Medieval Lausanne in the 21st Century

Medieval Lausanne is a city of hidden wonders, where ancient rivers flow beneath modern streets and centuries-old traditions blend seamlessly with contemporary life. On this walking tour, you'll discover how a settlement that began with Celtic tribes and Roman military camps evolved into the vibrant, multicultural city you see today. Experience almost a thousand years of history as you explore cobblestone streets worn smooth by countless generations, from medieval merchants to modern-day residents.

The tour starts at the Fountain of Justice in Place de la Palud, where a 16th-century statue has served as the Old Town's meeting place for centuries. You'll walk through lively plazas where farmers' markets fill the air with the aromas of local delicacies, and pass the Town Hall with its distinctive dragon-adorned architecture. Along the way, you'll discover how this area transformed from a medieval river crossing to the cultural heart of Lausanne.

You'll climb the historic covered wooden stairs that once housed a prison, and pause at hidden viewpoints offering spectacular vistas of medieval rooftops and the French Alps across Lake Geneva. The tour ends at the Museum of Design and Applied Contemporary Arts (MUDAC), symbolizing Lausanne's evolution from medieval cathedral city to modern cultural hub.

On this 60-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

• See the impressive Notre Dame Cathedral, a nearly thousand-year-old Gothic masterpiece that still employs a traditional nightwatch to scan for fires
• Discover the underground Flon River, now hidden beneath the bustling streets of Lausanne
• Visit Le Barbare café, once a crucial meeting point for travelers on the 1960s Hippie Trail through the Middle East to Asia
• Explore Place de la Palud, where figures like Voltaire, Mozart, Napoleon, and David Bowie have all walked
• Experience the centuries-old tradition of community gathering at the Fountain of Justice statue
• Learn how Celtic, Roman, and Germanic cultures blended to create Lausanne's unique heritage
• Enjoy panoramic views of the Old Town and Lake Geneva from a hidden terrace near the cathedral

Step into Lausanne's parallel universes, where past and present coexist on every corner, and discover how this medieval city has reinvented itself throughout the centuries while preserving its unique character and charm.