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Canton of Vaud |
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 The Canton of Vaud is the charm of an ever-changing landscape : the lakeside flanked by palm trees, vineyards as far as the eye can see, wooded countryside reminiscent of a Canadian forest in winter, majestic peaks and alpine glaciers. A region also where culture has its place: numerous museums, an opera house and theatres renowned well beyond the frontiers of Switzerland.
Maurice Béjart and his company has elected domicile in Lausanne. At the crossroads of great European communication networks, not only is the region known for the beauty of its countryside, the wealth of its past and its cultural spread, but it has also made its mark in economic matters by becoming an important trade fair centre and a rallying point for the Swiss electronic and biotechnology industries. Canton of Vaud: all you need to know| Population | 630'000 inhabitants, of which 27% are foreigners | | Capital | Lausanne, with about 130'000 inhabitants | | Communes | 382 | | Area | 3,212 km2, or 8% of Switzerland | | Altitude | The highest point is Les Diablerets (3,209 metres) and the lowest point, the Léman lake (372 m) | | Frontiers | 750km, of which 146 km with France | | Language | French |
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History of Vaud |
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The Canton of Vaud is home to one of the oldest Neolithic sites in Switzerland, dating from about 5,000 B.C. and to such archaeological remains as the strange menhirs at Grandson, Onnens and Vidy. As in other parts of Western Europe, the region was occupied by the Celts, among them the Helvetians. The fall of the western Roman Empire in the 5th century saw the rise to power of Burgundy, followed by the Franks, before the territory became attached to the Holy Roman Empire. In the 13th century, the Counts of Savoy imposed their rule upon a large part of Vaud and Chablais. The adoption of the Reformation by Bern in 1528 lead to political consequences: by coming to the aid of Geneva, under siege by the house of Savoy, the reformists of Bern crossed through Vaud in 1536 and occupied it until 1798. |
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Switzerland, french part 
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