Rising above Lake Geneva, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Lausanne is considered the finest Gothic church in Switzerland. Consecrated in 1275 in the presence of the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, it was a celebrated pilgrimage destination in its own right and an important station on Sigeric's route. Its rose window, carved portal, and the ancient tradition of the night-watchman calling the hours from the bell tower all survive to this day. The cathedral was a major waypoint for pilgrims on the shore of the lake.
Highlights
- The night watchman still crying the hours from the tower since 1405
- Finest Gothic church in Switzerland, consecrated in 1275 before Pope and Emperor
- The 13th-century rose window and painted portal set pieces
- Terrace views over Lake Geneva to the Savoy Alps
- 224 tower steps to a lake panorama; credential stamp inside
At a glance
| Period | Gothic (12th–13th century) |
|---|---|
| Stage | 7 — Thérouanne to Amettes |
Take care
- Wooden Escaliers du Marche are slippery when wet
- Steep old-town climb and narrow tower stairs
History
Building began around 1170 and continued for a century before the great consecration of 1275. A night watch has called the hours from the tower since at least 1405, the year a fire ravaged the city. Bern's conquest of Vaud brought the Reformation in 1536: altars, images and treasures were stripped out and the cathedral became Protestant. From the 1870s Eugene Viollet-le-Duc directed a sweeping restoration, his final great project, which shaped the building seen today.
Myth & legend
Since a great fire in 1405 a watchman, the guet, has kept vigil in the cathedral's bell tower; every night between ten and two he still cups his hands and cries 'C'est le guet; il a sonné l'heure!' to the four points of the compass — a living tradition unbroken for six centuries.
Geology
Lausanne is built on and of molasse, the soft grey sandstone formed from Alpine river sand that filled the Swiss lowland basin as the mountains rose; the cathedral is cut from this easily worked but fast-weathering stone, which is why restoration never really stops. Below the city, Lake Geneva occupies a hollow deepened into the molasse by the Rhône glacier during the ice ages.
Wildlife & nature
A peregrine falcon holds winter territory on the cathedral belfry, watching the city's pigeons from the stonework, and Lausanne's old towers house colonies of Alpine swifts that scream over the rooftops in summer. Below, Lake Geneva fills from November with great crested grebes, tufted duck, pochard, red-crested pochard and coot.
The view
From its hilltop terrace the cathedral looks over old-town rooftops to Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps; inside, the 13th-century rose window and the painted portal are the celebrated set pieces.
Photography
Climb the 224 tower steps for the lake panorama in clear afternoon light; from below, the covered wooden Escaliers du Marche make a photogenic leading line up towards the cathedral.
When to visit
May, June and September pair clear Alpine air with lighter crowds; July and August are lively with festivals; winter gives crisp lake views but short days and a cold climb.
Getting there
Lausanne is a major rail hub on Lake Geneva; from the main station the M2 metro climbs towards the old town, and walkers on the Vaud lakeside stages finish with the pull up to the cathedral hill.
Where to stay
Pilgrim hostels are scarce on the Swiss leg, so most walkers use hotels, B&Bs or the youth hostel near the lake; booking ahead matters in summer, when the city fills quickly.
Food & water
Public drinking fountains are common in Lausanne, as across Switzerland, and generally run potable water unless marked otherwise; cafes cluster around the Place de la Palud below the cathedral.
Safety
The old town climbs steeply — the wooden Escaliers du Marché are slippery when wet, and the tower stairs are narrow. In an emergency dial 112.
Accessibility
The cathedral sits on a hilltop reached by steep lanes and the stepped Escaliers du Marche; the metro eases the climb, while the tower gallery is only reached by 224 winding stairs.
Visitor tips
Stay near the old town to hear the night watchman call the hours from the tower late in the evening, a tradition kept since 1405, and ask inside the cathedral about a stamp for your credential.
The guide, in full
The written guide to this site.
The lake announces Lausanne long before the cathedral does. You come along the Vaud shore with the water of Lake Geneva on your right and the Savoy Alps standing blue on the far side, and then the city tilts upwards and you must climb. Take the covered wooden staircase called the Escaliers du Marche, worn smooth by centuries of feet and slippery when it rains, and at the top of the hill the finest Gothic church in Switzerland is waiting on its terrace. Building began around eleven seventy and went on for a century, and the consecration in twelve seventy-five was an occasion of extraordinary weight: Pope Gregory the Tenth performed it in the presence of Rudolf of Habsburg, king of the Romans. There is a good thread there for a walker on this road, because Gregory was the pope chosen at Viterbo after the longest and most exasperating election the Church has ever held, and Viterbo is a town you will reach yourself, months and many hundreds of kilometres south of here. Two things inside are famous, and both deserve slow looking. The rose window in the south transept is thirteenth-century glass arranged as a diagram of the whole created world, with the elements, the seasons, the months and the signs of the zodiac wheeling around a central point. The painted portal on the south side keeps traces of the colour that once covered every carved figure, a useful reminder that medieval churches were never the solemn grey we imagine. The rest of the interior is strikingly bare, and that is history rather than taste: when Bern conquered Vaud in fifteen thirty-six the Reformation came with it, and altars, images and treasures were stripped away. From the eighteen seventies Eugene Viollet-le-Duc directed a sweeping restoration here, the last great project of his life, and much of what you see carries his hand. Now the tradition that makes this cathedral unique in Europe. Since at least fourteen oh five, the year a fire ravaged the city, a night watchman has kept vigil in the bell tower. He is called the guet, and every night between ten and two he still leans out, cups his hands and calls to each of the four points of the compass that this is the watch and the hour has struck. Six hundred years without a break. If you can, stay near the old town and be outside on the hour to hear him, because it is one of the most moving small ceremonies anywhere: a voice in the dark telling a sleeping city that someone is awake and all is well. The building itself is molasse, the soft grey sandstone formed from Alpine river sand that filled this lowland basin as the mountains rose. It carves like a dream and weathers alarmingly fast, which is why restoration here never truly stops. The same rock lies beneath the lake, whose basin the Rhone glacier gouged out during the ice ages. Two hundred and twenty-four winding steps take you to the tower gallery and a panorama over the roofs to the water and the Alps. Watch for the peregrine that holds winter territory on the belfry, and listen in summer for the Alpine swifts screaming around the old towers; from November the lake fills with great crested grebes, tufted duck, pochard and coot. Ask inside about a stamp for your credential, then look south across the water at the peaks. Somewhere beyond them is the col that will take you into Italy. Rest here tonight. The watchman will keep an eye on things.
Common questions
How old is Lausanne Cathedral?
Lausanne Cathedral dates from the Gothic (12th–13th century) period.
How do I get to Lausanne Cathedral?
Lausanne is a major rail hub on Lake Geneva; from the main station the M2 metro climbs towards the old town, and walkers on the Vaud lakeside stages finish with the pull up to the cathedral hill.
Is Lausanne Cathedral accessible?
The cathedral sits on a hilltop reached by steep lanes and the stepped Escaliers du Marche; the metro eases the climb, while the tower gallery is only reached by 224 winding stairs.
When is the best time to visit Lausanne Cathedral?
May, June and September pair clear Alpine air with lighter crowds; July and August are lively with festivals; winter gives crisp lake views but short days and a cold climb.
Is there food and water at Lausanne Cathedral?
Public drinking fountains are common in Lausanne, as across Switzerland, and generally run potable water unless marked otherwise; cafes cluster around the Place de la Palud below the cathedral.
Where can I stay near Lausanne Cathedral?
Pilgrim hostels are scarce on the Swiss leg, so most walkers use hotels, B&Bs or the youth hostel near the lake; booking ahead matters in summer, when the city fills quickly.
What should I know before visiting Lausanne Cathedral?
Stay near the old town to hear the night watchman call the hours from the tower late in the evening, a tradition kept since 1405, and ask inside the cathedral about a stamp for your credential.
Is Lausanne Cathedral safe to visit?
The old town climbs steeply — the wooden Escaliers du Marché are slippery when wet, and the tower stairs are narrow. In an emergency dial 112.
Nearby on the route
Plan the visit
Browse every heritage site on the culture & history index, see where it falls on the route, or get the free Via Francigena app for offline maps, GPS and audio guides.