Parc de Mon-Repos, Park in Lausanne, Switzerland
Parc de Mon-Repos is a landscaped park in Lausanne, Switzerland, that features a historic mansion, a neo-Gothic tower, a grotto, an orangery, and a farm. The grounds are home to many large trees, including a giant sequoia and a red beech, and are divided by the avenue du Tribunal-Fédéral, with the Federal Supreme Court situated in the middle.
The estate began in the 18th century as a pleasure house surrounded by vineyards, and later hosted a theater where Voltaire presented plays. In the 19th century, Vincent Perdonnet hired a Parisian landscape architect to redesign the grounds in the English style, adding the orangery, aviaries, farm, tower, and greenhouses. The Federal Supreme Court was built in the park in the 1920s, and restoration work took place between 1998 and 2002.
The park is a popular spot for locals to take a break, with children often playing in the two playgrounds and visitors admiring the parrots in the aviaries. The neo-Gothic tower and the artificial grotto reflect the romantic taste for fake ruins that was fashionable when the park was created.
The park is spread over a slope and has several entrances, so it is worth planning your route to avoid steep paths if you prefer an easier walk. Public restrooms and a buvette are available on site, and the lower entrance is closest to the city center.
A legend says the neo-Gothic tower was born from a bet among three friends to build the most beautiful fake ruin, but historical research has shown the towers were not built at the same time. The mansion housed the International Olympic Committee for nearly half a century.
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