Idea weekend: Geneva, 5 reasons to go there

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Regularly with the prize list of the cities most pleasant to live, Geneva has many assets for a successful escapade: a natural framework alluring at the edge of Léman, an old city in charge of history, museums of foreground, an intense cultural life and a beautiful balance between nature and town planning. A destination weekend which will surprise you, at 3:00 of Paris only in the TGV Lyria.

New! A guide of the Hitchhiker on Geneva The discrete charm of the high city Museums for all The Lake Geneva, so tempting Clock industry and other small Swiss happinesses Alternate Geneva: the culture medium Practical card

:: New! A guide of the Hitchhiker on Geneva New! The Hitchhiker publishes its first guide on Geneva: nearly 150 pages devoted to the city of Calvin to discover this city of art and culturewhere, between the Rhone and Léman, the lifestyle is not a vain mot. You will find all the good deals there to visit Geneva, its most emblematic museums, of the anecdotes to understand its history, the good addresses there to remain without ruining itself and all the cultural events not to miss. :: The discrete charm of the high city It is in the high city that nest the historic heart of Geneva. Easily worth visiting on foot, this district acts like a machine to go up time. While sauntering in the lanes impressed of calm and spirituality, the walker plunges himself in the time of the Reform, adopted in 1536 and whose Geneva was the matrix. Jean Calvin preached hundreds of times in the cathedral Saint-Pierre, from which the neoclassical facade dates however 18th S. Juste at side, the international museum of the Reform allows to take stock of this movement which changed the face of Christianity. The memory of the Calvinism abounds in the streets of the Geneva old man, of the college Calvin to the most recent wall of the Reformers, via the cemetery of the Kings, where its burial is. But the history of Geneva could not be limited to Protestantism. After having visited the worthy Tavel house (oldest of Geneva), go upGrand' Street, which knew famous residents: Jean-Jacques Rousseau (of which the house from now on is dedicated to the literature), but also Ferdinand Hodler, Michel Simon or Jorge Luis Borges. Lastly, do not hesitate to lose you in this district with the austere beauty where you will cross, in way, of the jewels like (where seat makes the government of the canton of it), the place town hall of the Borough-of-Oven or walk of the Treillised vineyard. :: Museums for all Geneva counts several museums of foreground which are worth the travel. Let us start with the impossible to circumvent Museum of ethnography (MEG) which reopens its doors by October 31st,completely increased and reconsidered. The occasion of (Re) discovering its exceptional collection of 80 000 parts, resulting from 1 500 different cultures. The art lovers will precipitate with the monumental Museum of art and of history (10 000 exposed works!), to admire inter alia works of Holder, Véronèse, Vallotton, Giacometti, Picasso and sublimates it retable of Konrad Witz. A visit to be supplemented by those of theRath museum and the MAMCO, the largest museum of contemporary art of Switzerland. In another register, we advise you the international museum of the Red Cross, for any knowledge on this humane institution based in Geneva, but also fascinating it palace of the United Nations (UNO)which is also near as of banks of Léman. Lastly, ethnography with the watches, and ceramics with the history of sciences, Geneva will surprise you by the extent of its museographic offer. :: The Lake Geneva, so tempting Impossible it to miss and it is the emblem of Geneva besides: the Fountain, which springs to 140 m above Lake Geneva. A beautiful way of celebrating the weddings of water and city, where also the Rhone and Arve run. Besides water confers an insane charm on Geneva. L'île Rousseau, just like the quays of left bank, invite to the walk, of the English Garden to the park of the Water-Sharp. In summer, the baths of the Pastures, located on Right Bank of Léman, are one of the nicest places of Geneva, to eat and bathe, of course, in a delicious retro atmosphere. Lastly, to discover Geneva since the lake, jump in a Genevese Gull(small boat connecting a bank to the other) or offer you a cruising with the general Company of navigation. Certain boats go to Montreux or Evian: what to appreciate Léman – which is the largest fresh water tank of Europe – with its right value! :: Clock industry and other small Swiss happinesses Just like Léman, the clock industry is part of the identity of Geneva, where mythical brands like Rolex are installed, Richemont (Jaeger, Piaget…) and Patek Philippe. To discover this exceptional heritage, a Route de l'Horlogerieconnects the principal centers of Genevese interest. To note, Patek Philippe Museum presents creations of this floret of the local clock industry. The Swatch watches are given to see in Cité du time, when exhibitions temporary sets of themes are programmed. If these visits made you crack, course on rue du Rhône where the shops of these great names of the clock industry are. And if Geneva awoke the clock and watch maker who dozed in you, the foundation of the High Clock industry proposes workshops of initiation open to all! Desire of other typically Swiss specialities? Cape on the shop Caran d' Ache (pl. of the Borough-of-Oven) to unearth the famous pencils there, while the Victorinox products are declined on 3 stages with 2, rue du Marché. And chocolate, then? One finds the delicious one with the Arn chocolate factory (pl. of the Borough-of-Oven) and at Rohr (pl. of the Gob). :: Alternate Geneva: the culture medium It is one of the ignored aspects of Geneva which make it still nicer. The worthy city of Calvin has a particularly active alternate scene. Cash among the great self-managed arts centres of Europe, theFactory, located in an old factory in edge of the Rhone, is the temple of the local culture alter. With the Federation of the artists of Kugler, not less than 220 artists settled. Always in the district of the Junction, the Gravel pit will delight the music lovers electronics and Galpon will bring happiness amateur actors. Other high places of the Genevese creative boiling: the “laboratory of creation” of the Campo Motel, Small island 13 close to the station of Cornavin, and the room of the Stable for its concerts punks or experimental. Hey yes! Geneva is lived also the night.

Routard.com Photograph: Markus Seidel/Tourist office of Geneva Setting online on October 22nd, 2014