2 Best Sights in Vaud, Switzerland

Securing its reputation as the region's cultural capital, Lausanne now has its own arts district on the Plateforme 10 site next to the train station. The Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts (MCBA), Musée d'Elysée (Cantonal Photography Museum), and mudac (Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts) have fused here to bridge the divide between the city's excellent collections of fine art, photography, design, and textiles. More than just a gathering of museums, the site is fast becoming a destination in itself, with concerts, shows, exhibitions, and other cultural events setting Lausanne's strong arts community abuzz.

Montreux's cultural center, the Maison Visinand is housed in a restored mansion in the Old Town. Its calendar of events mixes exhibitions and performances with classes and studios for painting, photography, and dance.