Lausanne Museum of History, History museum in Lausanne, Switzerland
The Lausanne Museum of History occupies the former bishop's palace, a medieval building at the foot of Lausanne Cathedral in the old town. Its rooms hold paintings, photographs and objects, and since the 2018 renovation the permanent display Lausanne, l'Exposition runs through twelve thematic stations. A garden with a small bar looks over the old town.
The museum opened on 27 December 1918 in the former bishop's palace beside Lausanne Cathedral, thanks to the Association du Vieux-Lausanne founded in 1902. It was long called Musée du Vieux-Lausanne, then Musée de l'Évêché, and took its current name in April 2018 after renovation. Its large city model dates from 1990, not 1638, and depicts Lausanne under the Ancien Régime at 1:200.
The museum explores how Lausanne developed as a city and how people have lived here over time. The displays cover topics like water systems, transportation, and housing that continue to shape daily life in the city today.
The museum occupies the former bishop's palace at the foot of Lausanne Cathedral, in the winding old town. The permanent display is organised into thematic stations spread over numerous rooms, so allow time to move through them in order. Since 2018 a small garden bar looks out over the old town.
The museum holds a specialized collection of city maps, architectural drawings, and old photographs that visitors often overlook. These materials reveal how Lausanne's appearance changed across centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,633 contributors worldwide.
