The building was financed by the Russian aristocrat Gabriel de Rumine, who stipulated in his will that the funds be used for a public utility project in Lausanne.
The architectural design was selected through an international competition, with French architect Gaspard André winning the commission.
The Cantonal Museum of Zoology houses a notable collection of taxidermy and skeletal specimens, including a famous preserved Great White Shark.
The building was the primary site for the University of Lausanne before the institution moved to its current Dorigny campus in the 1970s.
The Cantonal Museum of Money displays a comprehensive history of currency used in the Vaud region from the Middle Ages to the present.
The facade features elaborate sculptural work and stone carvings that represent the various fields of knowledge housed within.
It sits on the site of the former Riponne market area, which remains a central public square in the city.
The Palais de Rumine is a monumental Florentine Renaissance-style building located in the heart of Lausanne that serves as a central hub for five distinct cantonal museums. Completed in 1904, it was constructed using funds bequeathed to the city by Gabriel de Rumine. The structure currently houses the Cantonal Museum of Zoology, the Cantonal Museum of Geology, the Cantonal Museum of Archaeology and History, the Cantonal Museum of Money, and the Cantonal Botanical Museum. The building also contains the Cantonal and University Library of Lausanne. Its architecture is characterized by a central courtyard and an imposing grand staircase. The palace was originally intended to replace the outdated academy building and centralize the city's academic and scientific collections. It remains a key cultural institution in the Vaud canton.
The central grand staircase under the ornate ceiling skylight.
Check the combined schedule of the five museums in advance, as some sections may have different exhibition rotations.
Visit the library reading rooms for a view of the interior architecture while observing quiet study protocols.
Plan your visit to focus on one or two specific museums, as seeing all five collections in detail requires significant time.
Do not mistake the entire building for a single museum; navigate by specific department entrance.
Closed on Mondays and major public holidays.
Quiet conversation is required inside the galleries and library areas.
