Lausanne: Switzerland's Olympic City
By Paris Permenter & John Bigley

Related pages:Articles on destinations related to the Olympics

Think about the history of the Olympic games and no doubt Athens comes to mind. The Olympic headquarters, however, are located in Lausanne, Switzerland, the federation's fifth largest city. Since 1915, the city has been home to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as well as many of the sports federations. Add to that over 300 active sports clubs in the city, and you've got a destination where even the most active honeymooners and romantic travelers will find plenty of fun.

Olympic buffs should start their visit with a stop at the Olympic Museum, the world's only facility that's dedicated to the history of the games. You'll find exhibits on both summer and winter games in this museum. The ground floor presents a history of the Olympics while the first floor looks at the games themselves with plenty of hands-on exhibits with items like the shoes of a bobsled runner.

"The objects aren't hidden in Plexiglas," explains Christoph Sturny, spokesperson for the museum. "You can feel the materials. It's very interactive."

If the two of you are yearning for a little more activity, you'll find plenty of options in this city set on Lake Geneva. The lake keeps the city's temperature moderate, perfect for hiking, swimming, golf, tennis, horseback riding, archery, and mountain biking.

In the winter months, curling is a popular activity as well as skating; many couples head to Le Chalet-a-Gobet, the highest point in the municipality, for some cross country skiing. A few minutes from Lausanne, Les Diablerets glacier offers more serious winter action.

To Plan a Honeymoon to Lausanne

• For more on Lausanne, see www.lausanne-tourisme.ch.
• More articles on honeymoons & romantic getaways in Switzerland

To Marry in Switzerland

• Marriage regulations in Switzerland