At a glance
Hours and prices checked on 21 October 2026 — always confirm on the official website before your visit.
Le Flon
The Flon is named after the river that once ran through a deep valley in the heart of Lausanne. From the 18th century, tanneries, sawmills and fullers settled on its banks; their smells gave the valley a bad reputation.
Filled in and levelled, the valley became a goods station at the end of the 19th century. When the warehouses emptied after the 1950s, artists and craftsmen moved in, and from the 2000s the district was redeveloped into a place to live, work, shop and go out, while keeping its grid of former warehouses.
Key dates
- c. 1740
The Mercier family sets up a tannery on the banks of the Flon.
- 1832
After a cholera epidemic, the town starts covering and filling in the river.
- 1877
Opening of the goods station and the Lausanne-Ouchy railway.
- 1950s
The warehouses fall into disuse and host artists and craftsmen.
- 1999
A district plan launches the redevelopment.
- 2000s
New buildings and renovations: the Flon becomes a lively district.
A district built on a river
The soil dug out for the tunnels of the Lausanne-Ouchy railway was used to fill the valley below the Grand-Pont: the lower row of the bridge’s arches disappeared under the new ground level. The river Flon still flows today, underground, beneath the district.
Owned by a single company since the 19th century, the Flon kept a unified grid of streets and warehouse blocks — which explains its very distinctive urban character.
Did you know?
Plan your visit
Getting there
- Metro m1 or m2, stop Lausanne-Flon.
- A few minutes on foot from Saint-François, Bel-Air or the Place de l’Europe.
Our tips
- Come in the evening for the restaurants and bars.
- Look up at the Grand-Pont from the Place de l’Europe.
- The Flon is the easiest connection between the m1 and m2 metros.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Flon?
A former goods station built in a filled-in river valley, now a district of shops, bars and restaurants.
Where does the name come from?
From the river Flon, which still flows underground beneath the district.
How do I get there?
Metro m1 or m2 to Lausanne-Flon.
Is it lively at night?
Yes, the Flon is one of the main nightlife areas of Lausanne.
Is it free?
Yes, the district is open to everyone.
Official sources
VisitLausanne.com is an independent guide. Information is provided for planning purposes; the official websites above are the reference.