Ancienne Académie de Lausanne, historic school building in Lausanne, Switzerland

The Ancienne Académie de Lausanne is a historic school building in Lausanne, Switzerland. It consists of two perpendicular wings that form a courtyard, with a main body 50 meters long and a staircase tower topped by a spire over 40 meters high.

The building was constructed between 1579 and 1587 to house a theology school for the Reformed elite. Over the centuries, it underwent several renovations and briefly served as a barracks during the French occupation in 1798.

The name "Académie" recalls its past as a theology school that trained generations of Reformed ministers. Today, the courtyard and surrounding streets are part of the daily life of students and locals, who pass through the area on their way to school or work.

The building sits on the western edge of the old city, a short walk from the Bessières metro stop. Visitors can view the exterior and courtyard at any time, but the interior is not open to the public as it is a working school.

The roof structure, dating from 1581-1582, is a fine example of 16th-century carpentry with 44 pairs of rafters. Some of the original timber was felled in the winter of 1580-1581, as shown by dendrochronological analysis.