Treasure hunt through Lausanne between the station and the Ouchy lakeside, or how to have fun discovering the area under the Lausanne station!

Practical information

Duration: 1h Pushchairs: OK

Where do you start?The hunt starts in the main hall of the Lausanne train station, where the Lausanne Tourism Information Office is located. Afterwards, you can get back to the start on foot or by metro (the “Ouchy” m2 station is close to the treasure).

SummarySet off on an adventure by strolling in the area beneath the Lausanne station. You’ll discover beautiful residences of all ages, pretty green, poetic paths that take you right down to the lakeside, through the attractive parks belonging to the Elysée and the Olympic Museum. A number of peaceful spots in the heart of the town, ideal for meandering!

The enigma If treasures could speak to you…Before the station was built around 1850, goods arrived mainly by boat in Ouchy. Our work was to transport them to the town centre (above the station). Go on an adventure to discover us and answer the following question: who are we?

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How do you discover the treasure?

1. Read the enigma that gives you information on the treasure.2. Go to the treasure hunt’s starting point (in the main hall of the train

station, next to the Lausanne Tourisme Information Office).3. Set off by following the route on the treasure map.4. On arrival at the first stage, answer the question based on an

observation of the site (out of the three possible answers, only one is correct).

5. In the mystery sentence, write down the word or number in red that is on the right of the arrow .

6. Do the same at every stage.7. When you reach the last stage, you’ll just need to read the

completed mystery sentence to find the treasure on foot.

Complete the mystery sentence to find the treasure

From the white statue, carry on along the waterfront towards the ………..…………..…..............(stage 1) d’Ouchy that possesses an old …………………………….... (stage 2). Just before that …………………….………….... (stage 3), carry on, not leaving the ………….………..... (stage 4) side. Further on, you’ll reach the …………………………..………….... (stage 5) landing stage, where there is a .……………................(stage 6) story building. Face the ………………………………….……..... (stage 7), then turn around to go to the ……………………..………........... (stage 8) located between the two large trees. That’s where you will find the treasure.

Stage 1

In the Lausanne station main hall, look at the large clock. It is surrounded by sculptures …… of two women? cap… of a woman and a man? castel… of two men? camel

Did you know?This station was built in the 1850s on flat land (that’s rare in Lausanne!). At the time, it was outside the town that began about 500 metres above and was then built on three hills. The station itself was surrounded by vineyards.

Stage 2

Stop on the small square with green seats surrounded by pine trees, located on the m2 metro line. Look carefully at the roofs of the houses on the other side of the street. What do you see on those roofs?Ladders for chimney sweeps rooftopSolar panels fountainKinds of small chalets with windows tower

Did you know?Built about 100 years ago, this beautiful collection of houses must have been admired by many tourists, since there were at least four hotels close by until the 1940s. And even tennis courts for sports lovers!

Stage 3

At the top of the “Délices” m2 metro station esplanade, place yourself behind the glass balustrade. Near you, you see the metro line and in the distance a grey roof that belongs to the train station. What do you see above that roof?

Large trees castelA cathedral skyscraperA imposing tower chalet

Did you know?The m2 metro line that takes about 20 minutes to link the lakeside to the area above the town was inaugurated in 2008. As you will see, it’s an automatic driverless metro (the first of that kind built in Switzerland).

Stage 4

At the end of the gravel path, at the level of the “Jordils” m2 metro station, sit down on the small wall on your right. Then turn your head to the left. What do you see in the distance?A circus tent ChasmA chalet lakeA skyscraper wood

This treasure hunt was imagined by Caroline and Pierre Corajoud, who recently published a book in French called «5 chasses aux trésors dans un Lausanne insolite». The book is for sale in the Lausanne Tourisme Information Offices (train station and Ouchy).

www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/treasurehunt

CARTE AU TRÉSORDid you know?Before the m2 metro that is underground here, another metro existed since 1877. It was called “La Ficelle” (meaning “The String”) and ran in an open trench. The earth taken away to dig this trench was used to bury the Flon river higher in the town and to create storage warehouses for goods. A godsend for this sloping town! Completely refurbished, this Flon district has become one the key spots in the town over the last few years.

Stage 5

After crossing a street, you see four trees of the same species on your left. Try to find their name. A clue to help you: look at what is hanging from some branches. Pine tree boatsOak tree trainsApple tree cars

Did you know?This tree produces nuts that are inside a hard brown shell. These white and elongated nuts are called pine nuts. They are edible and can be used in recipes such as for pesto sauce. You might find some of these brown shells if you look on the ground.

Stage 6

Near the Olympic Museum’s entrance is a statue representing two large and colourful football players. Amongst the following answers, which are the two colours that are not present on the two football players?Pink and green 6Orange and green 4Orange and pink 2

Did you know?The Olympic Museum opened in 1993. The idea of a museum already existed a century ago in the mind of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, father of the modern Olympic Games that started in 1894. He founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that established its offices in Lausanne in 1915.

Stage 7

Walk down through the Olympic Museum’s park until you discover a statue with three cyclists. How many wheels are there?

7 stairs6 walls5 steps

Did you know?The five rings shown on the Olympic Games’ flags represent the five continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Oceania).

Stage 8

On the waterfront towards Ouchy, between the bot-tom of the Olympic Museum’s park and a white statue of a woman, count the number of inscriptions of this kind engraved on the wall. 1 tower3 fontain5 little house

Did you know?These waterfront “quais” that you are walking on were created in 1901. A few dozen metres of land were reclaimed from the lake by accumulating much embankment (earth, stone, etc.). Therefore, before this work was done, the lake water came up to the other side of the road.