Shoppers in Lausanne tend to be much more concerned with the commercialized glamour of Paris than with kitschy mountain souvenirs. That being the case, you'll find lots of emphasis on high-profile outfits such as luggage and leather maker Louis Vuitton, 30, rue de Bourg (tel. 021/312-76-60); or haute jeweler Cartier, 6, rue de Bourg (tel. 021/320-55-44).
But if handmade souvenirs from the Vaud region appeal to you, head for Heidi's Shop, 22, rue du Petit-Chêne (tel. 021/311-16-89). For artifacts with deeper patinas that sell for a lot more money, check out the art and antiques at two intriguing, relentlessly upscale antiques shops: Antiquités R.S., 17, av. de la Gare (tel. 079/210-45-61), and the Galerie du Château, 2, place du Tunnel (tel. 021/647-2142), both of which specialize in 18th- and 19th-century furniture. A worthy competitor, with a greater emphasis on paintings and sculpture, is the Galerie de la Belle Fontaine, 9-13, rue Cheneau-de-Bourg (tel. 021/323-47-87). The biggest and best bookstore in Lausanne is the Librairie Payot, 4, place Pepinet (tel. 021/341-33-31), which carries English-language titles. The biggest jeweler in Lausanne, with a well-established international recommendation, is Bucherer, 5, place St-François (tel. 021/320-63-54). Competitors, especially for Swiss watches, include Roman Mayer, 12, place St-François (tel. 021/312-23-16), which has especially good buys in Omega watches, and Junod, 8, place St-François (tel. 021/312-27-45), carrying Blancpain watches among others.
The major tobacco outlet is Besson, 22, rue de Bourg (tel. 021/312-67-88), known for its Davidoff cigars. The best Swiss-made linen, including embroidered handkerchiefs, is sold at Langenthal, 8, rue de Bourg (tel. 021/323-44-02). Some 19.3km (12 miles) west of Lausanne, about 20 antiques dealers have assembled a widely divergent trove of antique (and in some cases, merely old) furniture and art objects, Château Allaman (tel. 021/808-82-39), in the hamlet of Aubonne. Hours are erratic, varying widely with the season and the whims of each dealer, so an advance phone call is strongly recommended.
