At a glance
Hours and prices checked on 21 October 2026 — always confirm on the official website before your visit.
Plateforme 10
Plateforme 10 brings together three cantonal museums and two foundations on one public esplanade of nearly 25,000 m², right next to the railway station. You can move from 18th-century paintings to contemporary photography and design without leaving the site — and the esplanade, the arcades and the restaurants make it a place to linger even without a ticket.
The district is also a lesson in architecture: a grey-brick monolith, a building whose upper volume seems to float, and the preserved vaults of a locomotive hall from 1911.
Key dates
- 1911
A locomotive hall is built on the station’s former platform 10 — which gives the district its name.
- 1915
The canton first notes the lack of space for the fine-arts museum at the Palais de Rumine.
- 2008
A lakeside project at Bellerive is rejected by voters.
- 2009–2011
The site next to the station is chosen; Barozzi Veiga win the competition.
- Oct. 2019
The new MCBA opens.
- June 2022
Photo Elysée and the mudac open in their building by Aires Mateus.
Three museums, two buildings
MCBA (Barozzi Veiga, 2019): about 10,000 works, from the founding gift of 650 works by Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros bought in 1816 to contemporary art, with around 300 works of the collection shown over two floors. The architects kept the central façade, the vault, the arched glass roof and the turntable of the 1911 locomotive hall.
Photo Elysée and mudac (Aires Mateus, 2022): Photo Elysée, founded in 1985, is one of Europe’s leading photography museums; the mudac presents design and applied arts, with a collection particularly strong in glass and jewellery. Its 1,000-tonne upper volume rests on just three supports and seems to float.
Did you know?
Plan your visit
Getting there
- On foot: about 5 minutes from Lausanne railway station.
- Metro m2, stop Lausanne-Gare.
- Bus 3, 20, 21, 60 or 85 to Lausanne-Gare; bus 6 to Cecil.
- Car: Montbenon car park, then the passage between nos 19 and 21 Avenue Ruchonnet.
Our tips
- Come on a Thursday: all three museums stay open until 20:00.
- Under 26? Entry is free.
- The 3-museum ticket (CHF 25) is valid for three months.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plateforme 10 free?
The esplanade is open to all. Tickets cost CHF 15 per museum or CHF 25 for all three; under 26 free.
How long does a visit take?
About half a day for the three museums, or one to two hours for one.
Which day is best?
Thursday, with late opening until 20:00. Avoid Monday for the MCBA and Tuesday for Photo Elysée and the mudac.
How do I get there from the station?
It is a 5-minute walk; metro m2 and several buses stop at Lausanne-Gare.
Is it accessible?
Yes: step-free, with lifts in every building and a lift from Avenue Ruchonnet.
Official sources
VisitLausanne.com is an independent guide. Information is provided for planning purposes; the official websites above are the reference.