Lausanne
Lausanne (/loʊˈzæn/ loh-ZAN, US also /loʊˈzɑːn/ loh-ZAHN,[3][4][5][6] French: [lɔzan] (
listen))[lower-alpha 1] is the capital and largest city of the Swiss French speaking canton of Vaud. It is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway between the Jura Mountains and the Alps, and facing the French town of Évian-les-Bains across the lake. Lausanne is located 62 kilometres (38.5 miles) northeast of Geneva, the nearest major city.[9]
Lausanne | |
|---|---|
 From top to bottom; left to right: the Olympic Museum, the Cathedral of Lausanne, the Federal courts of Switzerland, aerial view of the city, and the park of Milan. | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Lausanne  | |
  Lausanne  Lausanne | |
| Coordinates: 46°31.19′N 6°38.01′E | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Canton | Vaud |
| District | Lausanne |
| Government | |
| • Executive | Municipalité with 7 members |
| • Mayor | Syndic (list) Grégoire Junod SPS/PSS (as of 2016) |
| • Parliament | Conseil communal with 100 members |
| Area | |
| • Total | 41.37 km2 (15.97 sq mi) |
| Elevation (Cité) | 526 m (1,726 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 935 m (3,068 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 372 m (1,220 ft) |
| Population (2018-12-31)[2] | |
| • Total | 139,111 |
| • Density | 3,400/km2 (8,700/sq mi) |
| Demonym | French: Lausannois(e) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (Central European Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time) |
| Postal code(s) | 1000 (in general), 1003–1007, 1010–1012, 1000 Lausanne 25–27, 1052 Le Mont-sur-Lausanne (partly), 1053 Cugy VD (partly), 1032 Crissier (partly), 1032 Romanel-sur-Lausanne (partly), 1033 Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne (partly) |
| SFOS number | 5586 |
| Localities | Le Chalet-à-Gobet, Montblesson, Montheron, Ouchy, Vernand-Dessous, Vernand-Dessus, Vers-chez-les-Blanc |
| Surrounded by | Bottens, Bretigny-sur-Morrens, Chavannes-près-Renens, Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Crissier, Cugy, Écublens, Épalinges, Évian-les-Bains (FR-74), Froideville, Jouxtens-Mézery, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Lugrin (FR-74), Maxilly-sur-Léman (FR-74), Montpreveyres, Morrens, Neuvecelle (FR-74), Prilly, Pully, Renens, Romanel-sur-Lausanne, Saint-Sulpice, Savigny |
| Website | https://www.lausanne.ch Profile (in French), SFSO statistics |
The municipality of Lausanne has a population of about 140,000, making it the fourth largest city in Switzerland after Basel, Geneva, and Zurich, with the entire agglomeration area having about 420,000 inhabitants (as of January 2019).[10] The metropolitan area of Lausanne-Geneva (including Vevey-Montreux, Yverdon-les-Bains, Valais and foreign parts), commonly designated as Arc lémanique was over 1.3 million inhabitants in 2017 and is the fastest growing in Switzerland.[11]
Initially a Celtic and Roman settlement on the shores of the lake, Lausanne became a town at the foot of Notre Dame, a cathedral built in the 12th century. In the 20th century, Lausanne became a focus of international sport, hosting the International Olympic Committee (which has recognized the city as the "Olympic Capital" since 1994),[12] the Court of Arbitration for Sport and some 55 international sport associations.[13] It lies in a noted wine-growing region. The city has a 28-station metro system, making it the smallest city in the world to have a rapid transit system.[14] Lausanne hosted the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.[15]