Château d'Ouchy

Château d'Ouchy is a Neo-Gothic castle hotel in Ouchy, the lakeside district of Lausanne (canton of Vaud, Switzerland), right beside the waterfront promenade on Lake Geneva. It looks like a medieval stronghold, yet almost all of it dates from the late 19th century. Only the tower goes back to the days of the bishops.

What is the history of the castle?

Ouchy was Lausanne's harbour, and the bishops who ruled the town fortified it from the 12th century. Sources credit Bishop Landri de Durnes (in office 1160–1178) with the tower on the headland by the lake, with a date of around 1170 often cited. The tower was rebuilt before 1212, and the stronghold became a piece in the struggle between the bishops, the townspeople and the rising power of Savoy. Later the castle was abandoned and fell into ruin.

Why does it look Neo-Gothic?

In 1885 the canton of Vaud sold part of the site to the businessman Jean-Jacques Mercier. The ruins were cleared, with only the medieval tower kept. The new building went up between 1889 and 1893 (the City of Lausanne names architect Francis Isoz) and was planned as a hotel from the start. Today it belongs to the hotel division of the Sandoz Family Foundation.

What can you see?

• The exterior, with turrets, battlements and the old tower, visible from the lake and the quay.
• The Ouchy waterfront, with its promenade, steamer landing and parks, a few minutes' walk away.
• A plaque recalling the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. According to the city, leading figures of that conference stayed at the hotel.

The interior works as a hotel and restaurant rather than a museum, so the best views are from outside, on the promenade or from a boat.

How do you get there?

Ouchy sits on the lake at the bottom of the city. From the centre and main station, take the M2 metro to Ouchy-Olympique, then walk a few minutes along the quay. Lake Geneva boats call at the nearby landing stage.

Frequently asked questions

Is Château d'Ouchy a genuine medieval castle? Only in part. The medieval tower survives, while the rest is a Neo-Gothic building from 1889–1893.

Can you go inside? It is a working hotel with a restaurant. Guests and diners can see the interior; everyone else is best served by the waterfront view.

When is the best time to visit? Late spring to early autumn, when the Ouchy promenade is liveliest and lake cruises run most often.

How long should you plan? The castle itself takes about fifteen minutes. With a stroll around Ouchy, allow one to two hours.