Geneva is a very cosmopolitan city.
Geneva, international meeting place, the smallest of the
world's metropolises, peace capital of the world. The population is
primarily French-speaking.
The rural areas produce fruit, vegetables,
cereals, and wine; industry and population are centred in the city of Geneva
( pop. 171,042), the capital of the canton.
Its location on the south-western
shore of Lake Geneva (called Lac Leman in French) imparts a relaxed
and graceful atmosphere to the city. The emblematic Jet d'Eau, a tall stream of
water gushing from the lake, is another elegant feature canton SW Switzerland, surrounding the southwest tip of the Lake of Geneva.
One of
the smallest cantons, Geneva is in the plain between the Jura and the Alps.
It borders on Vaud canton for 3.5 mi (5.6 km) in the north, but otherwise it
is almost entirely surrounded by French territory. Geneva is a cultural,
financial, and administrative centre. Its major industries are trade,
banking, insurance, and the manufacture of precision machinery, watches, jewellery, chemicals, and food. Among its historic buildings are the Cathedral
of St. Pierre (12th–14th cent.), the 16th-century town hall, and the 18th-century palace of
justice. The University of Geneva ( founded as an academy by John Calvin in
1559) faces the noted Reformation monument. The Museum of Modern and
Contemporary Art opened in 1994. A very high fountain on the south shore of
the lake has become a symbol of the city.
Divide your time between walks in parks festooned with autumnal foliage along
wintery shores and quays and museum visits, go shopping and attend top-quality
cultural events. Choose from theatre, opera, ballet, the cinema, concerts,
cabarets and thirty museums. Or would a gourmet meal in one of Geneva's many
outstanding restaurants, five rated with Michelin Guide stars, strike your
fancy? Perhaps you'd like to visit the nearby Jura or Alpine skiing areas?
Geneva - the ideal combination of big-city ambience and country calm, elegant
city life and open-air sports - has it all.
Stroll through the Old Quarter, which is dotted with fountains, sculptures
and frescoes. At the centre of the quarter is Bourg-de-Four, the city's oldest
square and still a popular gathering place.Be
sure to visit the interesting archaeological dig under the cathedral. The Hotel
de Ville (town hall) is just south of the cathedral. A short walk to the west is
Place de Neuve, which is the main heart of the city's cultural life, with
several theatres and museums nearby. You'll also find a wide array of boutiques
in the Old Quarter, particularly ones that sell jewellery, watches and designer
goods.