6 Best Sights in Vaud, Switzerland

Above the train station, a cluster of 17th-century homes once belonging to the town's successful winemakers is now the Musée de Montreux. This historical museum traces regional development from the time when Roman coins were used as tender, focusing on agricultural life and the shift to tourism. Profiles of famous residents and visitors who lived and worked in the area are highlighted. The museum's cellar restaurant, open from 6 pm, is a good place to sample typical local cuisine.

The town's castle, built by the Duke of Savoy around 1286 as a defense against the bishop-princes of Lausanne, now houses the Musée du Château. The eclectic collection includes weapons, military uniforms, and 10,000 miniature lead soldiers. In the Salle Général Henri Guisan, you'll find memorabilia of this World War II general, much honored for keeping both sides happy enough to leave Switzerland safely alone.

The Ancien-Évêché (Old Bishopric) holds a wealth of both temporary and permanent historical exhibits about the city. Don't miss the 250-square-foot scale model of 17th-century Lausanne, with its commentary illuminating the neighborhoods' histories. Also look for the re-created 19th-century shop windows.

The 18th-century Château de Prangins is home to the Suisse Romande branch of the Musée National Suisse. The castle once had land holdings that stretched all the way to Rolle. Its four floors detail (in four languages, including English) Swiss life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Surrounded by parks and gardens (take note of the extensive culinary plantings set according to ancient documents), the museum is also a major venue for cultural events and regional celebrations. A café with terrace is open for lunch and refreshments.

Graced by a statue of Caesar, the Musée Romain contains an attractively mounted collection of sumptuously detailed architectural stonework, fresco fragments, statuary, mosaics, and earthenware. The museum was built atop the foundation of a 1st-century AD basilica; a pristine miniature model inside and an excellent trompe l'oeil palace on an outside wall evoke the remarkable original structure. A listing of the exhibits is available in English, as are guided tours.

Two Roman communities, Lousonna and Vidy, flourished near the lakefront from 15 BC into the 4th century, and excavations of their ruins have brought these ancient settlements to light. A reconstructed private home serves as the museum's headquarters, where displays include a small trove of coins, votive figures, mosaics, and objects from daily life—carved combs, toga pins, jewelry. On request, you can get guided tours in English of the museum and the vast archaeological sites. The museum is west of Ouchy, just off the Lausanne-Maladière exit from E25/A1. Bus Nos. 1 and 2 stop at Maladière; No. 25 stops at Bois-de-Vaux.