Sights of Geneva
Cathédrale de St Pierre
The centre of town is dominated by the imposing, partially-Romanesque, partially-Gothic Cathédral de St Pierre. John Calvin preached here from 1536 to 1564; his seat outlasted him and still sits in the north aisle. Beneath the cathedral can be seen the crumbling remains of a much older church.
International Red Cross & Red Crescent Museum
Formed on the back of the Geneva Convention in 1864, the International Red Cross became the world's first humanitarian organisation. Its museum highlights the fascinating origins of the Red Cross (and Muslim adjunct, the Red Crescent), and presents a compelling multimedia trawl through atrocities perpetuated by humanity in recent history.
Jet d'Eau
The iconic Jet d'Eau, the world's tallest fountain, shoots water into the air with incredible force (200kmh/124mph and 1360 horsepower) to create a 140m (469ft) plume. At any one time seven tonnes of water is in the air and much of it can fall on spectators on the pier. The Jet is shut off during gusty weather.
L'Horloge Fleurie
A living tribute to Switzerland's most venerated industry, this colorful clock was built in 1955 despite a number of technical difficulties. It has a diameter of 5 meters and a circumference of 15.7 meters, and its 2.5 meter second hand is the longest in the world. The clock is painstakingly designed, encompassing 6,500 plants, and is set in the Jardin Anglais on the lakeside promenade. A new design is created every season, each one as tasteful as the last. It is one of Geneva's most photographed sites.
Daytrips
Day trips include a ferry ride on Lake Geneva (possibly from Geneva to Lausanne), a tour of one of the 21 castles on the lake or a hike through the nearby wine region with stops for samples along the way (follow one of the clearly marked vineyard routes). Geneva is also close to the border with France, making it a good base for exploring the French Alps.
Lausanne
Lausanne is the Olympic Capital, home to the IOC (International Olympic Committee). It has a beautifully relaxed setting, reaching from Geneva lakeside at Ouchy and up to the surrounding hills. Only 60km (37mi) from Geneva, Lausanne has a thriving arts scene of its own, with theatre, ballet and opera aplenty during the summer. The city has hosted such literary figures as Voltaire, Dickens, Byron and TS Eliot. Of special note is the Musée de l'Art Brut, which has a fantastic collection of unusual art by the strange.
The centre of town is dominated by the imposing, partially-Romanesque, partially-Gothic Cathédral de St Pierre. John Calvin preached here from 1536 to 1564; his seat outlasted him and still sits in the north aisle. Beneath the cathedral can be seen the crumbling remains of a much older church.
International Red Cross & Red Crescent Museum
Formed on the back of the Geneva Convention in 1864, the International Red Cross became the world's first humanitarian organisation. Its museum highlights the fascinating origins of the Red Cross (and Muslim adjunct, the Red Crescent), and presents a compelling multimedia trawl through atrocities perpetuated by humanity in recent history.
Jet d'Eau
The iconic Jet d'Eau, the world's tallest fountain, shoots water into the air with incredible force (200kmh/124mph and 1360 horsepower) to create a 140m (469ft) plume. At any one time seven tonnes of water is in the air and much of it can fall on spectators on the pier. The Jet is shut off during gusty weather.
L'Horloge Fleurie
A living tribute to Switzerland's most venerated industry, this colorful clock was built in 1955 despite a number of technical difficulties. It has a diameter of 5 meters and a circumference of 15.7 meters, and its 2.5 meter second hand is the longest in the world. The clock is painstakingly designed, encompassing 6,500 plants, and is set in the Jardin Anglais on the lakeside promenade. A new design is created every season, each one as tasteful as the last. It is one of Geneva's most photographed sites.
Daytrips
Day trips include a ferry ride on Lake Geneva (possibly from Geneva to Lausanne), a tour of one of the 21 castles on the lake or a hike through the nearby wine region with stops for samples along the way (follow one of the clearly marked vineyard routes). Geneva is also close to the border with France, making it a good base for exploring the French Alps.
Lausanne
Lausanne is the Olympic Capital, home to the IOC (International Olympic Committee). It has a beautifully relaxed setting, reaching from Geneva lakeside at Ouchy and up to the surrounding hills. Only 60km (37mi) from Geneva, Lausanne has a thriving arts scene of its own, with theatre, ballet and opera aplenty during the summer. The city has hosted such literary figures as Voltaire, Dickens, Byron and TS Eliot. Of special note is the Musée de l'Art Brut, which has a fantastic collection of unusual art by the strange.