About Lausanne | Transportation | Congress Centre | Language | Visa

About Lausanne

 Lausanne, the capital of the canton Vaud, is the result of centuries of hard work. This town is situated on the north shore of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). It was founded by the Celts, then occupied by the Romans, and eventually destroyed by the Alemannen. This is how Lausanne's history began - from Lousonna of the Roman era to Lausanne, the modern European city. It has always been a key point on the North-South route from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Its Gothic Cathedral

"city", dominated by the 13th century Gothic cathedral (4 spires and 105 stained-glass windows), was built in the Middle Ages. to this day, it remains a magnificient architectural and artistic heritage with its paved roads and period houses sporting their shop signs and housing craftsmen's workshops and cosy pubs.

The city offers vast entertainment opportunities. Steep terraces sloping down to the shores of the lake offer beautiful views of the French Alps. Down by the lakefront, parks, gardens, cafes and restaurants provide endless hours of entertainment for the visitor's pleasure. Concerts, operas and ballets are staged regularly at the Palais de Beaulieu, while street corners provide the setting for impromptu jazz recitals. Throughout the year, the city also hosts many exhibitions and trade fairs. One of the more unusual art galleries in Lausanne is the Musée de l'Art Brut, founded in 1976 by French artist Jean Dubuffet. Fusco Sylvain (1903-1940)

The gallery showcases the works of society's outcasts, many of whom were committed to mental institutions at the time the works were produced.

In the city the Olympic Games never end! In the middle of a magnificent park overlookijng the lake, the Olympic Museum showcases the striking images, highlights and paraphernalia of the games and recalls the commitment of the IOC to foster the popular as well as the competitive sports.

More information about Lausanne can be found at the Offical city side and the Official site of Lausanne Tourism office.

Transportation

• Arriving by plane. Geneva International Airport (GVA) is the closest major airport to Lausanne. Trains depart from a railroad station in the airport at frequent intervals, reaching Lausanne in 48 to 62 minutes.

• Arriving by train. International and domestic trains arrive at Lausanne CFF (the main railroad station), which is uphill from Ouchy at the lower end of the haute ville or city center. For schedules, see the Swiss Federal Railways electronic journey planner.

• How to go to the UNIL when coming by train to Lausanne: Download instructions

• Arriving by boat. Vintage steamers and modern sightseeing boats of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN) serve Lausanne-Ouchy's Place du Port from Geneva, Montreux, Vevey, Evian-les-Bains (France), the Lavaux vineyards, and other points along the lake.

• Arriving by car. Lausanne is on the northern shore of Lac Léman, at the junction of the A1 and A9 highways. See the tourist office's How to get to Lausanne by car page and the slow-loading but convenient city map for directions.

• Lausanne public transportation. Transports publics de la region lausannoisse, or "TL", operates a network of buses, trains, and trams in and around Lausanne. For those who reserved a hotel room in the Lausanne area, a free pass valid one week will be given to you upon checking in.

Conference Site

The UP2012 Conference will take place at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) - 1015 LAUSANNE (http://www.unil.ch/index.html) in the Amphimax and the Amphipôle buildings (quartier SORGE). There is a direct access from one building to the other. An interactive map of the UNIL can be found at http://planete.unil.ch/plan

The sessions will be held in three rooms:
- Room 350/351 (Amphimax)
- Auditorium A and Auditorium B (Amphipôle).

The Poster sessions and the Exhibition take place in the Amphipôle.
Coffee breaks and happy hours take place in the Amphipôle.

You can use the metro 1  from Lausanne-Flon until UNIL-Dorigny (around 12 min.), take exit UNIL-Sorge and check the timetable

From Lausanne to UNIL- Dorigny:  

From the main Train Station of Lausanne:

Take M2, direction "Croisettes", exit "Lausanne-Flon"
Take M1 (TSOL), direction "Renens CFF", exit "UNIL-Dorigny" or "UNIL-Sorge"

From the train station Renens:

Take M1 (TSOL), direction "Lausanne Flon", exit "UNIL-Sorge" or "UNIL-Dorigny"

By car:

From the highway, take direction "Lausanne-Sud", exit "UNIL-EPFL". On the route cantonale (Route de Genève, which is the road running along the lake shore, on your left). Go straight, pass the first round about. At the second round about, turn right into avenue Auguste Forel. Go straight to the end of it and turn right into Route de la Sorge. You will see the parking after 100 m. It is next to the conference buildings (Amphipôle and Amphimax). Free parking is offered during the entire duration of the conference in the areas delimited by green stripes.

Language

English will be the official language of the conference.

Passport and visa requirements

Foreign visitors entering Switzerland must be in possession of a valid ID or passport

. Delegates from countries requiring visas should apply to the Swiss consular offices or diplomatic missions in their home countries. Contributors requiring a letter of invitation to include with their visa application should contact the European Physical Society.