On the St. Maire Castle esplanade

Address

Place du Chateau
1002 Lausanne

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This is a quarter full of typical small bistros and craft shops. To the north of the Cité hill, at Place du Tunnel, avenue César-Roux avenue and Place de l’Ours, shops and quirky bistros cry out to be discovered. It is around the Cité hill, sculpted by the Flon and Louve rivers, that the mediaeval town grew. Its cobble-stoned pedestrian streets as well as its monuments, the Cathedral of Lausanne, the St-Maire Castle and the Old academy, bear witness to that.

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Lausanne's iconic cathedral has towered over the city for more than eight centuries. A masterpiece of Gothic art, it captivates visitors with the harmony of its architecture, the richness of its sculpted details and the serenity it inspires. From its tower, an exceptional panorama opens up over the roofs of the Cité, Lake Geneva and the Alps.

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In the centre of the square is the town’s oldest fountain, adorned with a statue representing justice. Close by, a clock presents the history of Vaud in animated scenes every hour from 9:00 to 19:00. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings this is the site of the country market, which also sets up shop in the neighbouring pedestrian streets. Every first Friday of the month, it plays host to a craft market. Typical cafes, boutiques and large, elegant shops complement what this high-class district, which is completely pedestrianised, has to offer.

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To your right, a large arterial road heads into a hollow. It follows the initial course of the River Louve, which is now buried, but which over time hollowed out a valley in this spot. Together with its “cousin”, the Flon, this river created the Cité hillside by eroding the molasse, a grey rock used to build St. Maire Castle and the cathedral.