Louis-Bourget Park, Park in Lausanne, Switzerland

Louis-Bourget Park is a park in Lausanne, Switzerland, located at the western edge of the city between the lake and a forest. It covers a stretch of shoreline with a beach and grassy areas, and it also contains a protected bird reserve with a pond and a riverside forest.

The area was once a swamp used as a dump, but in the 19th century the city began to drain it, and the park and beach were created between 1915 and 1920. The bird reserve was added in 1941, and after a hurricane in 1959, the park was redesigned and many trees were replanted.

The beach area, known as Vidy Beach, is a popular gathering spot where families and students come to grill food, play football, and swim in the lake. In the evenings, the smell of barbecues fills the air, and the mood is relaxed and social.

The park is easy to reach on foot or by bike, with paths that lead through the green areas and down to the beach. It is a good spot for a walk at any time of year, but summer weekends can get crowded, so mornings are quieter.

On warm summer evenings, fireflies can be seen around the pond; they were introduced in the 1940s and have adapted well to the area. The park also has a granite fountain left over from the 1964 national exhibition.