CityTour AI

Lausanne self-guided walking tour

Lausanne: Hills, History, and Hidden Valleys

Experience the dramatic verticality of Lausanne on this casual walking tour through its most iconic neighborhoods. We’ll climb from the trendy, transformed industrial valley of Le Flon up to the medieval heart of the Cité, uncovering hidden bridges and ancient towers along the way. It’s a journey through centuries of Swiss history, offering breathtaking Alpine views and a deep dive into the city’s unique architectural character.

Audio tourSelf-guidediOS & Android
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104minutes
3.6 kmdistance
11stops
Audio guideFormat
Lausanne: Hills, History, and Hidden Valleys
Gzzz / CC BY-SA 4.0

Stops on this route

This tour works well for first-time visitors, weekend trips, and travelers who want to explore Lausanne without a fixed tour time.

Route map for Lausanne walking tour

Map for Lausanne walking tour with 11 stops
The static map shows the tour route with Montbenon, Le Flon, Ale Tower, Fountain with Statue of Justice, and 7 more stops.

Stops along the route

All stops on this self-guided tour at a glance.

  1. Montbenon in Lausanne
    Fabiuccio / Public domain

    1MontbenonPark

    We’re starting off at the Esplanade de Montbenon, which is basically Lausanne’s front porch

    Wikidata

  2. Le Flon in Lausanne
    Quartier du Flon / CC BY-SA 4.0

    2Le FlonBuilding

    Welcome to Le Flon, a neighborhood that has pulled off one of the most impressive urban transformations in Switzerland

    Wikidata

  3. Ale Tower in Lausanne
    Ninetta / Public domain

    3Ale Tower

    Standing tall at 21 meters, the Ale Tower is a rare survivor. Built in 1340, it is the last significant piece of the medieval fortifications that once wrapped around Lausanne. Back in the 14th century, the city was expan…

    Wikidata

  4. Fountain with Statue of Justice in Lausanne
    michel simeonidis / Public domain

    4Fountain with Statue of JusticeMonument

    This is the Fountain of Justice, and it’s easily the most famous water feature in Lausanne

    Built: 1726 · Wikidata

  5. Escaliers du Marché et de la Cathédrale in Lausanne
    Gzzz / CC BY-SA 4.0

    5Escaliers du Marché et de la CathédraleBuilding

    To get from the market square to the cathedral, we have to tackle the Escaliers du Marché

    Wikidata

  6. Lausanne Cathedral in Lausanne
    Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / CC BY 2.0

    6Lausanne CathedralChurch

    We’ve reached the crown jewel of the city: the Lausanne Cathedral. Construction began around 1170, and it is widely considered the finest example of Gothic architecture in Switzerland. It was a massive project that took…

    Built: 1170 · Architect: Jean Cotereel · Style: Gothic architecture · Height: 79.6 m · Wikidata

  7. Bessières bridge in Lausanne
    Grez / CC BY-SA 3.0

    7Bessières bridge

    Stepping onto the Bessières bridge feels like taking a giant leap across Lausanne’s geography

    Built: 1910 · Architect: Eugène Jost · Height: 23 m · Wikidata

  8. Saint-François in Lausanne
    Gzzz / CC BY-SA 4.0

    8Saint-FrançoisSquare

    We’ve arrived at Place Saint-François, the bustling heart of Lausanne’s commercial life

    Wikidata

  9. Grand Pont in Lausanne
    Grez / CC BY-SA 3.0

    9Grand PontBridge

    The Grand Pont is perhaps the most fascinating piece of engineering in Lausanne because half of it is actually missing from view

    Built: 1844 · Height: 13 m · Wikidata

  10. Palais de Rumine in Lausanne
    Michel Krafft / CC BY-SA 4.0

    10Palais de RumineMuseum

    The Palais de Rumine is a stunning piece of Florentine Renaissance architecture that looks like it was plucked straight out of Italy and dropped into Switzerland

    Architect: Gaspard André · Named after: Gabriel de Rumine · Wikidata

  11. Château Saint-Maire in Lausanne
    Gzzz / CC BY-SA 4.0

    11Château Saint-MaireCastle

    Perched at the highest point of the Cité hill, the Château Saint-Maire has been the seat of power in Lausanne for over 600 years

    Built: 1397 · Named after: Marius Aventicensis · Wikidata

Unlock the full tour

This public page shows a preview. The full route, all content, and navigation are available in CityTour AI.

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Frequently asked questions

The key answers before you start.

Is this a self-guided audio tour?

Yes. In the CityTour AI app (iOS and Android), this is a self-guided audio tour for Lausanne — start anytime, at your own pace, with map, stops, and audio narration.

What will you see on this tour?

On this tour you'll see, among others, Montbenon, Le Flon, Ale Tower, Fountain with Statue of Justice, Escaliers du Marché et de la Cathédrale, Lausanne Cathedral and more sights.

Where does the tour start?

The route starts at Montbenon and ends at Château Saint-Maire. You can start anytime — the app guides you to the first stop.

How long does the tour take?

About 104 minutes for 11 stops — at your own pace, with breaks whenever you like.

How much does the tour cost?

This tour costs 15 credits. The exact price depends on the pack you buy and your country — roughly $5.

Is it an outdoor tour — are entry tickets included?

Yes, it's an outdoor tour: the sights are viewed from the outside. Entry tickets are not included, and step-free access cannot be guaranteed.

Is the audio guide available in my language?

The tour and audio guide are available in English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano and 7 more languages. You pick your language in the app.

Can I use the tour offline?

Yes. Tours can be used offline.

Can I ask the AI questions along the way?

Yes. At every stop you can ask the AI directly if you want to know more or didn't understand something.

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