Musée Historique Lausanne

Located in the heart of the Cité district in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Musée Historique Lausanne (MHL) is a city and history museum dedicated to the evolution of Lausanne and the life of its population. Its permanent exhibition "Lausanne, l'Exposition" features the emblematic 1638 model of the Cité and a thematic route of 11 spaces covering themes from water to mobility, leisure to housing, from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment. The museum manages over a million works and objects across three departments: photographs, historical objects and applied arts, and paintings and graphic arts. It also hosts changing temporary exhibitions.

Families and Kids

The museum offers activities for children and families, including birthday parties with workshops from age 4, school and crèche programmes, and special activities such as 'Les détectives en herbe' (young detectives) and 'Les doudous au musée' (teddy bears at the museum).

Information

  • Visit duration: 120 min
  • For rainy days: Yes
  • Topic: History
    • Guided tours: Yes
    • Workshops: Yes
    • Children experience: Child friendly
    • Children age group: 3-6, 6-12, 12-18
    • Children activities: Workshops, Tours and demonstrations, Events and birthdays
    • Entrance fee: 12 CHF
    • Free entrance: No
    • Price range: $$

Opening hours

Open daily from 11:00 to 18:00 from July 1 to August 31; from September 1 to December 31 open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00 (closed Mondays).
Monday
11:00-18:00 (July 1 to August 31)
Tuesday
11:00-18:00 (September 1 to December 31)
Wednesday
11:00-18:00 (September 1 to December 31)
Thursday
11:00-18:00 (September 1 to December 31)
Friday
11:00-18:00 (September 1 to December 31)
Saturday
11:00-18:00 (September 1 to December 31)
Sunday
11:00-18:00 (September 1 to December 31)

Admission fees

12 CHF
Full price – 3-day Pass (with the Collection de l'Art Brut and the Musée romain de Lausanne-Vidy)
6 CHF
Reduced price (AVS/AI, CarteCulture Caritas) – 3-day Pass
0 CHF
Free for under 18s, unemployed, students, apprentices, Carte Cultissime, Passeport musées suisses
0 CHF
Free on the first Saturday of each month, International Museum Day, European Heritage Days

Contact

Webpage
lausanne.ch
Email
musee.historique@lausanne.ch
Address
Place de la Cathédrale 4, 1005 Lausanne

Access

Nearby stops

  • Lausanne, Bessières300 meters walking distance
  • Lausanne-Flon600 meters walking distance

Travel duration

From
Travel time
Lausanne
9m
Genève
56m
Martigny
1h 1m
Sion
1h 16m
Bern
1h 18m

FAQ

  • Is the museum open on public holidays?
    The museum is open on Easter Monday, Whit Monday and the Monday of the federal Day of Prayer from 11:00 to 18:00, and on 24 and 31 December from 11:00 to 17:00. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January.
  • Can I visit the museum with a stroller or pram?
    The website does not provide specific information about stroller or pram access to the museum.
  • Are there activities for children at the museum?
    Yes, the museum offers activities for young visitors, including birthday parties with workshops from age 4, school and crèche programmes, and activities such as 'Les détectives en herbe' (young detectives) and 'Les doudous au musée' (teddy bears at the museum).
  • Can I consult the museum's collections for research purposes?
    Yes, the museum offers consultation and reproduction services. Requests can be made by email or phone from Monday to Friday. The online collections database contains over 80,000 records and nearly 60,000 reproductions.
  • Is there a shop or boutique at the museum?
    Yes, the museum has a boutique where publications, catalogues of collections and temporary exhibitions are offered for sale.

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