 Capital of the Canton of Vaud since 1803, Lausanne has some 130,000 inhabitants of which 35% are foreigners. It is the fifth largest city in the country. Lausanne is the centre of an urban conglomeration of a quarter of a million inhabitants. Seat of the International Olympic CommitteeSo as to shield the Olympic movement from the torments of the First World War, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who re-established the Games at the end of the 19th century, transferred its seat from Paris to Lausanne. Today the IOC has an Olympic Museum, inaugurated in 1993 that is visited annually by more than 200,000 people. The presence of the IOC has attracted numerous international sporting federations to set up in Lausanne (more details under http://www.ifsports-guide.ch/navigation/annuaire_fr.html). A diversified economyLausanne is home to firms from very different sectors. There is the research centre for Nestlé, the world’s largest agro food producer. Philip Morris, a food and tobacco giant, is also there with its international directorate. Tétra-Laval, of Swedish origin, active in fine chemicals, is present. The third largest financial products broker in the world, La Compagnie Financière Tradition, manages its operations from the city. The city is also reputed for its centres of learning: the University, the Federal Polytechnic (EPFL), IMD, and the Hotel School. Cultural events of international importanceEach year, numerous rendez-vous mark the cultural life of Lausanne: the sensational performances of the Maurice Béjart ballet company, the concerts given by the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, the lyrical productions of the Lausanne Opera as well as the plays at the Vidy-Lausanne Theatre. The presence of the Swiss Cinemateque completes the range of artistic activity in the city, although many of the artists are often to be found performing abroad. |
Switzerland, french part 
Haut