Capital of Geneva County, this border town is reputed for its great life environment and pleasant surroundings on the banks of the Geneva Lake. Here one will find the headquarters of numerous international institutions and organisations. Geneva itself is reputed for its cultural capital, from the Grand Theatre to its numerous museums, conservatories and botanical gardens. Don't forget to admire the famed Flower Clock, and of course the Jet d'Eau shooting a jet of water 140 metres skywards in the middle of the Lake… This impressive fountain is the city's emblem.
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Capital of Geneva County, this border town is reputed for its great life environment and pleasant surroundings on the banks of the Geneva Lake. Here one will find the headquarters of numerous international institutions and organisations. Geneva itself is reputed for its cultural capital, from the Grand Theatre to its numerous museums, conservatories and botanical gardens. Don't forget to admire the famed Flower Clock, and of course the Jet d'Eau shooting a jet of water 140 metres skywards in the middle of the Lake… This impressive fountain is the city's emblem.
Geneva was first mentioned in the archives in 58 AD; the city became a Roman centre under Julius Caesar. The city became a bishopric in the 4th century, then a capital in the year 443.
Geneva was conquered by the Franks in the year 534; these were times of tension between the bishop and count of Geneva. The city was annexed to the Holy Roman Empire in 1032, and the bishop thereafter established sovereignty under the Seyssel treaty. Later confirmed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, this treaty declared bishops independant and recognised as princes.
The year 1536 saw a great Reform, with Jean Calvin actively taking part in the city's political processes. The city's independence was recognised by the House of Savoy in 1603 with the Saint-Julien treaty. Following the "Geneva Revolutions", the city was claimed by France as the prefecture of the Léman county; this lasted from 1798 to 1814. Geneva became the seat of the League of Nationa in the wake of the Second World War, and later that of the UN and other organisations.
The Jet-d'Eau
This unusual fountain, the "Water-Jet", is the city's symbol. Imagine a fountain located at the end of a jetty in the middle of a lake, consisting of a column of water shooting 140 metres into the sky! The autonomous pumping system shoots 500 litres of water per second at 200km per hour…
Grand Théâtre de Genève
This edifice, modelled on the Garnier Opera by architect Jacques-Elisée Goss, was inaugurated in 1879. This stage, with a 1500-person capacity, hosts a variety of shows and boasts clear acoustics and visibility. It was renovated after a fire and reopened in 1962, having since become a veritable art institution.
Palais des Nations
The "Palace of Nations" has been the seat of the United Nations since 1946 - with the seat in New York, the Palace of Nations is taken to be a symbol of world peace. Over 25 000 delegates gather there every year to further the cause. The surrounding park is a haven of peace and welcomes many tourists throughout the year.
