Fondation de l'Hermitage

Fondation de l'Hermitage Review

A 15-minute bus ride from the Old Town takes you to this beautifully set 19th-century country home. The estate is now an impressive art gallery with a fine permanent collection of Vaudois artists and headline-grabbing, yet seriously presented, blockbuster shows. Exhibits have included the works of Picasso, Giacometti, and the American Impressionists. Details of the elegant villa have been preserved, including intricate moldings, carved fireplaces, and multipatterned parquet floors. Allow time for a walk on the grounds and a coffee or light meal at L'esquisse, the café backdropped by the outlying orangerie. Call ahead to check the museum's hours, since it shuts down during transition periods between exhibits and for private events. To get here, take Bus No. 3 from Gare Centrale to the Motte stop or Bus No. 16 from Place St-François to Hermitage.