Colors of Lausanne - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

The cultural life of Lausanne impresses with a variety of interesting and diverse events. Different bright festivals, fairs and expositions, culinary and sporting events are held within the year. The most interesting and popular event among tourists is still the city festival «Festival de la Cite» established more than fifty years ago. It is notably that initially the fest was dedicated to beer. During the festival the best brewing companies presented their products and the city folk enjoyed the favorite drink and festive treats.

Since the 70s of the last century the festival was revised and year by year its program has included ever new events. During the fest the visitors can attend the concerts of classic music and the performances of rock bands, circus shows and theatrical performances, engaging sport events and stage plays for kids. The festival schedule is rather rich and diverse offering the events meeting each fancy.

The main feature of the city festival is the absence entrance tickets for entertaining events as all of them are absolutely free. The major part of the concerts and performances is held in the old town part where the stages and platforms for artists are mounted. To help the guests of the festival to find a necessary performance or event, a special program is issued. The program leaflet contains the detailed schedule of the events added with descriptions and the starting time of every performance. The festival is annually visited by more than one hundred thousands of international travelers. The city festival starts in the middle of June and commonly lasts till August. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Apart from culture and arts the local people are attracted to sports. Lausanne hosts annually the athletics meeting “Atheltissima”. This is an international event which attracts many sport fans. The marathon commonly takes place as a part of this event. The length of the path is 42km and it runs through scenic territory among vineyards across the coastline of Lake of Geneva. Many engaging competitions are held in the city. Anybody can compete in the competitions to try the strength and skills together with professional athletes.

Other festivals in Lausanne are no less colorful and attractive to tourists. One of these is the Chocolate Festival, which, despite its name, is dedicated not to sweets but electronic music. Everyone can join the event in early June when large-scale parties are held on the shore of the picturesque Lake Geneva. Along with music fans, the festival also attracts nature enthusiasts, as this is a great opportunity to have a picnic and set up camp. Another interesting open-air summer event is the Festival de la Terre, which follows the above-mentioned Chocolate Festival. At this time, Esplanade de Montbenon becomes the venue for music concerts. Here you can also take part in workshops and play sports. The festival stands out with its warm friendly atmosphere, being one of the best events in the city's life to attend with children.

Music lovers would be happy to check out another nice music festival that is held in early April. We are talking about the Cully Jazz Festival aimed at introducing visitors to music that has already become classics, as well as its related genres such as funk, blues, soul, rock. The 9-day event takes place in cultural centers, concert halls, theaters, opera houses, bars, and cafes in Cully near Lausanne. In total, about one hundred and forty concerts are held within the festival framework. Among the headliners, one can see many big names of jazz and blues musicians. For fans of electronic music, it's worth mentioning the fest called Les Digitales de Lausanne, which takes place at the beginning of the first autumn month in the picturesque park Le Denantou.

For many tourists and locals, the Balelec is a favorite festival in Lausanne. It starts in early May and is famous for its cheerful atmosphere, which can be seen from the number of people visiting the city at that time. So, about fifteen thousand people take part in the festival every year. This is despite frequent rains in early May - such bad weather is by no means an obstacle for those wishing to get unforgettable impressions from visiting the festival. However, in case of rain, you can always hide under the roof because concerts are held not only in the open air but also indoors - in one of the nightclubs and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Ballet fans will be happy to visit Lausanne at the end of January during the Prix de Lausanne. The dancing competition is broadcast on almost all Swiss channels. Performances of ballet troupes take place at Lausanne's most famous theater - The Fondation Béjart Ballet. In mid-October, Lausanne welcomes film buffs and underground music fans - the reason is the spectacular Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival (or simply LUFF). This is one of the most grandiose events not only in Switzerland but throughout Europe.

Those looking for the incredible aesthetic enjoyment would be happy to visit Lausanne in November and December when the city is preparing for Christmas and New Year in a very impressive way. The thing is that locals cannot do something bad - given their natural perfectionism, preparations for the large-scale holiday are no less amusing than the celebration itself. Central streets of the city are beautifully illuminated, creating magical patterns of light. The sight appearing before tourists captivates them just like the fakir sound charms cobra. It is customary to celebrate Christmas with the family, and as for the gastronomic component, the main dish in Lausanne is fried pork or chicken tenderloins.