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Old Town

Lausanne's Old Town (Vielle Ville) goes back to the 12th century. The center of this area is the Place de la Palud with a fascinating fountain, a clock that performs on the hour with a little metal people performing a Swiss historical story, the Hotel de Ville (which is the town hall) and many old speciality shops, newer boutiques, and sidewalk cafés. The specialty shops are worth the visit here where, for example, there is a very old shop that only sells 100s of different types of olive oil.

You can meander and get lost in these cobblestone pedestrian streets and then take the medieval wooden stairs up from the Place de la Palud to the Cathedral de Lausanne which is named Notre Dame. It is well worth a visit to this once catholic-now-protestant cathedral with it's colored glass windows and fabulous organ. Ofentimes, there are free concerts of all types including the organ concerts on many Friday nights.

Behind the cathedral is what is known as "La Cité" which is also of medieval origins. Besides some secret nightclubs (only known to 20 somethings), it is fairly quiet and most of the old buildings that used to be the University of Lausanne classroom buildings and the Château are now public adminstration buildings. There is also a very charming high school that is still begin used. From the plaza around the Cathedral there is a wonderful view of the center of Lausanne, the lake and the Alps. A Swiss historical and a contemporary art museum are nearby.