Fondation de l’Hermitage

The museum presents two to three temporary exhibitions a year, either artist monographs or thematic surveys. The focus is on Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and the movements of the early 20th century. Exhibitions have brought together works by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso and Matisse, lent notably by the Musée d’Orsay, the Metropolitan Museum and the National Gallery.

The modestly sized rooms let you see the works up close. The original parquet floors, wood panelling and fireplaces recall the villa’s use as a family home.

The 3-hectare landscaped park features century-old cedars, sequoias and other rare species. Laid out in terraces, it offers views over Lausanne, Lake Geneva and the Alps, as far as Mont Blanc on clear days. Benches line the paths.

Getting there : Route du Signal, in the upper part of Lausanne. Bus 16 stops at Hermitage, right in front of the entrance, about 15 minutes from the train station.

Visit duration : allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the exhibition and the park.

Accessibility : the ground floor and part of the first floor are wheelchair accessible. The park has steep slopes.

On site : café-restaurant with terrace, shop selling catalogues and posters, audio guides in several languages.

Try to come on a weekday : weekends and major exhibitions draw bigger crowds. For the most eagerly awaited exhibitions, buy your tickets online, as some time slots may sell out.

Set aside time for the park before or after your visit. In fine weather, you can picnic on the lawns, and autumn foliage brings colour to the terraces.

• The Château St-Maire is a fortified episcopal residence from the early 15th century and seat of the Council of State.
• Lausanne Cathedral has towered over the old town for more than 750 years with its medieval architecture.
• The Naturéum Cantonal Museum of Natural Sciences brings together the botany, geology and zoology of the canton of Vaud.