« SWITZERLAND • Discover Switerland • Geneva

Discover magical Geneva & Surrounds

Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zurich). It is situated where Lake Geneva flows into the Rhone River. Geneva is widely regarded as a global city, mainly due to the presence of numerous international organisations, including the European headquarters of the United Nations.

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» Carouge

Carouge is where Geneva goes to unwind. It was ever thus: what is now a suburb started life outside the then city walls in the mid 18th century as a parcel of land belonging to the King of Sardinia, who hoped it would provide refuge for Catholics and other minorities from puritanical Protestant Geneva. The area still bears the imprint of the Italian architects he drafted to design the area. This charming district has developed over the years into something of a bohemian center …

» Chamonix

A popular day trip from Geneva, the village of Chamonix, or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, lies on the French side of the France-Switzerland border at the foot of the imposing Mont Blanc - Western Europe's highest peak. The resort, one of the oldest and most famous in France, is not only a hotspot for skiers and snowboarders, with ski runs catering for all levels, but has earned itself a stellar reputation for winter sports and adventure activities …

» Chateau de Chillon (Chillon Castle)

Jutting out off the shore of Lake Geneva, close by the French border, Switzerland's most fairytale-like castle is a vision of Gothic grandeur, entirely encircled in water and reachable via the reconstructed remains of an ancient drawbridge. The medieval Chateau de Chillon (Chillon Castle) features rounded turrets, sloping roofs and an impressive roman fortification system, as well as housing a fascinating network of passageways, rooms and outhouses behind its picturesque facade …

» English Garden (Jardin Anglais)

Some 20 per cent of Geneva is covered in parks, of which the most popular is the Jardin Anglais, boasting a superb position on Lake Geneva. Since 1854 it has been a meeting point for locals and tourists alike, its grand established trees, stately fountains and sculptures of the city's noteworthy artists evoking the elegance of an unhurried age. A bandstand hosts concerts in the warmer months. Other highlights include a national monument commemorating Geneva joining the Swiss Confederation in 1814 …

» Geneva Flower Clock

A masterful marriage of horticulture and technology, the Geneva Flower Clock is one of Geneva's most striking landmarks, a gigantic clock face fashioned from over 6,500 plants and flowers. Located in the picturesque Jardin Anglais (English Garden), the iconic timepiece was built in 1955 in honor of the city's internationally renowned watchmaking industry and is now one of Geneva's most photographed sights. This is no mere monument - the Geneva Flower Clock is also a fully functioning clock …

» Geneva Old Town

Geneva's Old Town (Vieille Ville) contains some of the city's foremost attractions, including the Barbier-Mueller Museum, the Cathedrale St-Pierre and the Maison Tavel. It is also the site of the International Museum of the Reformation, which underlines Geneva's importance in the great religious upheavals of the 16th century, particularly through the work of French theologian John Calvin, who lived and preached here. But this historically significant district offers much more than just indoor pursuits …

» Gruyeres

Cheese lovers have likely already penciled Gruyeres at the top of their itinerary, but the pretty medieval town has more to offer than its long history of cheese making. Boasting an idyllic alpine setting in the Canton of Fribourg, Gruyeres is undeniably photogenic, with its sloping cobblestone streets and beautifully preserved medieval buildings. The car-free town lies in the shadows of the 13th century Chateau de Gruyeres, the one-time home of the Counts of Gruyeres …

» International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum

The Red Cross is one of the numerous international bodies associated with Geneva. This museum pursues its progress from the mid-19th century, when local businessman Henry Dunant first conceived of a transnational group which would help the afflicted in times of need. The chronologically arranged exhibits follow this great humanitarian organization through the unparalleled destruction of the 20th century to the present day, where the Red Cross …

» Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)

Lake Geneva (Lac Leman to the locals) is land-locked Switzerland's largest body of water, though most of its southern shore is in French territory. The lake is ringed by Alps and almost any point along the shore offers jaw-dropping scenery, as well as some of the most sought-after real estate in the world. More active visitors can swim, dive, windsurf and row in the warmer months. The western extremity of the lake is dominated by the city of Geneva …

» Lausanne

Sitting bang in the middle of the northern shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) in French-speaking Switzerland, Lausanne is a sophisticated, cultured city surrounded by wine-growing regions and with a wonderful backdrop of snow-capped Alps. With its origins in Roman times, it has developed among the lakeside hills and exists on several different levels, spanned by a multitude of bridges. The heart of Lausanne is its medieval core, dominated by Switzerland's biggest and most flamboyant Gothic cathedral …

» Lavaux Vineyard Terraces

Used for growing grape vines since at least the 11th century (and probably as far back as Roman times), this 18-mile, 2,050-acre stretch of terraced vine-rows across the Swiss canton of Vaud is one of the world's most remarkable examples of human interaction with a natural landscape. The southern-facing terraces, which maintain a mild climate within a country known for its spectacular winters, are famed for producing the Chasselas grape, which make a full, dry and fruity white wine that fueled the local economy for centuries …

» Maison Cailler Chocolaterie

Have you ever watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in your childhood and wished you could go on a trip to such a magical place yourself? This dream might still come true. There is hardly a more fitting place to delve into the world of chocolate than at the oldest chocolate manufacturer in Switzerland, La Maison Cailler Chocolaterie. The exhibition shows visitors the origin of chocolate and takes them from the realm of the Aztecs in Mexico, who drank chocolate before a battle …

» Montreux

Lake Geneva is Europe's largest freshwater lake, lying in both France and Switzerland and bordered by the cities of Geneva and Lausanne as well as the charming towns of Vevey and Montreux. On the eastern tip of the lake in French-speaking Switzerland, Montreux has a wonderful location pinned between the lake, the UNESCO-listed vineyards of the Lavaux region and the Swiss Alps. Montreux's Vieille-Ville (Old Town) forms a little knot of brightly painted wooden houses uphill from the modern lakeside town …

» Palace of United Nations (Palais des Nations Unis)

The Palais des Nations Unis - or Palace of United Nations - is a monumental structure worthy of the European home of the United Nations, the international organization's most important seat outside of New York. The neo-classical complex was originally built in the early 1930s as the headquarters of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the UN. These days it hosts major global conferences as well as numerous smaller meetings …

» Water Fountains (Jet d'Eau)

If you've seen a panoramic view of Geneva you've most likely seen the huge lake Water Fountains, or Jet d'Eau, with its commanding position at the point where the River Rhone empties into Lake Geneva. It started life in the 19th century as a humble safety valve for a hydraulic installation, but is now the city's foremost symbol. With every second, some 130 gallons of water are propelled at 125 miles an hour to a maximum height of 150 yards (that's 500 liters at 200 km/h reaching 140 meters) …

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