm facing Lac Leman

The platform is the start of Quai D'Ouchy; Lac Leman (aka Lake Geneva) comes to full view from Hotel Aulac

Ouchy is the lake shore district of the city and is host to the Park Olympique. The walk along the whole promenade and to the east side (facing the lake) of Vidy is very pleasant and relaxing. Trees line along the whole stretch Ouchy and Vidy.

After sunset view of Lac leman from Hotel Aulac

2. A meal highlighted by the fish from Lac Leman called Perches

A set meal at the restaurant in Hotel Aulac; to the right is the lake fish Perches.

3. Two-hour guided walking tour of the historical centre (Old Town)

Just like other French cities, Lausanne's medieval town is very lively since most, if not all, of the tourists visit this history-and-culture-rich area. The guided tour costs 8 euros. There is no need to book ahead of time. Just show up at the meeting place indicated in the brochure from the tourism office. It starts from the Hotel de Ville, then continues on to a hilly itinerary that includes, among others, the Cathedral grounds. The 2-hiur walking tour does not include the inside visit of the Cathedral so you'll have to find time to make a Cathedral visit.

Lausanne's Hotel de Ville

4. Visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral

The world famous organ inside the Cathedral of Notre Dame

Construction of the Lausanne's Notre Dame Cathedral started around 1170 and was completed around 1215. The 7,000-pipe organ was inaugurated in 2003. It is the first organ manufactured by an American company for a European cathedral and the first to contain all four of the principal organ styles (classical, French symphony, baroque, German romantique). Estimated cost was 6 million Swiss francs with 150,000 manhours used to build. It weighs 40 tons.

View of the city and Lake Geneva from the Cathedral.

5. Visit the elegantly gorgeous Beau Rivage Palace Hotel

Beau Rivage is a small historical luxury hotel with one of the best views of Lac Leman, having first opened its doors in 1861. It claims to be one of the finest hotels in the world.

Its small lobby does not evoke a feeling of grandeur, rather it conjures up a feeling of being in an elegant, meticulously decorated home of French-designed architecture . It has spacious gardens, perfect for pictorials. In fact when I visited this hotel, there was a wedding pictorial/reception. It was a Saturday late afternoon, and the lake view terrace was full of guests having conversations while consuming their meal and drinks.

The charming small towns outside Lausanne: Lutry, Pully, Epesses,Vevey and Montreux

The lakeside stretch from Lausanne to Montreux is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site terraced vineyards. The views of this hilly 32-km vineyards (with Lac Leman or Geneva Lake as a backdrop) are absolutely stunning and breathtaking! The whole area is called Lavaux vineyards. Indeed Lavaux est très beau!

Source: Google

I have visited several vineyards in France, Australia and New Zealand, and so far the Lavaux vineyards are the most scenic and picturesque, owing to its hilly topography! I would love to go back and spend time in the small villages up the vineyards.

The 800-hectare terraced vineyards is accessible by various transportation modes - by train, by bike, by car, or simply by foot, if you are into walking! The walk,though, is not for the fainthearted as it covers hilly areas. I would have loved to take a hike but I didn't have enough time. Instead I joined a 4-hour guided tour aboard the Lavaux Express, a special open-type vehicle used to go around the vineyards. Wine tasting is included in the package. It starts at and ends in Lutry, and it covers the vineyards in Lutry, Cully and Epesses. Epesses is world famous for its excellent tasting Epesses and Calamin white wines, which are 100% grown and produced in the small village of Epesses.