Cathedral of Notre Dame de Lausanne
The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Lausanne is a cathedral in the Swiss canton of Vaud, located in the city of Lausanne. It is affiliated with the Canton of Vaud's Evangelical Reformed Church. The cathedral's construction began in 1170 by an unknown master mason for the service of the Catholic Church. Another master mason continued building twenty years later until 1215. Finally, Jean Cotereel, a third engineer, finished the bulk of the existing cathedral, incorporating a porch and two towers, one of which is the current day belfry.
The second tower was never finished. Pope Gregory X, Rudolph of Habsburg, and the bishop of Lausanne at the time, Guillaume of Champvent, consecrated and dedicated the cathedral to Our Lady in 1275. The Protestant Reformation, particularly the Geneva version, had a profound impact on the cathedral, which was finally passed over to a Protestant sect. In 1536, a new liturgical space was erected to the nave, and the cathedral's colorful decorations were covered up.
Renato Häusler, the cathedral's night watchman, sits at the top of the bell tower between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. and screams to the locals and tourists staying each hour. This is a 600-year-old tradition that will add to the excitement of your trip to Lausanne.
Location: Place de la Cathédrale, 1005 Lausanne
