Useful information
Address
1005 Lausanne
Schedules
Access to the Cathedral
Free
Visit of the tower (adults)
5 CHF
Visit of the tower (seniors, students)
3 CHF
Visit of the tower (children under 16)
2 CHF
+41 21 316 71 61
Email
Cathedral’s night watchman
Magnetic loop
Partially wheelchair-accessible
Parking place not wheelchair-accessible
Even today, the cathedral watchman continues to call out the time from ten at night until two in the morning! A visit with the watchman was an unforgettable experience for me!
When looking for a beautiful view to observe Lausanne from above at sunset, the first place that comes to mind is Lausanne Cathedral, overlooking the town.
If you wish to gain height in Lausanne, head to the Cathedral. After a few dozen metres of elevation in the small streets of the old town, here you are in the Cité, at the foot of the Cathedral. It’s now time to climb the steps that lead to the top of the belfry. From there, you’ll have a 360° view over Lausanne, as well as on the Cathedral’s bells. One important tip: leave before they ring!
A Lausanne institution, go and see – or rather listen to – the Cathedral watch who calls the hours from 10 pm to 2 am. Set up in past times to warn of fires, the tradition has been perpetuated, but the watch now calls the passing hours after dark to the city’s night owls.
Explore the impressive Cathedral of Notre Dame, a gothic masterpiece that offers a breathtaking panoramic view over the town from its belfry.
Majestically overlooking the urban landscape, Lausanne Cathedral is one of the town’s architectural and historical jewels. Climb to the top of its belfry to have a fantastic panoramic view over the city. Don’t hesitate to stroll in the lanes of the Cité (the historic district) to discover its hidden treasures.
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Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, Lausanne Cathedral is a masterpiece of European Gothic architecture. Consecrated in 1275 in the presence of Pope Gregory X and Emperor Rudolf of Habsburg, it impresses with its monumental architecture, in particular the massive west wall by Jean Cotereel, with its sculpted porch and two towers of which only the belfry was completed.
After becoming Protestant with the Reformation in 1536, it underwent several transformations, followed by major restoration work in the 19th century under the direction of Viollet-le-Duc. Its gems include a unique painted portal dating back to the 13th century, an exceptional symbolic rose, and a polychrome interior restored in the twentieth century.
Inaugurated in 2003, its great organs combine American expertise (Fisk) and Italian design (Giugiaro), making this instrument unique in the world of music. Every night, between 10pm and 2am, the Cathedral's Watchman carries on a tradition that goes back to over 600 years by announcing the hours from the tower.
So why not pay a visit to this landmark full of history at night, not to mention that the view over Lausanne asleep is breathtaking! It’s definitiely worth staying awake a while longer, right?
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