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Home > Travel Switzerland > Switzerland Destinations > Lausanne
Lausanne
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked Alpine country in Central Europe. The country, which borders Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, was historically a confederation, and has been a federation since 1848. Switzerland is a federation of relatively autonomous cantons, some of which have a history of confederacy that goes back more than 700 years, arguably putting them among the world's oldest surviving republics. With an area of 41,285 square kilometres, Switzerland is a relatively small country. Switzerland comprises three basic topographical areas namely the Swiss Alps, the Swiss plateau, and the Jura mountains. Switzerland has four official languages namely German, French, Italian and Romansh.
Lausanne is a city in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, and facing Evian-les-Bains and with the Jura hills to its north. Lausanne is located some 50 kilometers northeast of Geneva. It is the capital of the canton of Vaud and of the district of Lausanne. The headquarters of the International Olympic Committee are located in Lausanne. It lies in the middle of a wine-growing region. Lausanne’s population is 128,432 in February 2006.
Sporting activities are very popular in Lausanne, with water sports available on the nearby lake and mountaineering in the nearby mountains. Cycling is also a popular pastime, with the vineyards in the surrounding hills providing spectacular views and challenging routes. There is an annual athletic contest, road running through the city and triathlon competition, among other sports events. As it is often regarded as among the most beautiful parts of Switzerland, it is one of the most visited places amongst the most die-hard travelers the world over.
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