Switzerland has several icons. Perhaps the most worthy is the Red Cross, founded in 1863, and now known and respected worldwide, which uses the reverse of the Swiss Flag (a red flag with a white cross). 

But many other things are also inextricably linked with this country. Such as rich and decadent Swiss chocolate.....

.....sound in boutique chocolatiers throughout the country such as this Lausanne establishment, founded in 1850 and still the place to buy carefully wrapped and presented chocolates for a very special occasion........

– or person!

Lausanne is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. Here you will find the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. The IOC officially recognises the city as the Capitale Olympique. 

France lies just across the lake and you can take a ferry and be in France in half an hour - but why would you bother, when French is the language of the region and the cuisine and style and so much else is as French as you could want. What's more it's located in one of the most beautiful settings in the world.

Lausanne is a steep city, rising from and elevation of 340 metres at lake level to 850 metres altitude in the north of the city. Parts of the city are reached by series of medieval staircases, used for centuries, but this era's answer is a fast and terribly efficient train system. 

The steepness and constraints in braking distance and deceleration mean that the train can actually travel faster upwards than downward.

Justice herself stands tall in the Place de la Palud where people have met since 1726.

Also in the old part of town is this place, established in 1780, and renowned for its traditional food. Especially good is the rösti Vaudois, local sausage with cheese and shredded potato. Call them 'hash browns' if you wish, but to eat them here in the shadowy cellar ambience of this bistro elevates them to quite another level to any you will have had before.

Lausanne has many fine and historic buildings, yet it's a town with a lot of life in it. The most ancient, Flon area, has been revived in recent years and is now the epicentre of a smart restaurant and cinema redevelopment.

But food is always somewhere in Lausanne. Despite the modernisation of the city and influences from outside, the region is justly proud of its cuisine and produce. The Vaud region is noted for its wines, grain and cheeses. La Ferme Vaudoise, close to the Place de la Palud is crammed with local products.

You may never have seen a display wall of sausages, yet here they are proudly presented, dozens of varieties representing local farms and villages.

And then of course there are the fruit wines and eau de vies made from the fruit which grows so well in the cool sub-mountain climate: pears, apples, plums, quince, apricots and berries.

The cathedral, built in 1275 high on the hill to the north of the city, has the largest pipe organ in Switzerland, weighing 40 tonnes. In the 14th century the area near the cathedral was home to tanners. 

A day in Lausanne is too short, really. You need plenty of time to explore the old town, now rich with eclectic and stylish boutiques, galleries and bookshops. Many mealtimes are required to thoroughly enjoy the wide variety of cafes, bars and hip restaurants. You should do several trips on the sleek and reliable Metro too. And one visit to Blondel is absolutely not enough!