www.olympic.org - Site Officiel du Mouvement Olympique

The architectural style of the building is that of classical modernism. It expresses simplicity and timeless purity, with a number of attributions suggesting the origin and spirit of the Olympic Games.

Everyone immediately notices the significance of the eight columns framing the entrance to the Museum. In Olympia, the temple of Zeus is 64 metres long and decorated with six columns along its main facade. Another reminder of Greece can be found in the facade of white marble, a gift from the Greek government. The marble comes from the island of Thasos in the North of the Aegean Sea. Its white colour suggests purity, the dove of peace and fair play - concepts closely related to the Olympic ideal.

• Visit the garden and the Columns of Zeus

The municipal park in front of the Olympic Museum, designed by the landscape architect José Lardet, creates a beautiful and inviting entrance to the building. Lardet's terraced fountain on the esplanade acts as a theatrical curtain opening onto the memory of Olympism and is a landmark in Ouchy.

Displaying a fantastic view of Lake Geneva with the French Alps in the background, the park enjoys the mild climate of Lausanne which enables plants from the Mediterranean to grow here. Yews and cypresses from Italy and junipers, magnolias and brooms from Spain recall the baroque appearance of a Tuscan garden. The evergreens act as a reminder that, in ancient times, they were seen as a symbol of eternal youth. There is also a one-hundred-year old oak tree on the grounds which was preserved by modifying the architecture of the building.

There is a difference of 20 metres in height between the lakeside and the museum entrance. The main path has been designed to allow the visitors to walk up slowly while enjoying the plants, shady spots, ponds and fountains, as well as the various works of art. It is an interesting fact that this winding path, covering 420 metres, is the length of a modern Olympic stadium.

The museum is also accessible by an escalator situated to the left of the park for visitors who may not be able to manage the relatively steep walk.