Geneva (German: Genf, French: Geneve, 375 m above sea level, ca. 170,000 inhabitants)
Geneva is the Swiss centre of world culture, the capital of the eponymous canton of Geneva, situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, which is the largest in the country. The International Red Cross also runs its humanitarian programmes from here.
But Geneva is not just a congress city, it is a true centre of history and culture, a great place for exhibitions and fairs.
Sights
Saint Peter’s Cathedral – built between 1160 and 1232, which explains its mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Beneath the cathedral are the ruins of older churches that can be viewed.
Reformation Wall– was erected in 1917 to honour the great reformers. On the wall you can see bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the history of the Reformation and statues of the founders of this movement.
Fontaine Jeu Do – the symbol of the city, the jets of the fountain reach 145 m and symbolise the aspiration upwards, into the realm of the spirit.
The Flower Clock – a truly unique and curious attraction of Geneva – six and a half thousand fresh flowers are used to create this clock. By the way, their second hand, 2.5 metres long, is the largest in the world.
Place Bourg-de-Four – the centre of the ancient city, the site of the ancient Roman forum, a market square in the Middle Ages, where the Palace of Justice is located.
Russian Church – built in 1865-1866, designed by St. Petersburg architect Grimm, with the financial support of Grand Duchess Anna Fyodorovna. The church has many icons of the XVI-XIX centuries, and the iconostasis is made of marble.
Museums
International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent – represents the history of the first humanitarian organisation in the world. Museum of Watches – it has a rare collection of watches created by the hands of Swiss and European masters of the XVI-XX centuries. Museum of Art and History – this museum houses one of Switzerland’s most important collections of art from the Middle Ages to the 19th and early 20th centuries.
