New festive pop-up hotel room and the return of Bô Noël Christmas Market – what to look forward to this winter in Lausanne

Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva overlooking the Alps makes for a wonderful festive break. From the wonderfully traditional Bô Noël Christmas Market and the Lausanne Lumières Festival, to the new pop-up hotel room and new winter bathing and sauna areas opening this year, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Things to look forward to this winter and Christmas in Lausanne include:

New pop-up Christmas hotel room for December:

Set up exclusively for the month of December, the new Bô Noël’s Duplex Room nestled in the heart of the extraordinary garden of the Lausanne Historical Museum, invites guests to spend a dream night in a one-of-a-kind ephemeral hotel room complete with a cosy fireplace and first class hotel service. The pop-up has panoramic views over the city and Lake Geneva and also has a private terrace and sauna. Bookings include entry to the Musée Historique Lausanne, two fondue vouchers (which can be used at either the Coeurnotzet in the Place de l’Europe, at the Igloo du terroir vaudois Place du Château or Belvédère du Mondial de Fondue), two vouchers for mulled wine at the Bô Noël Christmas Market and two Pompom juices and coffee in the room. Rates start from CHF 295 per night (approx. £262).

Bô Noël Christmas Market:

The Bô Noël Christmas market is back this year and bringing festive spirit to the city from now until the 31^st December. A grand opening parade marked the start of the festivities, bridging the gap between the traditional and contemporary culture – from the 100 drummers, to the beautifully decorated and sometimes playful tracassets (small-motorised vehicles used at the Tracasset World Championships and to help winemakers harvest the UNESCO-listed Lavaux Vineyard Terraces where the steepness of the vineyards do not allow for other machinery). Savour local gastronomy and discover the region’s wines (Lausanne is part of the Great Wine Capital Network). Bô Noël is the meeting point for the city, and a popular after work spot for locals to enjoy mulled wine and good food with family and friends.

Lausanne Lumières:

The 11th edition of the Lausanne Lumières Festival will light up the city from the 1st to the 24th December. Beautiful light displays developed exclusively for the festival by international artists, will be projected onto three of Lausanne’s iconic buildings. Every evening as from 6.30 pm, the city’s façades will light up with flamboyant and dynamic illuminations. Installations this year include the Palais de Rumine by Patrice Warrener (France), the Tour Bel-Air by Get-it Studio (Switzerland) and the UBS Saint-François by MP Studio (Germany).