Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts

Name: Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts
Address: Place de la Gare 16 Platform 10, 1003, Lausanne, Lausanne, 1003, CH
Telephone: +41 21 318 44 00

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Visit: 1h 30m
Step-free access
Ideal for kids

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About

Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts is Lausanne’s art museum at Plateforme 10, beside the station on a former locomotive-hall site.

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What's on here

Charles Blanc-Gatti. Les couleurs du son Until 17 Jan 202710 CHF

Lucas Erin. La ronde Prix Culturel Manor Vaud 2026 Until 14 Feb 202728 CHF

Ted Joans. Black Flower Until 28 Feb 202739 CHF

Why go

Around 300 works form a periodically renewed display of old, modern and contemporary art.
Seventeen sculptures by Alberto Giacometti joined the museum in 2025 as a permanent loan.
The winter Accrochages cycle shows contemporary artists who live or work in Vaud.
The permanent display includes works from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Opening hours

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MondayClosed

TuesdayClosed

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Thursday10:00 – 20:00

FridayClosed

SaturdayClosed

SundayClosed

Don't miss

La CrocodileThe fir-green metal sculpture by Xavier Veilhan and Olivier Mosset matches the shape of the 17-metre Krokodil locomotive. Unveiled in 2019.On the plaza in front of the museum.

Know before you go What's inside With kids Tips for your visit

Know before you go

The collection, Espace Focus and Espace Projet have free admission.
Visitors under 26 enter temporary exhibitions free.
Guide dogs are allowed in the exhibition galleries.

What's inside

The first floor has four rooms for old and modern art.
The second floor displays contemporary art and includes Espace Focus, devoted to current developments in the collections.
Temporary exhibitions occupy 1,300 m² across two floors.
The ground-floor Espace Projet presents an experimental programme featuring local and international artists.
The building provides nearly three times the exhibition space of the former museum at Palais de Rumine.

With kids

Children aged 7 and up can get a free activity booklet at reception, with prompts for looking, drawing and imagining.
Children aged 3–5 can join a sensory introduction to the collection galleries and Atelier des publics with an accompanying adult.
Children must attend workshops with an adult; babies are welcome.
An umbrella stroller is available at the museum.

Tips for your visit

A three-museum ticket includes one visit to each museum and is valid for three months.
Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month.
Creative workshops draw on current exhibitions, with activities that may include painting, drawing, modelling, collage, dance or theatre.

Interesting facts5

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Modern and contemporary holdings include works by Marcel Broodthaers, Daniel Spoerri and Maria Elena Vieira da Silva.
Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts - Wikipedia
The collection has extensive expressive figuration, including works by Günter Brus, Luciano Castelli and Miriam Cahn.
Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts - Wikipedia
145 metres
The building is 145 metres long, 22 metres high and 21 metres deep.
Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne - Wikipedia
A remnant of the former railway depot survives in the building’s south front.
Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne - Wikipedia
2021
In 2021, the collection contained more than 10,000 works.
Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

1841Painter Marc-Louis Arlaud founded and financed the museum and became its first curator. It opened in a building designed by Louis Wenger beside place de la Riponne, on the site of today’s Espace Arlaud.
1963The museum held its first Salon International des Galeries Pilotes du Monde.
1990–2010The museum acquired major works by international artists, including Christian Boltanski, Sophie Calle and Bruce Nauman.
2009The former CFF locomotive hall beside Lausanne station was selected as the site for a new museum.
2011Estudio Barozzi Veiga won the international competition to design the new building.

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Spring 2016The historic locomotive hall was partly demolished and the site cleared.
2018The museum closed its galleries at Palais de Rumine.
October 2019The museum moved to Plateforme 10.

How to get there

On footAround 400 metres from Lausanne station. The museum can be reached on foot, by bike, in a wheelchair or with a stroller.
CarVisitors can be dropped off in front of the entrance.
ParkingReserved accessible parking spaces are on Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet.

Accessibility

Step-free access The building is accessible to visitors with mobility restrictions.
Audio induction loop Available at reception and for guided tours.
Adapted tours and workshops Can be arranged on request.
Mobility aids and seating Two wheelchairs and folding chairs are available; each exhibition gallery has a bench.
Staff support Staff are trained to welcome visitors with accessibility needs.

Sources: Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts - Wikipedia · Home - Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts · Ticketing - Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts · Accessibility - Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts · Musée cantonal des beaux-arts de Lausanne - Wik… · Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts de Lausanne - Wik… · Enfants et familles - Musée cantonal des Beaux-… · LA NUIT DES MUSEES - Musée cantonal des Beaux-A… · checked 24 Sep 2026

Where

Place de la Gare 16 Platform 10, 1003, Lausanne

Website: mcba.ch/
Phone: +41 21 318 44 00

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

What can Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts gift vouchers be used for?

They can be used at the bookshop-store or for tickets, private guided tours and workshop bookings.

What is Jardin d’Hiver at Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts?

A biennial exhibition programme launched in 2020 around invited project proposals.

Does Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts feature artists from Vaud?

Its winter Accrochages cycle has shown contemporary artists living or working in Vaud since 2002.

How far back does the permanent display at Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts reach?

It includes a small group of works from the 16th and 17th centuries.

What creative activities can children do at home from Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts?

The museum provides creative activities for children to do at home, alone or with others.

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