Palais de Rumine

Where?
Palais de Rumine
Schedules
From Tuesday to Sunday
10:00 - 17:00
Today, the Palais de Rumine houses the Naturéum - Cantonal museum of natural sciences (geology and zoology, the cantonal museum of archaeology and history and the cantonal and university library - Lausanne.

Useful information

Address

Palais de Rumine
Place de la Riponne 6
1005 Lausanne

How to get there

Schedules

Open
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 17:00
Thursday
10:00 - 17:00
Friday
10:00 - 17:00
Saturday
10:00 - 17:00
Sunday
10:00 - 17:00

Permanent exhibitions

Free

Temporary exhibitions, full price

8 CHF

Temporary exhibitions, reduced price

5 CHF

Temporary exhibitions, under 25 years

Free

Lausanne cantonal and university library (access and book loans)

Free

Closed on Mondays.
Public holidays: open from 10am to 5pm.
Free admission on the first Saturday of the month.
Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Business: a hall with seating for 294 people can be hired here.
By car: Parking de la Riponne.

La Cité

ArchitectureHistoryHeritageShopping
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 Cathedral

Heritage
At the heart of the old town, the majestic Lausanne Cathedral overlooks the city. Seen as one of the most beautiful gothic art monuments in Europe, it attracts more than 400,000 visitors every year.
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Palud square

HeritageShopping
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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author avatar
Sébastien, the adventurer
The Lausanner recommends
Sébastien the adventurer
As a photographer, the architecture of Rumine Palace immediately appealed to me, both inside and out. It’s also a quiet place where I can work when I’m in town.
author avatar
Dominik, the arch-photo fan
The Lausanner recommends
Dominik the arch-photo fan
Assuredly a change of scenery with the atmosphere of an Italian palace. I particularly love the old-world charm of the zoology museum display cabinets.
author avatar
Madina, the classy mommy
The Lausanner recommends
Madina the classy mommy
This magnificent palace is a real architectural masterpiece. Its exterior is an elegant fusion of architectural styles. Inside, you’ll find museums dedicated to archaeology, natural sciences and history. This place is a must-visit for cultural enrichment, but also to take pretty pictures.

More info

In 1871, Gabriel de Rumine (1841-1871), an aristocrat of Russian origin with a Lausanne mother, left 1'500'000 francs to the City of Lausanne for the construction of a building for public use. The City decided to build a new university at the foot of the City hill, and organized an architecture contest in 1889, which was won by Gaspard André of Lyon.

The palace features Florentine Renaissance style, alluding to the cradle of universalist humanism, which was influenced by its encyclopaedic ambitions: the general service of the Academy, a classroom, learned societies, the technical faculty, a library and no less than five museums can be found on site. Monumental columns, pergolas, loggias and bell towers adorn the 1906 building. The central portion joins two side wings and houses a highly elaborate section containing, among other things, a main staircase that creates an optical illusion effect, an atrium with a small pond, a network of galleries and overlapping ramps.

In the area