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Switzerland Lausanne Canton of Vaud Museum

The Olympic Museum

About

The Olympic Museum is one of Lausanne’s most inspiring cultural spaces, a place where sport, history and design come together with remarkable elegance. Opened in 1993 and completely renovated in 2013, it serves as the official museum of the International Olympic Committee, making it the world’s largest institution dedicated to the Olympic movement. Inside, the museum unfolds across several thematic floors. The first explores the origins of the Games, from ancient Olympia to the revival by Pierre de Coubertin. Authentic artefacts—torches, medals, and early athletic equipment—offer a tactile sense of Olympic evolution. Interactive stations let visitors test reaction times, balance and coordination, blending education with playful challenge. A highlight is the gallery dedicated to Olympic torches, displaying every design since 1936. Their shapes and materials reflect the spirit of each host nation. Equally captivating is the section on athlete stories, where personal objects and multimedia installations reveal the human side of competition.

Lausanne Switzerland
The Olympic Museum
Location

The Olympic Museum is located in Ouchy, on the lakeside south of Lausanne, at Quai d’Ouchy 1. It is one of the city’s best-known attractions and offers a scenic setting right on Lake Geneva, with the Olympic Park between the museum and the water. Nearby, visitors can enjoy the Ouchy waterfront, the lakeside promenade, and the park areas around the museum. The location also makes it easy to combine a visit with a boat trip on Lake Geneva or a relaxed walk along the shore. For more sightseeing, Lausanne’s old town is not far away, and it is a good next stop for historic streets, viewpoints, and cafés. The museum therefore fits well into a day that combines culture, lakeside scenery, and the city’s main tourist highlights.

Collection de l'Art Brut Collection de l'Art Brut Museum Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts Lausanne Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts Lausanne Museum Musée de l'Elysée Musée de l'Elysée Museum Cantonal Museum of Archeology and History Cantonal Museum of Archeology and History Museum Naturéum - département de zoologie Naturéum - département de zoologie Museum Roman Museum Lausanne-Vidy Roman Museum Lausanne-Vidy Museum Lausanne History Museum Lausanne History Museum Museum Hand museum Hand museum Museum Espace Arlaud Espace Arlaud Museum Archizoom Archizoom Museum Musée Bolo Musée Bolo Museum Fondation de l'Hermitage Fondation de l'Hermitage Museum Cinémathèque suisse Cinémathèque suisse Museum Musée de la machine à écrire de Lausanne Musée de la machine à écrire de Lausanne Museum Lausanne Cathedral Lausanne Cathedral Cathedral Palais de Rumine Palais de Rumine Palace Château Saint-Maire Château Saint-Maire Castle Eglise Notre-Dame du Valentin Eglise Notre-Dame du Valentin Church Église Saint-François Église Saint-François Church Opéra de Lausanne Opéra de Lausanne Opera House Parc de Mon-Repos Parc de Mon-Repos Park Lausanne Botanical Garden Lausanne Botanical Garden Botanical Garden Sauvabelin Tower Sauvabelin Tower Observation deck