Espace Arlaud
Exhibition venue of the Vaud cantonal museums in the oldest museum building in Lausanne, showing temporary exhibitions only.
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About the museum
The building on the Place de la Riponne goes back to a donation by the painter Marc-Louis Arlaud. Born in Orbe in 1772, the artist had studied under Jacques-Louis David in Paris and, after returning to Lausanne, opened a portrait studio with a drawing school. In 1834 he donated 34,000 francs for a building that was to unite the cantonal drawing school and an art museum under one roof – on the condition that the museum bear his name. The architect was Louis Wenger, who also designed the villa of today’s Fondation de l’Hermitage; the building was completed in 1840, with the drawing school moving into the ground floor and the museum into the first floor.
When the collection moved to the new Palais de Rumine in 1904 and became the Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts, the art school also took over the upper floor and remained until 1964. After that the building served mainly as a primary school. After the city transferred its lower floors to the canton in 1994, the canton decided to convert the building into a venue for temporary exhibitions; after renovation from 1995 to 1997 it acquired its present appearance.
Today the Espace Arlaud presents, across eight rooms, rotating exhibitions by the cantonal museums covering art, photography, history, natural sciences, archaeology and heritage conservation. There is no permanent collection of its own.
Highlights
- Oldest museum building in Lausanne, built in 1840 for the Musée Arlaud
- Temporary exhibitions of the Vaud cantonal museums across eight rooms
- Central location on the Place de la Riponne, right at the M2 metro
- Free admission for under-26s and on the first Saturday of the month
- Operated by
- Kanton Waadt – Musées cantonaux (Palais de Rumine / Espace Arlaud)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 4 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 25 · Free admission for under-26s. |
Free admission: Every first Saturday of the month
According to the museum, the reduced rate is not explained in more detail.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The ground floor is accessible to people with reduced mobility; there is no lift to the upper and lower floors. Guide dogs for the blind are welcome.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Riponne-M. Béjart
Metro M2 from Lausanne station (CFF) towards Croisettes to Riponne-M. Béjart; buses 1, 2, 7, 8, 16, 18 and 60.
By car
Paid parking
Paid car park “Parking de la Riponne” on the Place de la Riponne.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tours and events in the supporting programme of each exhibition are included in the admission price and generally do not require registration. |
