Moving in an Old Town: A Practical Guide

Moving in an old town is above all a matter of planning ahead: narrow streets, pedestrian zones and old staircases limit the vehicle, the equipment and the working hours. The key is to scout the access in advance, measure your furniture and the passages, then ask the commune for any permits you need.

What makes a move in an old town complicated

The historic centres of French-speaking Switzerland were not designed for lorries. Before planning anything, it is worth listing the real constraints at your address, both at the old home and at the new one.

The most common difficulties:

• Narrow, cobbled or sloping streets: a large lorry cannot always get through, and cobbles or gradients make trolleys and hand trucks harder to push.
• Pedestrian zones or restricted-access areas: traffic is often limited, sometimes allowed only at certain hours for deliveries.
• Old buildings without a lift, or with a very narrow lift, or even just a goods hoist.
• Spiral staircases, tight stairwells and landings with no room to manoeuvre: bulky furniture cannot turn there.
• Low or narrow doors and windows, and stone frames that must not be damaged.
• Vaulted cellars and attics that are hard to reach, where storage and transport are awkward.

Each of these points lengthens loading time and may force you to change method. Spotting them early avoids unpleasant surprises on the day.

Scout and measure before you choose

Scouting is the most worthwhile step. Do it yourself first, then ideally have a mover confirm it during a visit.

1. Walk the route on foot, from the spot where a vehicle can stop to the door of the home, in both directions (departure and arrival). Note the slopes, steps and turns.
2. Measure the passages: width of the front door, stairwell, landings, interior doors, and the lift cabin if there is one.
3. Measure your bulkiest furniture: wardrobe, sofa, bed, bookcase, table. A sofa that barely fits through a modern door will not get up a spiral staircase.
4. Check the windows and balconies: a wide enough window with clear access in front of the building may allow a furniture lift to be used.
5. Take photos of the tricky spots and send them to the movers: they help prepare the right equipment.
6. Check the access rules: delivery hours, areas closed to traffic, bollards or barriers, space available in front of the building.

The measurements decide what follows: some furniture will be dismantled, some will go through the window, and some will simply not fit and is better replaced.

Choose the right vehicle and method

In an old town, the biggest lorry is not necessarily the most efficient. Several approaches exist, often combined.

A furniture lift is useful when the staircase will not let a piece of furniture through, but it requires a stable spot in front of the façade and a window or balcony that is large enough. In an old town, that spot is often on the public highway, so it must be reported to the commune.

Dismantling is the other major lever. Beds, modular wardrobes, tables and shelves come apart into pieces that fit up a narrow staircase. If you would rather not do it yourself, furniture assembly and dismantling can be entrusted to professionals. Remember to keep screws and parts in labelled bags.

Very heavy or fragile items, such as a piano, a safe or a large work of art, call for specific equipment and a dedicated team: it is best to flag them as soon as you request a quote, with photos of the access.

Permits and dealings with the commune

Occupying the public highway with a removal lorry, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior authorisation from the commune or the police. In historic centres, where space is scarce and traffic is regulated, this is all the more likely.

Good habits:

• Contact the commune a few days or weeks beforehand; waiting times vary and it is best not to leave it to the last minute.
• State what you plan to set up: type of vehicle, possible furniture lift, duration, day and hours, exact address.
• Ask for the access rules to the pedestrian zone: hours, accepted vehicle types, any permit or sticker.
• Keep the permit with you on moving day, to show it in case of a check.

The procedure is explained in detail in the guide on the parking permit for moving day.

Do not forget either to notify your change of address to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants): departure in the old commune, arrival in the new one, within the deadline set by the canton. In many communes this can be done online via eMoving (eUmzugCH). The moving checklist helps you forget nothing.

Protecting the old building

Old stairwells often have stone or wooden steps, ornate banisters, painted walls or fragile frames. Any damage makes the person who causes it liable and can create tension with the letting agency (régie) or the owner.

• Protect floors and corners with flat cardboard, blankets or suitable film.
• Put protection on wall corners and on banisters where furniture rubs.
• Carry furniture rather than dragging it, and have enough hands for manoeuvres around turns.
• Tell the letting agency (régie), the caretaker or the neighbours the date and hours: noise and cluttered landings are easier to handle when everyone is informed.
• Keep the narrow lift for boxes and small items, and check its stated load limit before using it.

In French-speaking Switzerland: what changes by place

The exact rules differ from one commune to another: permission to occupy the public highway, access hours for pedestrian zones, and the deadline to report your arrival or departure depend on the commune and the canton. The safest course is to ask the commune concerned and, if needed, the canton.

A few pointers by location:

• In large cities, the old centre often combines sloping streets, restricted traffic and high demand for parking. This is the case in Lausanne, where the terrain adds a further difficulty for trolleys and vehicles.
• In a city like Fribourg, the old town has a dense fabric of lanes and old buildings; see the Fribourg page for local specifics.
• In small towns such as Porrentruy, the centre is more compact, but narrow streets and old staircases raise the same questions.
• In historic villages (Gruyères, Romont, Moudon, Avenches) and in the centres of towns such as Neuchâtel, Sion, Vevey, Morges or Nyon, access by car can be very limited or even closed: the route on foot is then the basis of the planning.
• In the mountains or on sloping ground, the weather (snow, ice) can complicate access and lengthen the job.

For a move to or from abroad, the border adds customs formalities that are separate from the question of old-town access; they are handled separately.

Doing it yourself or getting help

Private individuals can perfectly well prepare most of it: sorting, packing, dismantling simple furniture, measuring, protecting the building and warning the commune. In an old town, however, part of the work is hard to improvise: manoeuvring on a spiral staircase, organising a shuttle between two vehicles, setting up a furniture lift on the public highway, moving a piano or a very heavy piece of furniture.

As soon as access is restricted, the furniture is bulky or a high floor has no lift, professional movers bring suitable equipment and experience of these layouts. If you wish, you can request a quote: you describe your move, the request is passed to removal companies in the area, who draw up a free, no-obligation quote. Mention the address and the access constraints and attach photos, to get a realistic estimate.

Frequently asked questions