Photo Elysée is a museum entirely dedicated to photography, located in the Plateforme 10 arts district in Lausanne. Its temporary exhibitions and collections cover the image from the 19th century to contemporary works.
Themed museums
Main highlights
- Regularly changing temporary exhibitions spanning documentary photography, fashion, portraiture and landscape
- Over 100,000 photographs in the collection, from the medium’s origins to the present day
- Contemporary building by architects Aires Mateus, shared with the mudac
Overview
Photo Elysée preserves, studies and showcases a photographic heritage that traces the evolution of the medium since the 19th century. The museum pays particular attention to Swiss photographic heritage, while also embracing the international scene and new image-making practices.
The building, opened in 2022 and designed by Portuguese architects Aires Mateus, offers bright spaces suited to fragile prints. It stands in Plateforme 10, Lausanne’s arts district, and also houses the mudac, the Cantonal Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts.
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What to see and do
The temporary exhibitions are the heart of the visit. Changing several times a year, they feature monographs, themes or specific movements, alternating between documentary photography, fashion, portraiture, landscape and experimental practices.
Collection displays, with regularly refreshed thematic hangs, show vintage prints, albums, photographers’ archives and documentary series. These holdings bring together renowned masters and emerging artists, telling social and cultural history through images.
The museum offers guided tours, meetings with photographers, talks, screenings and workshops for all ages, from darkroom printing to digital. Families can enjoy tailored activities to discover photography in a fun way.
Practical information
Getting there : a 3-minute walk from Lausanne CFF station, served by the m2 metro and several bus lines.
Visit duration : allow 1 to 1.5 hours, up to 2 hours for enthusiasts.
Accessibility : the building is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility.
On site : a bookshop specialising in photography books, a café-restaurant and free Wi-Fi.
Visitor tips
As the mudac occupies the same building, you can combine both visits and add the neighbouring MCBA with the Plateforme 10 combined ticket. Check the programme before you come to catch a guided tour or a talk.
In the galleries, flash-free photography is permitted for private use.
Nearby
- The MUDAC explores design, glass, textiles and graphic design with a collection of over 7,000 objects.
- The Lausanne Botanical Garden combines botanical collections, educational spaces and city walks.
- The Church of Saint-François, a 13th-century Gothic building, houses the Organopole and its four organs.
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