Geneva is the second most-populous city in Switzerland, located in the French-speaking part, and is well known for playing host to the headquarters of many international organisations including the United Nations and the Red Cross. But aside from business, the city offers plenty for tourists as the gateway to the Alps, sitting beside a peaceful lake.
Of course, Geneva is known as the home to the greatest Swiss chocolate makers and watchmakers, but there are numerous sights and attractions to delight.
Geneva International Motor Show (7-17 March 2019)
Image Credit: Falcon® Photography
The Geneva International Motor Show is one of the 5 major shows in the world and, taking place every spring, it’s a favourite for manufacturers to present their most recent creations before they hit the market. Over 900 cars are presented to visitors and the media from around the world, usually numbering at around 700,000. This year, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy is continuing its campaign encouraging and recognising vehicles that respect the environment, and TAG Heuer will exhibit a homage to the world of motorsports.
CERN
Image Credit: Ryan Boyle
Science lovers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to take a free guided tour around CERN, where the Large Hadron Collider is located, and view two of the permanent exhibitions on the site - Microcosm, and the Universe of Particles within the Globe of Science and Innovation. You’ll have the opportunity to find out more about the apparatus used by physicists at CERN, and explore the issues that those scientists are trying to solve: where do the particles in our universe come from, and why do they behave in the way they do? For guided visits, remember to book your place in advance.
Old Town
Image Credit: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo
Geneva’s Old Town is a maze of narrow streets, pretty squares, and historical stone-fronted buildings, filled with restaurants, cafes and sights. The Place du Bourg-de-Four, the oldest square in Geneva, is not to be missed and is just a stone’s throw from St Peter’s Cathedral, the Old Arsenal, and the Maison Tavel, the city’s museum of history. The famous Reformation Wall in Parc des Bastions is a short walk away.
Jardin Anglais
Image Credit: Lynn Rainard
The Jardin Anglais is full of peaceful paths just a short distance from the city centre. A bronze fountain stands in the middle, and a living clock made up of about 12,000 flowers and plants to fit the season. It tells the time with Swiss precision and has the world’s longest second hand, at 2.5 metres.
Jet d’Eau
Image Credit: Richard Fritzson
One of Geneva’s star attractions is the magnificent 140-metre high water jet which has 500 litres of water passing through it per second at a speed of 200km per hour. Initially used for distributing the Rhone’s propelling force to the city’s craftspeople, it has been at the centre of Geneva’s harbour since 1891.
Pâquis District
Image Credit: Dennis Jarvis
A vibrant area of the town, where you can stroll to the Bains des Pâquis beach in the middle of the city, explore a mix of restaurants and shops reflecting a diverse, multicultural range of residents, and visit the Pâquis jetty with its lighthouse.
Place des Nations
Image Credit: Faustino Garcia
In the centre of Geneva, outside the Palais des Nations, the United Nations HQ, is a public square with granite slabs in colours to symbolise the diversity of nations, and water jets shooting up from the ground. The 12 metre high, three-legged ‘Broken Chair’ artwork by Daniel Berset has stood in the Place since 1997 to remember the victims of landmines. At the entrance to the UN there is a large ceramic mosaic for peace, created by the Swiss artist Hans Erni.
Title Image Credit: Guilhem Vellut (Image Cropped)