Museums

In Lausanne the public consumes culture like people elsewhere take vitamins. Benefiting from extensive public subsidies, the city has created assets which are much appreciated throughout Europe. Thanks to the 22 museums and leading institutions of "Lausanne, Olympic Capital", a very rich artistic and cultural programme is available.

SUGGESTIONS FOR GROUPS

The following list is not exhaustive,
contact us for more informations.

• FINE ARTS & SOCIETY

• HISTORY

• NATURAL SCIENCES

FINE ARTS & SOCIETY


		OLYMPIC MUSEUM AND STUDIES CENTRE World Olympic Movement information centre, this building in Greek marble offers an interactive museum experience. The permanent collection conveys the ancient and modern Olympic history and games. Parallel to this, the Olympic Museum puts together several temporary exhibitions relating to sport and culture. www.museum.olympic.org

		ART BRUT COLLECTION Collection established on the basis of a donation from Jean Dubuffet. Works which are unusual and created outside normal culture, in psychiatric asylums, prisons or secret places. Artists include: Wölfi, Aloïse, Lesage, Carlo and Hauser. www.artbrut.ch

		SWISS FILM LIBRARY The Swiss Film Library owns a collection of over 40,000 titles and is one of the most important film institutions in the world. Showings of films from its collection take place three times a day all year round, are cyclical and thematic and relevant to current issues. www.cinematheque.ch

		CANTONAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS The Museum of Fine Art exhibits its key pieces – by Ducrois, Bocion, Gleyre, Vallotton and Soutter – permanently and arranges temporary exhibitions devoted to Vaud, Swiss and international art from the 18th to the 20th century. www.beaux-arts.vd.ch

		MU.DAC The only museum in Frenchspeaking Switzerland devoted to contemporary applied art, mu.dac shows temporary, national and international exhibitions focussing on graphic design, design in general and arts professions. www.mudac.ch

		ELYSÉE PHOTOGRAPHY MUSEUM Few museums worldwide are devoted exclusively to photography. The Elysée is one of these rare institutions and exhibits work conveying the art and history of photography. www.elysee.ch

		HERMITAGE FOUNDATION Situated in a magnificent setting, the Hermitage Foundation shows temporary exhibitions of paintings and sculptures created from 1850 to 1920 focussing on impressionism and French art. The works are to be seen in the preserved atmosphere of a 19th century home. www.fondation-hermitage.ch

		HAND MUSEUM (Claude Verdan Foundation) Dedicated to the hand, cultural basis and of fundamental importance in human life. Interdisciplinary approach with photos, displays, entertainment and lots of exhibits. One area focuses on scientific aspects of the hand, another is reserved for temporary exhibitions. A live museum designed for the general public. www.verdan.ch

HISTORY


		CANTONAL ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY MUSEUM Thanks to the richness and diversity of its collections this museum, entrusted with the canton’s archaeological heritage, brings the Vaud Country of the past, from pre-historic to medieval times, back to life. www.lausanne.ch/archeo

		LAUSANNE-VIDY ROMAN MUSEUM Built on the remains of a wealthy household in the ancient town of Lousanne, the Roman Museum provides insights into life in Roman Lausanne and the image of classical antiquity today. It puts on several events for children. www.lausanne.ch/musees

		LAUSANNE HISTORICAL MUSEUM Specialising in topics relating to Lausanne, the museum owns an extraordinary model of the town in the 17th century enhanced with sound – in several languages – and light show. Just a stone's throw away from the cathedral, the museum benefits from an impressive view of the town. Numerous temporary exhibitions. www.lausanne.ch/mhl

		VIEIL OUCHY MUSEUM Commercial, transit and leisure centre, Ouchy harbour has always been a very lively place. The Vieil Ouchy Museum retraces the history of the place the people of Lausanne love so much. It can also be discovered via several prints which further reinforce the link between the harbour and Lake Geneva. www.lausanne.ch/musees

NATURAL SCIENCES


		CANTONAL GEOLOGY MUSEUM With a presentation combining the ultra contemporary and the ultra retro, the Geology Museum organises long term exhibitions. On show permanently: the mammoth from the Joux Valley and a rich collection of fossils. www.unil.ch/mcg

		CANTONAL ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM On show permanently: the region's and a selection of the world's fauna. It owns a rare collection of comparative anatomy. Preserved museography from the start of the last century. www.zoologie.vd.ch

		CANTONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS The botanical gardens contain one of the most beautiful collections of Alpine plants (Alpinum) in Switzerland and a huge collection of plants from all over the world. The original layout of the garden was designed by the famous Lausanne architect Alphonse Laverrière. www.botanique.vd.ch

		LAUSANNE VIVARIUM FOUNDATION One of the most comprehensive reptile collections in Europe! At the vivarium visitors have the opportunity to see some one hundred species of reptiles, batrachians and predators from five continents. www.vivarium-lausanne.ch