Lausanne is OK. Definitely much better looking than Geneva, but it’s a place I wouldn’t go back quickly. My sentiment with this trip was exactly the same with my trip to Oslo last year. Both places are nice but they seem to lack in the ‘charm’ department. Other travelers, who, like me, have traveled far and low, can vouch the same thing. The Dutchman in fact who’s been in this area a number of times for work wasn’t very positive of Geneva and its surroundings at all, as well as the Dutch in laws.
Anyhow, Lausanne, the Olympic Capital—it is officially, the International Olympic Committee headquartered here has called the city the ‘Olympic Capital’, as well as there is an Olympic Museum here, is definitely prettier than Geneva.
Pretty Lausanne train station, there is an Olympic logo and a signage on the station’s facade that says: Lausanne Capitale Olympique. This foto was taken on a Monday when the weather was better. Next foto are beautiful row buildings on Rue Cheneau-de-Bourg, a hilly part of the old town.
Left foto is still in Rue Cheneau-de-Bourg. I actually took many fotos of windows and shutters! Right foto is the Fountain of Justice circa 1557 situated in Place de la Palud.
Colorful buildings here, left foto taken along Rue Centrale and right foto on Escaliers du Marche, this is the road with the covered stairs going up to the Lausanne cathedral.
There is beauty in simplicity even if its just windows and shutters and a bare coffee table with two chairs. Foto on the right is the Saint Laurent Church on Rue Saint-Laurent. 
Rumine Palace houses the Cantonal and University Library and five museums namely Musee cantonal des Beaux-arts, Musee cantonal de Geologie, Musee cantonal de Zoologie, Musee cantonal d’Archaeologie et d’Historie, and Musee Monetaire cantonal. I wanted to retire these old black Laura Ashley flats, they are my very comfy walking shoes for traveling but alas I have not found any suitable replacement yet.
Doorknob of the Rumine Palace and middle foto is the lobby landing inside the Rumine Palace. Foto on the right is Tour de l’Ale in Rue de la Tour, a round watchtower built in 1340, the last remaining vestige of the Lausanne medieval city.
Left foto is St-Maire Castle built between 1397 and 1406 on bishop’s orders to serve as new Episcopal palace. Today, centre of the cantonal Authorities. Not open to public. Right foto are little shops on the walls of the Rumine Palace on Place de la Riponne.
More fotos here: Lausanne, Vaud – Switzerland
It was a Sunday when I was in Lausanne so shops and businesses were closed and the center was very quiet. Except for a few restaurants that were open—no terraces though but the ever dependable 24×7 McDonalds was there. A few Starbucks cafes were open as well so I opted for Starbucks instead of McDonalds, of course.
Considering there are very few people, it would have been a perfect day to take fotos of the beautiful architecture in the city, but the weather was horrible. It rained and I got stuck in Starbucks. Good thing I had a book with me, a James Patterson book, so I decided to stay put… sit back, relax, drink coffee—espresso please and read.
When the rain calmed down, I managed to walk around and take fotos. Discovering Lausanne on foot is actually a highly recommended activity to do in the city.
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