Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to the early 19th century. After the death of the Vaud artist Louis Ducros in Rome, a public subscription in 1811 prevented his collection from being dispersed; in 1816 it formed the foundation of what later became the art collection of the Canton of Vaud. In 1818 a first cantonal museum was established at the Lausanne Academy, where the collection was shown together with natural history holdings.

Art gained a building of its own in 1841 with the opening of the Musée Arlaud south of the Place de la Riponne, financed by the painter and drawing teacher Louis Arlaud. The museum later moved to the Palais de Rumine, where it had to share the premises with other institutions and for a long time had too little space for its holdings. In 1991 the Council of State decided to house the art collection in a new, independent building.

The competition was won in 2011 by the Barcelona firm Estudio Barozzi Veiga. The elongated brick building on the former site of the locomotive halls near the railway station was handed over in 2019, and the first exhibition opened in October 2019. The MCBA thereby nearly tripled its exhibition space and, together with mudac and Photo Élysée, forms the Plateforme 10 art district. Key strengths of the collection include works by Charles Gleyre, Félix Vallotton, Louis Soutter and Aloïse, as well as art from French-speaking Switzerland.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition of around 300 works from the Renaissance to the present day, free every day
• Significant holdings by Charles Gleyre, Félix Vallotton, Louis Soutter and Aloïse
• New building by Estudio Barozzi Veiga with a brick facade and zenithal skylight
• Part of the Plateforme 10 art district next to Lausanne railway station
• Café-restaurant Le Nabi on the esplanade

Permanent exhibition

• La collection – Around 300 works from the Renaissance to the present day across 1,500 square metres, with a focus on artists from Vaud and French-speaking Switzerland, as well as new acquisitions and loans.

Founded

1841

Operated by

Fondation Plateforme 10 (Kanton Waadt)

Director

Juri Steiner

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Saturday of the month.

The permanent exhibition "La collection" as well as the Espace Projet and the Espace Focus are free every day; admission must be registered at the reception. The admission price applies to the temporary exhibitions. Free entry is available to holders of the Raiffeisen Museum Pass, the Swiss Museum Pass and the Rail STS Museum Pass, as well as the CarteCulture (proof at reception), and to school groups, among others.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

"Culture inclusive" label from Pro Infirmis. Induction loop for guided tours and at the reception, folding stools, two wheelchairs and one stroller available to borrow, a bench in every room. Reserved parking at Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet; a lift leads up to the esplanade. The steps are not marked with contrast, so the lift is recommended. Adapted guided tours and workshops on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly

Free activity booklet for ages 7 and up at the reception, visits for toddlers aged 3 to 5 (free, accompanied), workshops for children (CHF 15, registration required) and an open, free "0–100 years" workshop where babies are welcome.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about 400 m from Lausanne railway station.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café-restaurant Le Nabi (reservation recommended; Tue–Wed 9:30 am–6 pm, Thu 9:30 am–8 pm, Fri–Sun 9:30 am–6 pm, brunch on Sundays). Also the Café Lumen between mudac and Photo Élysée. Bookshop with boutique.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Up to 200 guests.

Private visits and events with room rental and catering are possible. The restaurant Le Nabi can be hired privately from 6 pm (80 people, up to 200 people with the foyer or auditorium).

Plan your visit