LAUSANNE (Latin Lausannum; Italian Losanna), a city of Switzerland, the capital of the canton of Vaud, stands on the lower slopes of the Mount Jorat, on the northern shore of the Lake of Geneva. As it is built on three distinct eminences and the intervening gorges, its streets are steep and irregular, and few of its houses are built on the same level. One of the ravines is spanned by a lofty bridge, called the Pont Pichard. The principal edifice is the cathedral, founded in the tenth, and finished in the thirteenth century. For the beauty of its interior, it surpasses all the churches in Switzerland. It is crowned by a lofty tower and a spire 200 feet high, and contains the tombs of Amadeus VIII., Duke of Savoy, and Bernard de Menthon, founder of the Hospice of the Great St Bernard. John Kemble, the famous actor, was also buried here. From the terrace of the cathedral a fine view of the Lake of Geneva and the vicinity is obtained. On a higher platform, behind the cathedral, stands the castle, a massive square building, with turrets at the angles. It was formerly the residence of the bishops of Lausanne, but is now the council-house of the canton. The other public buildings are the church of St Francis, a college, a cantonal museum, containing many curiosities, natural and antiquarian, a theatre, prison, penitentiary, post-office, and normal school. The manufactures of Lausanne are few, comprising only cotton and woollen cloths, leather, paper, and jewellery. There is little trade; and foreigners resort to the city chiefly on account of its cheap education and the beauty of the surrounding scenery. Haller, Tissot, and Voltaire resided here. Here Gibbon wrote the latter half of his History, in a house which, under its present
name of the Hotel Gibbon, is one of the notoriety of the city. At Ouchy, the port of Lausanne, Byron composed his "Prisoner of Chillon." Between this port and other towns on the Lake of Geneva, steamboats ply regularly. Pop. 17,108.