Swiss City Guides: Geneva
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 Geneva
- often mistaken for Switzerland's capital
- cosmopolitan, polyglot city set on Lake Geneva
- UN, IRC, ILO, WHO all based here
- population 185,000
- rich playground of the international jet-set
- close to the French border
- located in the south west of Switzerland
- city of Protestant reformer Jean Calvin
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You would think the clever people at the UN,
the World Health Organisation, the Red Cross, the World Trade Organisation,
CERN, the UNHCR and the ILO can't all be wrong, and they're not:
Geneva is a great place to be – especially if you can afford
it.
Geneva oozes well-heeled style and charm. On a clear day you can
see Mont Blanc. Wander the streets of the Vieille Ville (Old
Town), get caught in the spray of the Jet D'Eau, check out
the flower clock (if you must!) in the nearby Jardin Anglais,
take a dip in Lake Geneva and then settle down at a trendy lakeside
cafe. You won't fail to be captivated this most international of
Swiss - indeed European - cities. And its beauty goes further than
skin deep: in 2006 it was again named the city with the second best
living standards in the world (after Switzerland's largest city,
Zurich).
Geneva sits at the far south western tip of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman
to the French) that curves like a banana about 50km (30 miles) out
east. The city is split by the Rhone river, which starts out westwards
from the lake. The Old Town and the famous Jet D'Eau (the Jet of
Water) are on the bank of the lake south of the Rhone. The railway
station and the United Nations building are on the other
side.
 The
first recorded use of the name Geneva was by Julius Caesar. The
Romans had taken over this area from its previous occupants, the
Celts. Successive invasions saw control of the city pass through
the hands of Burgundians, Franks, Merovingians, Carolingians until
the 1500s. Around this time the city began to grow in importance
and its fairs became internationally renowned.
From the mid-1500s, Protestant reformer Jean Calvin was active
in the city, and it earned the nickname ‘The Protestant Rome',
attracting floods of refugees fleeing persecution in other parts
of Europe. In 1602 an invasion by the Duke of Savoy was repulsed,
and nowadays celebrations of this event (l'Escalade) are the
city's most important festival.
In 1792 Genevans overthrew their ancien régime
aristocratic leaders and declared a republic, which was swiftly
annexed by France. With Napoleon's defeat and the carving up of
his Empire in 1813, Geneva opted to join the Swiss Confederation,
and was accepted in 1815. The Red Cross came to life here in 1864,
and then the League of Nations after World War I.
Sights
Palais Des Nations - The UN Building was constructed as
the headquarters of the League of Nations, and the United Nations
moved in here after World War II. You have to bring a passport if
you want to get in. Tours last about an hour. Lines 13 & 15
go to the stop ‘Nations' from the Railway Station or from
either side of Pont D'Ile. Open 10am-noon and 2pm-4pm, closed weekends
Nov-Mar. Open all day (10am-4pm) Jul-Aug. Adults/under-18s/concessions
8.50/4/6.50 SFr.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is nearby
the UN Headquarters at 17 Avenue de la Paix. (See Geneva
Museums)
Jet D'Eau - The world's tallest fountain sprays out an
incredible 500 litres of water per second, at a speed of 200km/h,
creating a fountain 140m tall. If you can't find it, you're probably
not in Geneva. The fountain is lit up after dark.
Nearby the Jet D'Eau is the Jardin Anglais - home to the
flower clock. From here you can take a ferry to Rive Gauche
on the other side of the lake and enjoy the delightful promenade
and, on a good day, the sight of the city of Geneva with the Alps,
and their crowning glory, Mont Blanc, towering behind it.
Old Town (Vieille Ville)
If you start from the Pont du Mont Blanc on the South
bank and head away from the River and the Lake, up the slope, you'll
find yourself in the Old Town of cobbled streets and tall, shuttered
buildings.
Sights within and around the Old Town include:
 Cathédrale
de St Pierre (St Peter's Cathedral) is a mish-mash of different
architectural styles. The earliest remaining section dates from
1160, with various additions tacked on over the ages. This church
was where Jean Calvin preached during his time in the city, and
has a wooden chair which once belonged to him.
Going up the 157 steps of the tower costs 4 SFr and affords panoramic
views of the city (June-Sept: Mon-Sat 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun 12am-6.30pm;
Oct-May: Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 12am-5.30pm). Just outside the
church is the entry to the Site Archéologique, or
Archeological Site. Excavations have been going on under the church
for 30 years, and have unearthed evidence of the site being used
for Christian activities since around 300AD (Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Adults/concessions 8/4 SFr, under-6s free).
Musée Internationale de la Réforme (the International
Museum of the Reformation) traces the course of that historical
event and the life of Jean Calvin, and has a gift shop selling,
amongst other things, Reformation baseball caps! (Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Adults/Concessions 10/7/5 SFr). A combined ticket which includes
the cathedral and towers, the archeological site, and the museum
costs 16 SFr.
Place Neuve east of the Cathedral is a cultural focal point.
It features a statue of General Dufour, the founder of the Red Cross
(and supposedly the first person to draw a map of Switzerland).
The city's three theaters (see below) are all to be found here,
as well as the Rath Museum, which holds temporary fine art exhibitions
(Tue-Sun 9am-5pm, adults/concessions 9/5 SFr, under-18s free).
Parc des Bastions - Bastions Park is just off Place Neuve.
Formerly a botanical garden, it is home to Geneva's best-known monument:
Monument de la Reformation, or Reformation Wall. At its center are
four enormous statues of great Calvinists (Calvin, Farel, Knox and
Bèze) surrounded by other Protestant figures like Oliver
Cromwell.
Place du Bourg de Four, just behind the Cathedral, was
the heart of the Old Town, and a center of commerce for centuries.
Now it's a place to meet your friends and chill.
Geneva Museums
 Geneva
boasts over 50 musuems. Besides those listed above, here is a selection
of some others.
Maison Tavel, Geneva's oldest house, contains a museum
of urban Genevan life and a scale model of pre-1850 Geneva (10am-5pm
Tue-Sun, entrance free except for temporary exhibits). It is a stone's
throw from the Cathedral: head north-west, then turn left down Rue
de Puits St-Pierre.
Éspace Rousseau is a museum dedicated to the life
of the philosopher born in Geneva in 1712. (Tues-Sun 11am-5.30pm,
5 SFr). From Maison Tavel, head a little further down Rue de Puits-St
Pierre, then turn right up Grand-Rue.
Musée international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge
(the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum) is about the
hundred years and more of good deeds done by the Red Cross, but
inevitably also ends up being about all the atrocities committed
by man against man over the years, too. It is right next to the
UN building.
Open 10am-5pm every day except Tuesday. Take Bus no.8 from Cornavin
railway station heading for 'OMS' or 'Appia'. Get off at Appia bus
stop (12 min.). Adults/concessions
10/5 SFr, under-12s free.
International Automobile Museum. Illustrates the history
of the car with an exhibit of over 300 vehicles through the generations.
Also explains the impact of the automotive industry on the economic
and social environment. At 40 Voie-des-Traz. Open Wed-Fri 1.30pm-6.30pm,
Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Closed Mon & Tue. 12 SFr, under-6s free.
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Geneva's most cutting
edge major art exhibition space. Housed in an old factory, exhibiting
works from the 1960s to the present. At 10 Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers.
Open Tue-Fri noon-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm. Closed Mon. Adults/concessions
8/6 SFr, under-18s free.
Museum of Geneva Military History. "An overview of Geneva's
military history from 1813 to this day." At 18 Chemin de l'Impératrice,
1292 Pregny-Chambésy. Open Tue-Sat 2pm-5pm, Sun 10am-noon
and 2pm-5pm. Closed on Monday. Free entry.
Geneva Photography Center. Founded in 1984 to assert photography's
place among the fine arts. In the Centre d'Art du Grütli at
16 Rue du Général-Dufour. Open Tue-Fri 2pm-6pm, Sat
2pm-5pm. Closed Sund-Mon. Free entry.
Olympic Museum, Lausanne. Actually 65km out of Geneva in
Lausanne on the north west shore of Lake Geneva. A high-tech overview
of the Olympic Movement and highlights of the various Olympic events.
Situated in beautiful surroundings. Includes the Olympic Park. At
1 Quai d'Ouchy, CH-1001 Lausanne. Open every day 9am-6pm, Apr-Oct;
Nov-Mar, closed Monday.
Theaters
Geneva's two main theaters are on Place Neuve: the Grand Théâtre
de Genève and the Victoria Hall.
Grand Théâtre de Genève is the main
theater, with all the drama, ballet and opera you would expect.
For what's on, check out www.geneveopera.ch in French, or ask at
the Tourist Office.
Victoria Hall is devoted to classical music and home to
the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (www.osr.ch).
Down by the river is Bâtiment des Forces Motrices,
a former hydraulic power station, now converted into a concert hall.
CERN
CERN is the French language acronyn for the European Organization
for Nuclear Research, the world's largest particle physics center,
situated about 10km north-west of Geneva station. According to its
website: 'CERN is a laboratory where scientists unite to study the
building blocks of matter and the forces that hold them together.'
CERN has a permanent exhibition called Microcosm,
open Monday to Saturday, 9am-5.30pm, to demonstrate to the curious
what it does.
For the even more curious, the CERN Visits Service organizes free
guided tours of the CERN facilities themselves from Monday to Saturday,
9am and 2pm. However, a reservation
must be made 3-4 months in advance.
Swimming
 Geneva
has a beautiful beach in the Bain de Paquis. It is on the left bank
of the Rhone on a pier straight across from the right bank pier
featuring the Jet d'Eau. It costs 1CHF to enter in summer, but for
the rest of the year it free. A free and easy atmosphere reigns
at the Bain de Paquis, and it is the ideal spot not only for taking
it easy, but taking in the rest of the diverse crowd. It has swimming
holes, diving boards, and a reputable cafe.
Carouge
The closest thing somewhat stiff-collared Geneva has to an alternative
quarter is the little township of Carouge. Touted by the tourist
office as the 'Greenwich Village of Geneva', while it has a long
way to go to match that level of street hip, it nevertheless offers
an enjoyable atmosphere of quiet streets dotted with artists' and
artisans' studios and stores, quaint cafes, and nightspots that
are a far cry from the brash trashiness that characterizes what
mainstream club scene Geneva has. Also, if you're a shopaholic,
go no further than Carouge. This is boutique central.
Carouge is just across the Arve River and can be got to via a 15-minute
tram ride (tram no.13) from Cornavin train station. Of the three
recommended places to alight: Armes, Place du Marché or Ancienne,
the Place du Marché, Carouge's traditional marketplace square,
is probably the best spot to explore the area from. A good street
to start on is the artisans' street: Rue St-Joseph. It is lined
with stores of all types featuring a wide range of skilfully crafted
creative endeavor. Carouge is famous for its gated gardens and courtyards,
most of which are freely accessible.
Festivals
June
 Fête
de la musique held 22-24 June in 2007. This is Geneva's main
music bash of the year. Musicians of all genres come from all over
the world to perform: classical, rock, jazz, techno, street music...it's
all here.
July
Strangely enough, Geneva has the largest celebrations of US
Independence Day outside the US.
August & Sept
Swiss National Day celebrations on August 1 are followed by the
Fêtes de Genève in early August with free shows,
concerts, cycling events, fireworks and more www.fetes-de-geneve.ch
La Bâtie de Genève features avant-garde music
and theater in late August/September www.batie.ch
December
L'Escalade commemorates the failed attempt by the Duke
of Savoy to take Geneva in 1602 with costume parades by torchlight.
Tourist Office
Geneve Tourisme & Bureau des Congres
rue du Mont-Blanc 18
Case postale 1602
1211 Geneva 1
Tel. +41 (0)22 909 70 00
Fax +41 (0)22 909 70 11
info[at]geneve-tourisme.ch
www.geneve-tourisme.ch
Getting There
Geneva is served by Geneva International Airport (tel: 022 717
71 11), 5kms north west of downtown, which has connections to other
European and worldwide destinations. There are frequent trains from
the airport to Gare de Cornavin or take bus #10.
Train
The main station, Gare de Cornavin (tel: 0990 300 300), links
Geneva with major Swiss cities and other international destinations
including Paris by TGV. For local services to Evian, Chamonix and
Annecy in France use the tiny Gare de Eaux-Vives (trams #12 and
#16 from the center of Geneva).
Bus
Geneva is surrounded by France and the only Swiss autoroute in
to Geneva is the N1 from Lausanne. International buses arrive at
Gare Routière (tel: 022 732 02 30) on Place Dorcière.
There are departures to many European destinations including to
Portugal (Viana
do Castelo, Porto,
Setubal),
Germany (Munich),
Austria (Salzburg,
Vienna) Italy, Croatia,
Romania and other countries.
Boat
There are boats (including paddle steamers!) operated by CGN -
Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman
(tel: 0848 811 848) to Geneva from Lausanne, Evian and Nyon. Small
mouettes (cruisers) shuttle across the lake from Pâquis to
Molard, Eaux-Vives and Genève-plage and Genève-plage
to Perle du Lac.
Getting Around
Is not too much effort getting around the center on foot though
Geneva has a very well integrated bus and tram service. City trams
are numbered whereas trams to the suburbs or into France have letters.
If you have a Swiss Pass you travel free.
Maps of the tram & bus system are obtainable from the Tourist
Office or TPG offices (Tranports Publics Genevois) at the train
station or at the Rive interchange. There are a variety of discount
travel cards available.
On Friday and Saturday nights the TPG runs an infrequent night
bus service - Noctambus.
Rent
A Car With Holiday Autos
Rent
A Car With Sixt
Featured Hotel
Bristol
Hotel - the 4 Star Bristol is close to the Old Town and lake
shore.
Book Accommodation in Basel
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Eating
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 Football
Teams
Servette FC was founded in 1890. The club are multiple winners
of the Swiss Cup and have won a total of 17 Swiss titles. The club
was demoted to the second-tier of Swiss football in 2005 after the
club was declared bankrupt after financial mismanagement by the
owners and at present (2007) are still there. Servette FC play their
home games at the 30,000 capacity Stade
de Geneve, a new stadium completed in 2003, moving from their
previous, dilapidated 9,000 capacity Charmilles Stadium.
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