Lausanne

At first sight, Lausanne mesmerizes with its sheer beauty, a city of Gothic grandeur cascading down the hillside up to the shores of Lake Geneva. A closer look and the city reveals an upbeat ethos driven by a youthful populace. The city's legacy as a rich milieu for intellectuals like Rousseau, Voltaire and Lord Byron has given way to a vibrant local scene. The neighborhoods of Ouchy and Flon are especially enticing, the hotbeds of the city's urban, contemporary culture. Lausanne has been home to the International Olympic Committee since 1914 and the Olympic Museum is one of its most popular attractions. The Medieval old town is dominated by the Cathedrale de Lausanne, a sight of sheer majesty; its narrow streets are lined with boutiques, cafes and restaurants, while the city's rich and vibrant history is showcased at various museums. The fabulous art collections of the Beaulieu Castle, the Fondation de l'Hermitage and the Musée de l'Elysée are also meritorious. Backed by spell-binding vistas of the lake, and mountains clad in vineyards, Lausanne is enchanting to its very core.