The Lausanne History Museum tells the story of the city, from the Gallo-Roman camp to the present day. Housed in the former Bishop’s Palace at the foot of the Cathedral, it features a model of the Cité in 1638 and a permanent exhibition across 11 spaces.
Regional and local museums
Main highlights
- Permanent exhibition across 11 themed spaces covering economic, social and cultural history
- Model of the Cité in 1638, showing the fortifications and urban layout of the Ancien Régime
- Former Bishop’s Palace, an episcopal residence whose oldest parts date back to the 11th century
Overview
The museum opened on 27 December 1918 on the initiative of the Commission du Vieux Lausanne, and in particular Charles Vuillermet. Successively known as the Musée du Vieux-Lausanne, the Musée de l’Évêché and then the Musée Historique, it took its current name in 2004.
It occupies the former Bishop’s Palace, perched on the edge of the Cité hill, overlooking the lower town and closing off the cathedral esplanade. Its oldest parts date back to the 11th century. The museum collects, preserves and showcases evidence of Lausanne’s history.
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What to see and do
The model of Lausanne in 1638 opens the visit. This meticulous reproduction shows the urban layout, fortifications and architecture of the Ancien Régime, and serves as a starting point for understanding how the city has evolved.
The exhibition “Lausanne, l’Exposition” unfolds across 11 themed spaces : water and topography, power and religion, industry and trade, and daily life. It leads from the Gallo-Roman camp to the EPFL campus, from the Flon tanneries to the Ouchy waterfront, and from the Reformation to the Revolution. Objects, archives, photographs and multimedia displays sit side by side.
The collections comprise more than a million works and objects : paintings, engravings, posters, furniture, costumes and a major photographic collection dating from the 19th century. Temporary exhibitions regularly explore local history in greater depth.
Practical information
Getting there : m2 metro, Riponne-M. Béjart stop, then a 5-minute walk uphill towards the Cathedral. Buses 16 and 60, Bessières stop.
Visit duration : 1 to 1.5 hours, up to two hours for local history enthusiasts.
Audience : activities and birthday parties for children aged 6 to 12.
Reduced mobility : the museum is partially accessible.
Visiting tips
Start with the 1638 model before entering the themed spaces : it helps you locate the neighbourhoods mentioned later.
Combine your visit with the nearby Cathedral and a stroll through the lanes of the Cité, down to the covered Escaliers du Marché. The area has several restaurants.
Nearby
- Lausanne Cathedral has dominated the old town for more than 750 years.
- The MCAH Cantonal Museum of Archaeology and History of Lausanne, in the Palais de Rumine, traces fifteen millennia of Vaud history.
- Château St-Maire is a fortified episcopal residence from the early 15th century and the seat of the Council of State.
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