Escaliers du Marché
Escaliers du Marché is a covered wooden staircase dating to the 13th century, climbing steeply between Lausanne's lower old town and the cathedral hill above — one of the last surviving covered medieval stairways of its kind in Switzerland. The wooden roof, added later to shelter market-goers and worshippers from the weather, gives it a distinctly historic, slightly rustic character compared to the stone streets around it.
It's a quick climb rather than a destination, but it's the most atmospheric way to walk between Lausanne's market square and its cathedral, and worth taking over the more direct modern routes nearby.
Escaliers du Marché FAQs
No, it's a free public passageway.
Just a few minutes, though it's steep in sections.
No, it's a traditional stepped staircase without ramp access — an alternate route is needed for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues.
The wooden roof was added to shelter market-goers and worshippers heading to the cathedral from the weather, a feature unusual for a staircase of this age.
Lausanne's lower old town around Place de la Palud with the cathedral hill above.
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