Geneva is a city onto itself and this independent republic only became a Swiss canton in the 16th century. To this day the Swiss city of Geneva is referred to as the ‘République et Canton de Genève’.
For years people have gone to Switzerland and Geneva to rest and recuperate from illnesses due to the wonderful fresh mountain air.
Geographically Geneva is defined by the lake which it was built around, and Lake Geneva is the second largest freshwater lake in Europe.
One of the most incredible sights in Geneva can be seen in the middle of the lake. The Jet D’Eau is a stream of water which rises more than 100 metres up into the air from Lac Leman and is lit up dazzlingly at night.
Historically Geneva is most famous for being the birthplace of Calvinism. Jean Calvin fled there to get away from Catholic persecutors in France and he used Geneva as the starting point for the Reformation. To find out more about Calvinism you should visit the wonderful Cathédrale St Pierre where Calvin taught and which was built in celebration of the Reformation. Entry is free but donations are welcome.
Today Geneva is the home of the International Committee of the Red Cross and so is known as a major centre of international diplomacy. Many of Geneva’s work force are part of the United Nations (UN) organisation.
Another fascinating building to see in Geneva is the Palais des Nations which was built to house the League of Nations, an inter government organization set up to administer justice after the First World War.
The Palais des Nations, contains a library and art collection among beautiful landscaped grounds. Situated at the Avenue de la Paix, the Palais des Nations is open daily.
Of course there are a multitude of other art galleries and museums which are open to the public in Geneva.
Given the position of Geneva in the midst of the French and Swiss Alps it is an ideal location from which to go skiing. If you choose car hire Geneva then be sure to ask for the necessary skiing gear such as snow tires to go along with your vehicle. From Geneva it is possible to take a day trip by car to beautiful places in the surrounding Alps such as Lake Annecy.
Arriving at Geneva you will fly into Geneva international airport which can be reached from American airports in Newark and New York as well as most European cities. If you are travelling from Britain to Geneva then you are sure to find cheap Easyjet flights.
When you are driving in Geneva you need to have a sticker in order to use the motorways and this costs about 40 Swiss Francs. The Swiss have not adopted the Euro and although various languages are spoken in different parts of Switzerland, French is the language of Geneva.
When in Geneva be sure to try some of the Swiss speciality dishes such as fondue, chocolate and cheese, all of which are made to perfection in this mountainous area of Europe. There are far too many restaurants, bars and cafes for all different budgets in Geneva to mention here. However, you should reserve accommodation in advance as it can be quite pricey and tends to book up in advance of government events. There are a couple of youth hostels for the budget conscious.
Currently Geneva has been in the news for being where the incredible Hadron Collider is in operation. This massive machine is more than 20 miles in circumference alone and is a great experiment in particle physics. The full abilities of the Hadron Collider, which has had some hitches along the way, are not yet known.
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