This is the last vestige of Lausanne’s old city walls. It dates to the 14th century and is 20 meters high. After the city no longer needed protecting, it was used as a pig slaughterhouse.
Tag Archives | Switzerland
Lausanne, Switzerland
Get ready for a workout: Lausanne is built on the steep, steep hills tiered above Lake Geneva. Walking is the most efficient way to get around. The city center sprawls over several hilltops, which are handily connected by bridges that span the deep gorges. Beyond the steep town are forests and parks. Lausanne is known […]
Montreux, Switzerland
Monteux is tucked away in a sheltered Lake Geneva bay, amidst vineyards and the imposing Alps. Montreux has a wide, beautiful palm tree and flower-lined promenade that stretches the length of the city and beyond. Opulent villas line the water, many of which date from the Belle Époque. The Dents du Midi peaks, which consist […]
Musée Photo, Vevey
If you’re at all interested in photography, the Musée Photo is a must-see. This is the most comprehensive photography museum I’ve seen, covering equipment, techniques and inventors through the annals of photography. Every type of equipment is displayed, from camera obscura to the magic lantern to incarnations of modern digital cameras. Seeing cameras from your […]
Vevey, Switzerland
Vevey is a dynamic, artsy town on the north shore of Lake Geneva. It’s as enjoyable to take in the town’s narrow streets and boutiques as it is to stroll along the tree-lined lakefront promenade with its vast view of the imposing Alps. The main square, Grande-Place, is dominated by a granary, La Grenette, that […]
Carouge
Carouge is a pleasant detour from downtown Geneva. The suburb (a short tram-ride away from the Old Town) was built in the 18th century by Victor Amideus, King of Sardinia, to be a refuge for artists and designers and anyone else who wanted refuge from Geneva’s strict puritanical ways. Turinese architects designed low houses with […]
Villa Diodati, Cologny
Villa Diodati, a lakeside villa in Cologny, a municipality of Geneva, is best known for housing Lord Byron back in the summer of 1816. His pals Mary and Percy Shelley stayed in a nearby house, Maison Chapuis. Here, Mary Shelley concocted the idea for Frankenstein, the origins of which came to her in a nightmare. […]
Promenade de la Treille
If you’re thinking this is the longest wooden bench you’ve ever seen, you’re right. With 126 meters of seating, it’s the longest bench in the world. The promenade offers a ho-hum view over the city, but it’s nice to sit on the bench and take in the chestnut tree-lined square.
Temple de la Madeleine, Geneva
This Gothic church with a Romanesque bell tower was built in the 15th century, on a site that housed predecessors dating back to the fifth century. Most of what we see today is the result of a 17th century restoration after a massive fire destroyed the neighborhood, and 20th century restoration that added stained-glass windows. […]
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève
The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève is a mishmash of structures and styles. Part of what we see today was built in the 12th century on remains dating from 350 A.D. Walls, rooms and mosaic floors from the earlier time have been discovered beneath the cathedral. In the late-14th century, a small side-chapel, the Chapelle des […]
