Of macaroons and charcuterie

Allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the colours and flavours of Ville Marché, the bi-weekly farmer’s market of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Apretty town on the northern shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is as non-touristy as it gets. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Lausanne’s city centre comes alive with local farmers, florists and bakers setting up shops on Rue de Bourg, Place de la Palud and Place de la Riponne.
Strawberries & Strings
Rue de Bourg
Start your exploration of Ville Marché at Rue de Bourg, where you will find vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables – asparagus, apples, oranges, pineapples, strawberries, kiwi fruit, apricots and plums. The fruits are often displayed attractively in baskets, accompanied by bottles of preserve for purchase. As you walk along the street, you may encounter a talented musician or two, strumming a guitar and singing songs that have a strange way of finding their way into your heart. Further along, you can treat yourself to the famous French macaroons of La Duree, a stylish Parisian bakery. Then there’s Blondel, a chain of chocolateries which have been around since 1850.You will also see florists displaying roses and lilies of every hue, wrapped in plastic and ensconced in little plastic buckets.
Masterful blooms
Place de la Palud
At this medieval market square dating back to the 9th century, you see florists arranging their blooms masterfully. An animated clock above house number 23 chimes every hour, serving as musical entertainment. Once a swampland, Place de la Palud has served as the centre of the city government for five centuries. Pay a visit to the 17th-century Hôtel de Ville.
Eat on the go
Place de la Riponne
Place de la Riponne is a fairyland, where you can lay your hands on everything – from clothes, hats and sunglasses to a mind-boggling variety of breads, mushrooms, baked delights like croissants aux amandes, pains au chocolat, the local Gruyere, raclette and many other types of cheese sold in slabs and roundels. You can buy a freshly-baked pizza or coconut macaroon to eat on the go. You can also purchase hard-to-find books (but they are usually in French). Utensils, shoes and strange antiques are all stacked side by side at the shops adjoining the book stall. If you are lucky, you’ll see a man blowing the traditional Swiss alphorn used by mountain dwellers to announce weddings, deaths and funerals.
Things to do
- Visit the Church of St. Francis at Place St-François, a Protestant parish church dating back to 1272. Another impressive church is the Cathedrale de Lausanne, which offers panoramic views of the city.
- Browse through the various museums at Palais de Rumine, a Florentine-Renaissance style building at Place de la Riponne.
- In the evening, walk through the Flon district to get a taste of Lausanne's little-known but vibrant nightlife.
Must-buys
- Colourful flowers for your room or companion
- Exotic varieties of mushrooms, cheese and charcuterie
- Fresh produce from the local farmers
- Second-hand books, antiques and furniture