Olympic Museum, Lausanne

Located in the Olympic Park in Ouchy, the Olympic Museum was opened in 1993. It was architectonically designed and built not only considering its location near the lake, but also with some Greek heritage included (there are six colums before the entrance of the Museum, similar to those of Zeus temple).
The Olympic Museum contains the history of the Olympic games through pictures, video, documents and others (coins, stamps,etc.) from ancient times till now. It also hosts both permanent and temporary exhibitions about sport history and competitions.

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We have planned to spend an hour at Olympic Museum. We have spent more than four hours in it, we have enjoyed every moment and only a previously made arrangement made us leave it! It would be more than enough of the recommendation.

The leaflet guide poetically describes the museum: "A place of dreams, the Olympic Museum is set in a beautifully maintained park. Bounded by a unique landscape where the waters of Lake Geneva meet an infinite sky, it is an oasis of tranquility and culture. […] A place of memories where the legends live on, the Olympic Museum presents the thousands of stories that interweave to form our common experience. […] A place of emotions, the Olympic Museum helps you relive the great moments that have marked the Olympics. […] A place of discovery, the Olympic Museum gives new life and meaning to its halls by staging regular exhibitions on specific themes. […] A place of encounters where cultures and people cross and meet […], the Olympic Museum welcomes you just as it welcomes the greatest figures of sport and culture. […]".

We have enjoyed at section with ancient Greek artifacts. We have found out a lot about the life and work of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games. We were glad to find the data about Bora Stankovic. We searched for some stories we know as a history, and some we remember. We managed to find, in the numismatic section, the coins with the portrait of Tito, made for 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympic Games, held, at that time, in our country – Yugoslavia. We had a great opportunity to notice the development of design by comparing the posters, medals, torches created in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries… At the end, we have seen the great exhibition – introduction to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.

Half of the day at the Olympic Museum was the great, thrilling experience.

To be continued in "Parc Olympique | The Olympic Park"…

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This is a nice way to spend half a day in Lausanne. The museum has artifacts relating to the creation and history of the Olympics, all the torches and medals ever used, and memorabilia from famous Olympians over the years. In addition, they have a video library, which allows you to watch a number of Olympic events from over the years. These are all part of the permanent exhibition. In addition, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, which will vary depending on when you visit.

There is also a restaurant and gift shop. 15 CHF gets you admission to the entire museum, and includes the ability to watch two videos in the video library. For 5 more Francs, you can watch 3 more videos.

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A real must-see! Even if you don't really watch sports, even if you never took part in a competition and even if you can't swim /like me/! Don't expect the usual museum-like environment, as you will be surrounded by fountains, gardens and ... many surprising things. It is free to walk through the garden holding models of different records and statues of prominent players, it is also free to see the stamp collection of the museum, which is in the 'basement'. I bet you would seek for some stamps of your country first - it is easy, they are organised in alphabethical order and by Olympic years. On your way downstairs you will be fascinated by the scenes of triumph and human emotions presented with trailers /sound and picture/ on the large plasma screens around you. I did say it is worth see all that!

This museum is located on the waterfront, and has a big, beautiful fountain in front. The sculptures outside are interesting, as well as the lifesized demonstrations of Olympic Records - like the furthest shotput (I think it was 26m!) drawn out on the sidewalk.
Things only get better once inside! The first floor showcases the torches used to light the flame, as well as antiques from ancient Greek times. There are interesting short films to watch, as well as interactive exhibits, and an amazing array of sports equipment and apparel on display.
I also found that the cost (10 francs for a student) was very reasonable. You can also rent a headset for 3 extra francs and take the guided tour.
A must-see - for kids, too.

Hours: Everyday from 09h to 18h
Thursday from 09h to 20h
Closed Mondays from October to April.

In 1915, Baron Pierre de Coubertin established the IOC's headquarters in Lausanne and created an embryonic Olympic Museum. Since then, the Museum has preserved the heritage of the Olympic Games and collected works of art and objects which illustrate the development of the Olympic Movement.

A provisional museum was opened to the public in 1982 and remained in place for ten years. The land for the construction of a new museum was purchased in 1981 and work commenced on 9th December 1988.

The heritage of baron Pierre de Coubertin
To preserve the heritage of the Olympic Games as re-established by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1894. To put forward the ideals of Olympism and contribute towards the achievement of man's highest aspirations. The Olympic Museum is a must for all those who are keen on sport and the Olympic Movement, those who are interested in history, culture and art and those who care about the future of our society. As Coubertin put it,

"Olympism is a state of mind".

An interactive museum
Unique, lively and interactive. Advanced audiovisual, computer and robotic technology which lets the visitor share the greatest moments of the Games and the emotions of the athletes. It's the world's largest centre for information on the Olympic Movement.

See Olympic medals, sports equipment thru the ages, a number of floors of Olympic memorbilia (including Olympic stamps and coins minted by various countries)

The museum is in the Olympic Park near Lake Léman. In addition to the museum, you can also tour the gardens and statues around the museum (which has a Greek look to it with pillars). The gardens are free to wander about, however there is an entry fee to visit the museum.

No trip to Lausanne would be complete without a visit to the Olympic Museum. Lausanne is the international home of the Olympics, after all. It’s a great way to learn about the history of the modern Olympic games. The museum features permanent exhibits about the Summer and Winter Games and also features revolving exhibitions that change occasionally. Check out the schedule on their website to find out more information on their temporary showings.

For all people who like sport and specially Olympic Games, this museum is a must.
You can find all the history ot the Olympic Games since ancient Greece to modern times, with many objects related to the games.

I am not much of a sport fan, but this museum is really worth seeing. It's not just about sports, it's about history and nations.

The first couple of times I went, I just walked around with my friends. The last time though was definitely the best though as I took a guided tour. Guides will not only show you around, but will tell you little stories that happened during the olympic games.

Apart from the permanent exhibition, there is also a temporary exhibit. The themes are somewhat linked to the Olympics, they are worth seeing too.

And there are the gardens. Even if you do not wish to enter the museum, the gardens are a spectacle in themselves. Built on the hill leading to the museum, you will see beautiful plants and a path will take you through various olympic related sculptures. Don't forget to take a look at the lake and the mountains behind you, it's quite a sight, even for someone living in Lausanne.