Guided group walking tour of the old town of Lausanne
Description
Discover Lausanne’s old town on a group walk, where history comes to life in every alley. Start at Place de la Palud, the vibrant heart of the city, and walk to the majestic Gothic Cathedral, symbol of the city. With passionate and experienced guides, residents of Lausanne and its region, enjoy a unique look at local culture and history. Whether you are a history buff or an inquisitive Traveler, this tour will immerse you in Lausanne’s rich past. - Walk through the historic streets of Lausanne - Visit the picturesque Place de la Palud and the Gothic Cathedral - Passionate and local guides with in-depth knowledge of the city - An enriching cultural experience for all types of travelers
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your Guide will welcome you to the Place de la Palud, a lively place steeped in history in the heart of Lausanne’s Old Town. It will introduce you to the Justice Fountain, the city’s emblematic symbol, as well as the remarkable Lausanne City Inn. On one of the walls of the square, the animated Palud Clock comes alive every hour to retrace the history of the canton. A few steps away, you can discover the picturesque Point of Sale Stairs, which lead to the majestic Lausanne Cathedral.
You will make a brief detour through the Flon district, today one of the most lively and modern districts of Lausanne. Formerly an industrial warehouse district, it has been completely redesigned to become a dynamic urban space, mixing contemporary architecture, shops, restaurants and cultural venues.
Your Guide will take you to Place Saint-François, located between Lausanne Station and the Flon district, where cafes and shops rub shoulders. In the heart of the square stands the imposing Church of Saint Francis, whose Gothic architecture dominates the square and recalls the religious history of the city.
You will stop in the Quartier du Rôtillon, famous for its sloping streets and colorful facades. Once the centre of the city’s old tanneries, the district retains the imprint of its industrial and artisanal past while now offering a lively atmosphere, with shops, cafes and meeting places very popular with Lausanne residents.
With your Guide, you will cross the Charles-Bessières Bridge, inaugurated in 1910 and spanning the Flon Valley. This metal arch bridge is distinguished by its harmonious proportions and decorative obelisks. Today, it welcomes cars, pedestrians and the M2 metro, while offering magnificent views of Lausanne’s historic centre.
Your Guide will take you to the Historical Museum of Lausanne, where the model of the city in 1638 accurately reconstructs ramparts, streets and main buildings. It allows to picture the organization and appearance of Lausanne before its urban transformations, offering a captivating insight into its medieval and ancient past.
You will end your visit in style with the discovery of Lausanne Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Its majestic façade, adorned with carved portals and the famous central rose, as well as its colorful stained glass windows, make it a must-see symbol of Lausanne.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(10)
Very informative and cued in to our interests Great orientation to Lausanne Old Town He went beyond the appointed time to share information
Lausanne is a beautiful hillside city overlooking Lake Geneva, with a long history as a crossroads for travelers from across Europe. Stephanie's guided tour brought the city's history, traditions, and unique topography to life in an engaging and accessible way. Stephanie is exceptionally knowledgeable and clearly passionate about Lausanne. She took us into several rooms in the City Hall that are only accessible on guided tours, providing insights we would not have discovered on our own. The visits to Saint-François Church and Lausanne Cathedral were also highlights of the experience. The tour was very family-friendly, and our two boys were able to follow and enjoy Stephanie's explanations throughout. Overall, this was one of the best city tours I have ever taken, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Lausanne.
Françoise was an AMAZING guide!!! We learned so much about the history of Lausanne, and got an insiders view of artifacts in the Cathedral, monuments in the City Hall area, it was a real treat. Tour was conducted predominantly in English, easy to understand. Thank you again, Françoise!
The experience was fantastic. Stephanie was a wonderful tour-guide and she recommended me some awesome chocolate shops.
Stephanie gave us an amazing tour of the old town and cathedrals. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! Her knowledge was incredible, and I loved hearing all of the little details, stories, and historical nuances that we never would have known on our own. I especially appreciated everything she shared about the churches, which made us see and appreciate them in a completely different way! If you're visiting, I highly recommend taking a tour with Stephanie. She created such a memorable experience for our family.
We had a wonderful walk of old town Lausanne. Our guide Stephanie was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the sites we visited as well versed in the history and culture of the area. Her command of both French and English was helpful. The tour really brought to life the history of the place.
A few days ago, we were fortunate to have Stéphanie as our guide for our visit to Lausanne. Thanks to her, the visit was truly interesting. Thank you, Stéphanie!! :) Chris, Joyce, and Kim, from Canada.
Ann provided us with a terrific tour of Lausanne! She was extremely knowledgeable and responsive to all our questions. We especially enjoyed the Lausanne Museum!
Stephanie was excellent, one of the best walking tours my wife and I have done. We covered lots of ground and really got a feel for the city and its history. The highlight for me was City Hall. Stephanie took us into the building and we toured a few of the rooms. Overall a great experience and I would highly recommend this tour.
Our experience was absolutely wonderful. We did this tour on Saturday and our guide informed us about all the interesting things about Lausanne and we even got a private tour of the shoe museum. I believe our guide’s name was Catherine. The experience was a definite highlight of our visit.
