Lausanne

Set against the glitter of Lake Geneva, the city of Lausanne tells a story that diverges sharply from its famous neighbor. For three centuries the town lived under the gentle yet firm hand of the Counts of Savoy, who balanced protection with a reluctance to impose heavy taxes. Colorful anecdotes—like Peter of Savoy’s abolition of the gruesome nose‑cutting penalty and the lively meals in Castle Chillon—bring this medieval polity to life.

The civic rhythm is captured in the weekly assemblies of the three estates, where bishops, canons and burghers debated statutes in modest inns rather than grand palaces. Citizens were summoned to mend streets, shoe horses, or craft carriages, rewarded with bread, wine and eggs by the Bishop himself—a vivid picture of mutual obligation. Listening to this account reveals how ordinary labor and local customs shaped a community that proudly guarded its freedoms while navigating the whims of distant rulers.