The weather is a bit inclement at the moment so if you are looking for suggestions for a day trip out you might like to know about the l’Hermitage museum in Lausanne. This Art Museum is situated at the top of the town and set in some lovely parkland and mature trees.
There are good views from the front of the building over the roofttops of Lausanne to the cathedral and lake (when its not raining of course!). This art museum is housed in a beautiful 19th century former home and it holds temporary exhibitions on fine arts throughout the year.
At the moment the Fondation de l’Hermitage is presenting a major retrospective devoted to Edward Hopper, one of the best known 20th- century American artists.
This is the description of the exhibition from the Hermitage’s own site
“The Hermitage brings together over 160 works highlighting the main characteristics and techniques of every period of Hopper’s career, from his view of Paris to typical scenes from the New World and his emblematic mature works”
Next to the museum there is a brasserie/restaurant housed in the old dovecot (try the chocolate fondant on their dessert menu- delicious!)
Full information on opening times entry fees etc is on the l’Hermitage website and in English. Note – the museum is closed on Mondays apart from the Jeune Federal Holiday (20 September).
If you have time while you are in Lausanne then check out the cathedral with its magnificent stained windows. The walk up to this cathedral is up some lovely old wooden covered stairs from Place de La Palud. Note if you are travelling by public transport there is also a bus stop just on the road outside the cathedral which will take you up to the L’Hermitage.
The cathedral has the most incredible organ too. Inaugurated in 2003, it is the “only one of its kind in the world by virtue of its design (American manufacture by Fisk, Italian design by Giugiaro), its musical characteristics (French classical and symphonic styles, German baroque and romantic) and its dimensions (nearly 7,000 pipes, 40 tonnes, 150,000 hours of work to complete).” from Lausanne tourism site. Concerts are held there regularly.