Manon, miss cultural heritage

Manon, miss cultural heritage

Who says culture is boring? Definitely not me! I‘m an art historian specialised in the study of architecture. I love discovering my town and helping others discover it. I am curious of everything and when I become interested in something, it quickly becomes contagious! My husband and children know something about that. What I love is to understand not only the history of buildings, but also stylistic effects, fashions that come and go, exchanges between two regions that suddenly materialise in stone. On the other hand, I’ll freely admit I don’t know how to lay a brick.
« A city with a diversity in its built environment that never ceases to surprise me. It ranges from the monumental Post Office building at Saint-François to the sober and functional workers’ lodgings of the 1920s in Prélaz, and then we immerse ourselves in the Glorious Thirty (the post-war boom years) at Chauderon with the public administration building! »

My recommendations

Simply pronouncing that name fills me with joy! A great-quality second-hand bookshop, with so many books you don’t know where to start. For me, two compulsory topics: the “town of Lausanne” bookshelf next to the bookseller’s desk, with old books that give off that lovely aroma of paper, and the “architecture” shelves in the small recess. I can’t wait to go back there!
There’s nothing desert-like in this park, quite the opposite! Its monumental elongated water feature makes you feel you’re in a different world. For me, it’s a soothing place conducive to daydreaming. Anecdotally, it owes its poetic name to the current of Romanticism that was in vogue at the turn of the 19th century. There’s no better example of the “oh, how far away from everything I am, but I have a huge estate, so I’m ok” attitude.
This shop is a veritable institution in Lausanne. A maze of stairs, levels and half-levels to be explored as you would during a treasure hunt, as well as shelves packed with toys and board games… it’s heaven! As a child, I went there with my brothers to add to our collection of marbles, and I’m delighted to go back now with my children.
When I get off the bus at Saint-François, I just can’t walk by without stopping. This former tramway shelter has retained its charm from the 1910s with its glass awning, its marquetry, the small fountain leaning against it and its Art Nouveau aura. Savouring a good coffee in a beautiful café, what could be better?
A warning to lovers of both art books and coffee: someone has brought them together at last! I’ll browse a volume from the bookcase that favours richly illustrated books, order a drink and for once, leave my phone aside. My ideal combo: a chai latte and a book on Bauhaus.