Apart from its mediaeval old town, dotted with grand Gothic Cathedrals, Lausanne isn’t quite as well known as the other Swiss cities on this tour. It’s a pity though as, the city is a quaint and charming affair, more a lifestyle than a destination – with a busy sports and arts calendar that ensures its residents have a vibrant and engaging civic and cultural life.
Lausanne also plays host to the Institute of Management Development, or IMD – a world-renowned business school that ranks within the top ten internationally. The presence of the Institute ensures that the city’s population is reasonably cosmopolitan, and that the city has an array of dining and leisure options catering to the needs of its international student population.
Stop here for breather, before we gear up for the onward journey to three of Switzerland’s most beautiful and touristy cities. As we leave Lausanne, we also leave French-speaking Switzerland behind, and enter Die Deutscher-Schweiz, its German-speaking regions.