Travel guide Lausanne

Chasselas is the great local wine speciality. This discreet white wine puts aside the primary aromas typical of varietal wines to let the fruity and robust notes, resulting from the particularities of the winemaking process and the soils on which it has grown, specific to the canton of Vaud and particularly to the Lavaux region, dominate.

Swiss chocolate is a tradition that we no longer present. Cailler, Favarger, Suchard, Kohler or Nestlé, the great chocolate makers are legion here. So you will of course find excellent confectioners in the centre of Lausanne. Chocolate factories will even open their doors to you. Tasting obligatory!

The crust doesn't dethrone the fondue in our hearts, but this kind of Helvetian welsch is well worth trying. It's a huge slice of bread soaked in white wine, topped with Gruyère cheese - which we don't skimp on - and baked in the oven. It's accompanied by baby onions and gherkins. Simple, but highly effective!

The Vaud coat of arms was decided two days after independence, in 1803, with Liberté et Patrie as its motto. Its colors, green and white, originate from the green flag of the 1798 Vaud revolution, whose motto was Liberté, Égalité. The white symbolizes entry into the Helvetic Confederation in April 1803.

Founded by Claude Nobs in 1967, the Montreux Jazz Festival welcomes every year many talents from the jazz, rock and blues worlds. A must do, if only to enjoy the idyllic lakeside setting. As the Swiss Riviera has no difficulty in attracting jazz musicians, the small village of Cully has also created its own festival.

The Lavaux region and its magnificent vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offer an incredible landscape within easy reach. It's just as impressive by train, passing through the beautiful villages of Lausanne and along hiking trails. And don't forget to stop off at a winery for a wine tasting.

The lake is the wonder of Lausanne, which can be seen from many vantage points and never ceases to amaze us with its beauty. You can, of course, swim here in summer, or simply enjoy the expanse of water encircled by snow-capped mountains and, above all, savor the blushing sky as the sun sets.

As an Olympic city par excellence, Lausanne had to host its marathon. This has been done since 1993, and we recommend it. The atmosphere is great, the course from Lausanne to La Tour-de-Peilz is sublime. As you walk along the lake, you will have a view of the snow-covered peaks of the Alps or the hills of the Lavaux. Enough to keep your energy intact for 42 km!

A wide range of public transport services that are almost always on time. As French people, we dream of it, and the people of Lausanne have achieved it. With two metro lines serving this small city, it's more than enough. What's more, the buses have been electric since 1932. So really, there's no reason to take the car, especially as there's always the train to get between towns.

This local dish will be on every menu in traditional restaurants. With no tricks, it's made from potatoes, leeks and Vaud sausage. Its strong symbolism represents the colors of the Vaud flag: white for the potatoes and green for the leeks. This hearty dish is always a pleasure to eat.

There's something for everyone when it comes to hiking: from the high mountains of the Rochers de Naye and the Dent de Jaman, to marked trails all around the Riviera, and even routes with gastronomic stops, with excursions to alpine pastures where you can sample a variety of local dishes in a rural atmosphere.

There are countless bars and clubs in the city. After Zurich, Lausanne is considered Switzerland's second most interesting and richest city for nightlife. Party-goers from all over Switzerland and even France flock here to celebrate the weekend in style!