Guy Julius Caesar also mentioned the city called Geneva, but a settlement where the Rhone River flows from a large lake appeared here long before the arrival of the Romans. Today, Geneva is a major economic, financial and cultural center not only in Switzerland, but also in the world. The city is full of beautiful places and magnificent architectural monuments, as well as the offices of many international organizations. We will go to the south of Switzerland and visit the most beautiful and popular sights of Geneva.
1
Palace of Nations
In the very center of Geneva in the 30s of the twentieth century, a magnificent architectural ensemble was built, which housed the international organization League of Nations.
In 1946, the United Nations moved here, and this became the second most important (after New York) branch of this organization. The palace is open for tourists, and the most impressive building is the Human Rights Hall, which opened in 2008.
Be prepared that you will be asked to present a document at the entrance, since it is impossible to get inside the Palais des Nations without an identity card.
2
Burg de Fours Square
Once in the Old Town, tourists must visit the majestic Burg de Fur Square, with which, in fact, begins acquaintance with the sights of Geneva.
This significant place has been known since the time of the Roman Empire, when the market functioned here, and lively trade in cattle was going on. Over time, the square was transformed, a beautiful fountain functions on it, the building of the city hall is located.
The favorite place of romantic meetings overlooks the square - Promenade de la Trey. By the way, on the site most-beauty.ru there is a fascinating article about the most beautiful streets in the world.
3
City Hall
For five centuries, the Town Hall building is the main center of the city’s political and urban life.
The building combines various architectural styles, and frescoes and wide arcades give it lightness and elegance. Now there is a city hall in it, and instead of a staircase a convenient ramp leads to the building.
Geneva cannot live without surprises, and in the summer months classical music concerts are held in the courtyard of the Town Hall performed by leading world orchestras.
4
Je-Do Fountain
The Geneva fountain on the lake of the same name is considered the most powerful in the world, and for the first time, Geneva and guests of the city were able to enjoy the splendor of the beating water jet in 1886.
Five years later, he was transferred to the place where he is now. The height of the Geneva fountain is 147 meters, but 500 seconds of water soars upwards in a second. In addition, the jet speed is 200 km / h.
In 1951, reconstruction was made, and now the water is taken directly from the lake, and not from the water supply, as before. You can see this miracle on Lake Geneva at any time. It is turned off only with strong gusts of wind and in frost.
5
Basilica of Notre Dame
A guide to Geneva will surely lead to the main city Catholic cathedral, built in the tradition of Gothic architectural style in the 19th century.
The facade and external walls of the temple are decorated with magnificent stained-glass windows and bas-reliefs, and the structure itself is completely erected from sandstone. The main shrine of the temple is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary, made of white marble.
Everyone. Regardless of religion can visit Notre Dame. With the only condition for compliance with the dress code.
Our storerooms have a very interesting article about the most beautiful Gothic buildings in the world. There you will find masterpieces of Gothic architecture in photographs.
6
Angle Garden
Jardin Anglais, which literally translates as "English Park" was laid out on the site of an ancient harbor in 1855.
One of the main attractions of the landscape park is the floral clock, which has long become a romantic symbol of the city. In its present form, the clock counts the time since 1955, and for the first time the floral clockwork started working in 1903.
Here you can stroll along neat paths, as well as visit cozy coffee houses, from whose windows you can see the famous Geneva Fountain.
7
Saint Paul's Cathedral
On the websites of travel agencies, among the photographs of Geneva, the main religious attraction of the city - St. Peter's Cathedral, erected at the beginning of the XIII century.
The building is unique in that the synthesis of architectural styles led to a unique result, and such a monument of medieval architecture can not be found in other parts of Europe.
Here you can find elements of the Romanesque style, Baroque and Classicism, and the throne of the great reformer Jean Calvin is the main shrine.
8
Museum of Art and History
The largest museum in Switzerland dates back to 1789, and moved to its current building in 1910.
The expositions present unique exhibits, from masterpieces of painting to archaeological artifacts. In total, more than 650 thousand exhibits were collected under the roof of the museum.
The building itself is also of interest. Built in the style of classicism, it attracts attention with majestic columns on the facade and stone sculptures that harmoniously fit into the general interior of the building in the heart of Geneva.
9
Reformation Wall
On the territory of the University of Geneva, founded by Jean Calvin, is the Reformation Wall. This is a unique monument of statues and bas-reliefs of figures of the period of the Reformation.
The wall was erected in 1909, timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the birth of the Protestant reformer and the 350th anniversary of the founding of the University.
The wall stretches for 100 meters, and on both sides of the central largest statue is engraved the Latin motto “Post Tenebras Lux” - After darkness, light.
10
Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
The unique museum opened its doors to visitors in 1988, and in the period from 2011 to 2013 a radical reconstruction of the expositions was carried out.
Geneva is the birthplace of the Red Cross organization, and most of the museum’s exposition is dedicated to the initiators of the organization, Henri Dunant. You can visit the halls associated with world risks for humanity, the protection of law and dignity.
In a separate room you can find interactive recordings of leading contemporaries of the humanitarian movement.
11
Broken chair
A unique sculptural composition in the form of a chair with one broken leg appeared in front of the UN building in 1997. At this point, the building adopted a convention banning anti-personnel mines.
The adoption of the document was delayed, and the sculpture stood on the square until 2005, after which it was dismantled. In 2007, during the reconstruction of the Plaza of Nations, the chair was returned to its original place.
So it became a symbolic monument an original landmark of the city, reminiscent of the tragedies of military confrontations.
12
House Tavel
Fans of history and antiquity will appreciate the oldest house on the streets of Geneva, which belonged to the noble family of the Tavels.
According to the documents, the first wooden structure was built on this site in the middle of the XII century, and after the fire of 1334, in which the house, like most buildings, burned down, a stone building was built.
In the early 60s of the last century, the last tenants evicted from the house, and the city authorities established a museum in its rooms.
13
Ariana Museum
We will continue the description of significant places with a unique museum of ceramics and glass, which has long been popular among lovers of ceramic art and glass products.
In the halls there is a collection of 16 thousand copies of all kinds of ceramic dishes, as well as porcelain and stone products. The glass collection contains 2 thousand works of cheese-making art and glass engraving.
Exhibits are collected from different parts of our planet, made by the great masters of East and West.
14
Lake Geneva
The main natural attraction, of course, is Lake Geneva, on the banks of which a cozy and beautiful city has grown.
It is a record holder, as it is the largest in the Alps and ranks second largest in Central Europe after the Hungarian Lake Balaton. The mirror of the lake lies in the floodplain of the Rhone River and resembles a crescent in shape.
Comfortable resorts are located around, offering tourists all kinds of leisure activities and diverse entertainment. And above the lake itself majestic snow-capped peaks of the Alps rise.
15
La Grange Park
The most fragrant, and one of the most beautiful parks in Geneva, is located on the banks of the Lehman, which immerses you in the atmosphere of enchanting aromas and a kingdom of magnificent flowers.
Even the Romans appreciated the beauty of this area on the left bank of Lake Geneva. Now here is a unique rose garden, which contains the rarest varieties of this beautiful flower. In the center is a hill in which archaeologists have discovered cultural layers of the Neolithic.
In the summer, two summer theaters open in a wonderful landscape park, and for the kids, a small pool and many playgrounds with attractions begin to function.
16
Square Molar
You can experience the atmosphere of Geneva in the most romantic place of this European city - Molar Square.
At night, 2 thousand lanterns are lit underfoot, which welcome tourists in different languages of the world. On one of them the inscription in Russian “Hello!” Is also displayed.
The proximity to the port explains the presence on the square of many drinking establishments and restaurants operating here since the XIII century. Over time, bank buildings joined this splendor.
17
House of Jean-Jacques Rousseau
In this house at 40 Grand’Rue Case, in 1712, the greatest philosopher and enlightener Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born.
From here, having lived under the roof of his father’s house for 10 years, his parents sent him to a boarding house. In order to popularize the writer's teachings and in memory of his life and work, a museum was equipped here.
The creators did not try to recreate the interior of that time, although there are objects in the house that the philosopher used. For 25 minutes of a visual tour, visitors will briefly outline the main milestones of Rousseau's life, as well as the main points of his teachings.
18
Mausoleum of the Duke of Braunschweig
An interesting story is associated with the construction of this monument. The fact is that the Duke of Braunschweig, having made a great fortune in Paris, spent the last years of his life in Geneva.
In the will, he indicated. That will leave all its fortune to the city if a monument is erected in his honor. The duke died in 1873, and disputes began about the feasibility of executing the will, because earlier there were no mausoleums in the city.
Nevertheless, the tomb was erected, and it became a kind of part of the Alpine park, built in the Neo-Gothic style.
19
Mont Blanc Bridge
In 1862, a 250-meter bridge was thrown across the Rhone in a place where it flows from a magnificent lake, which has become a kind of symbol of the Swiss city.
From the bridge you can see the top of Mount Mont Blanc, in whose honor the engineering structure was named. The bridge offers scenic views of the lake and the city quarters.
Genevets believe that this place has the highest concentration of harmful gases, since the bridge connects two parts of the city, and, therefore, the largest number of cars is concentrated here.
20
Holy Cross Cathedral
It is worth mentioning in our list the magnificent Orthodox shrine erected in a Swiss city.
The Russian mission worked here for a long time, and in recognition of the city authorities allocated a small piece of land on which the handsome cathedral grew in 1866. Holy Cross Cathedral has become a stronghold of Orthodoxy in Switzerland and a kind of cultural center of the Russian world.
Large funds for the construction of the temple were allocated by Alexander II and his wife Maria Alexandrovna.
21
Bati Nature Reserve
Surprisingly, almost in the very center of Geneva you can find the inscription “Attention, cows” or “Caution, marmots bite”. And these inscriptions are hung in the Bati reserve, in which about 450 species of animals live today.
The initiator of the creation of such a park in the largest urban quarter of Jonction was a simple gardener named Du Bois. He picked up the wounded animals, and settled them in the park.
The Genevaers took the initiative, and over time, a magnificent reserve grew up here, in which wildlife animals found shelter.
22
Botanical Garden
We conclude the trip with a walk through the magnificent Botanical Garden, leading its history since 1817.
The initiator of the creation of this magnificence was the renowned botanist Augustin Piram de Candol. In 1904, the garden was registered in its modern place near the UN office. The garden itself is divided into thematic zones, in which the fauna of different corners of the planet is represented.
More than 12 thousand plant species grow in the territory and in beautiful greenhouses, and over 6 million plant specimens from around the world are collected in the herbarium.
By the way, you can learn about the most beautiful flowers or cacti in the world on the pages of our site most-beauty.ru.
Summarize
So we found out what to visit in a magnificent town and what this city is famous for in Switzerland and abroad. Note that the residents of the Swiss city are hospitable and very cheerful. A rare day is complete without a holiday where you can have a great time and have fun.
Article author: Valery Skiba