Lausanne Old Town
Lausanne La Cité
A medieval maze on Lausanne’s hills.
La Cité is the historic heart of Lausanne, where winding cobblestone streets, Gothic architecture, and cozy squares create a timeless charm. Towering above it all is the Lausanne Cathedral, while boutique shops, antique stores, and cafés line the old streets. The Old Town blends heritage with vibrancy and remains a cultural hub of the city.
How to Get There
On foot from Lausanne center ~6-9 min.
From Montreux by taxi ~35 min.
From GVA airport (Geneva) by taxi/transfer ~75 min.
From SIR airport (Sion) by taxi/transfer ~94 min.
Description
What is this place
La Cité is Lausanne’s medieval core on the city’s hilltop between the Flon and Louve valleys. It concentrates the Cathedral ensemble, cantonal institutions, old squares and narrow pedestrian lanes with gradients and cobbles.
Key features
- Lausanne Cathedral – Switzerland’s landmark Gothic church, consecrated in 1275; the night watchman calls the hours 22:00–02:00 every night.
- Place de la Palud – Town Hall 1673–1675, Fountain of Justice 1557/1585, and an animated clock from 1964 with hourly shows 09:00–19:00.
- Escaliers du Marché – covered wooden stairway linking Palud to the Cathedral; upper section interrupted in 1911 and reconnected via an underground passage in 1975.
- Château Saint-Maire – bishops’ stronghold built 1397–1425, now the seat of Vaud’s cantonal government.
- Ancienne Académie – first French-language Protestant theology college, building 1579–1587, later a university site.
What to see
- Cathedral with the early-13th-century rose window and the esplanade view; at night, hear the watchman’s calls.
- Place de la Palud: Town Hall, justice fountain and the hourly clock show 09:00–19:00, especially lively on Wed/Sat market mornings.
- Escaliers du Marché and the Bessières Bridge 1908–1910 viewpoints over spires and rooftops.
History
The medieval town grew around the Cité hill shaped by the Flon and Louve valleys. Cathedral works began in 1170 and it was consecrated in 1275 in the presence of Pope Gregory X and Rudolf of Habsburg; from 1405 the night watchman tradition is attested.
In the late 14th–early 15th c. the bishops built Château Saint-Maire 1397–1425. After the 1536 Reformation the Cathedral became Reformed. Civic power focused on Place de la Palud with the Town Hall 1673–1675; the 16th c. also saw the Ancienne Académie’s rise.
Modern links arrived with Bessières Bridge 1908–1910; the stairway’s top was altered in 1911 and re-established in 1975. The Palud animated clock was installed in 1964. Line M2 of the metro opened in 2008, strengthening access between Flon, Riponne and Bessières.
Practical information
Location: Cité hill north of Lausanne-Flon; anchors – Cathedral, Place de la Palud, Bessières, Château Saint-Maire.
Getting there: From Lausanne-Gare take M2 to Riponne–M. Béjart or Bessières, then 3–8 minutes on foot uphill. From Ouchy – M2 direct.
Access: Pedestrian lanes with slopes and cobbles; M2 stations provide lifts and step-free access.
Visiting hours: Year-round. Palud clock show hourly 09:00–19:00. Cathedral night watchman 22:00–02:00 daily.
Visit duration: 1.5–3 hours for highlights; half-day if adding museums and tower climb.
Best time: Morning for calm squares and light; evening for the watchman and night views.
Notes: Many steps – wear grippy shoes; surfaces can be slick in rain and winter.
