Geneva

Ile Rousseau

Small island named after the famous philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Jet d'Eau

One of the crowning symbols of Geneva is the monumental Jet d'Eau, a fountain of water pumped 140m into the air. The spectacular plume was once an occasional pressure release for hydro-power generation on the Rhône River, but people liked it so much that in 1891 the city created a permanent pumped fountain. It's beautifully lit at night. Best viewed from a distance — the surrounding half kilometer is soaked with water. However, the more adventurous might want to try the pathway leading right up to the Jet d'eau -- prepare to get enjoyably wet!

Originally built to house the League of Nations, the Palais is worth visiting just to take in the magnificent Assembly Hall, in addition to the large collection of public art, the library, and the landscaped grounds.

Eaux-Vives

While many of Geneva's buildings are similar in style to what you would find in French cities, the Mairie of Eaux-Vives is a great example of the typical Swiss architecture you would find in cities like Zürich. If you're interested in modern architecture, also visit Rue Saint-Laurent for "La Clarté", an avant-garde building designed by Le Corbusier in 1931/32. Another interesting attraction here is the Russian Orthodox Church built 1859-1866 with its golden cupolas.

Monument Brunswick

An impressive monument, constructed in 1873 as a Mausoleum for the Duke of Brunswick, as a replica of the tomb of the Scaligeri family in Verona 14th century. Also worth visiting for the 5 star hotels and the cars in front of them.

The new Espace Saint Pierre pass includes entrance to all three sites of Cour Saint-Pierre, a noteworthy space of unique spiritual and cultural importance. The Cathedral and its towers, originally Catholic, both embody the high point of the Reformed tradition and explore the origins of Christianity with an extensive archaeological site and they are now complemented by the International Museum of the Reformation on the ground floor of the Maison Mallet. An underground passage, reopened when the Museum was created, connects the two buildings. The archeological tour (http://www.geneve-tourism...) beneath the cathedral is excellent for those interested in such material and it explains the origins not only of the cathedral but the reason for Geneva's location back to pre-Roman times. Those willing to climb the steps of the Cathedral's towers will be rewarded with magnificent views of Geneva and the lake. Nearby, the Auditoire, where Calvin taught, completes a complex that is both representative of the past and open to current questions. The new Espace Saint-Pierre thus aims to contribute to our understanding of today’s world – between tradition and modernity, cultural experimentation and spiritual practice. These three buildings invite the visitor to explore the city’s history. Religious denominations aside, Espace Saint Pierre represents a spirit that continues to guide the city and citizens of Geneva today. For schedules and information about free live organ performances in the cathedral, go to the website (http://www.concerts-cathe...)

Jardin anglais

Small garden at the lake where people like to spend their lunch break. See the famous Flower Clock.

L'Ile

Worth visiting for the old Tour de L'Ile, the remains of a fortified castle erected in the 13th century. Very good.

Place Neuve

See the impressive Grand Theatre 1879, renovated after a fire in 1951, the Conservatoire de musique, and the Musée Rath. Also visit the Parc des Bastions, which includes a large wall "Mur des Réformateurs" showing some of the famous people of the Reformation movement.

Carouge

A suburb of Geneva that once belonged to the Kingdom of Sardinia and hence retains a distinct Italian flavour.

An area with interesting shops and most importantly, a series of residential buildings called "les Schtroumpfs" 1982-1984, where the architects tried to avoid all straight lines, leading to an unconventional Gaudi-like appearance.

Occupying a big chunk of what would otherwise be the UN campus, the Ariana Museum offers a huge collection 16,000 pieces of ceramics from around Europe and the far East.

Late modern, post-modern, and contemporary works by internationally known artists, as well as a special collection of Swiss conceptual work.

Geneva has a nice museum which is worth a visit, especially if you have youth and children.

Extensive art and archaeological-historical collections. Painting gallery extends back to the early Renaissance, but is most extensive in Swiss-French and Impressionist works.