The city of Geneva, Switzerland - sights, features and weather

The capital of Switzerland - Geneva - is the most popular cultural center of the country. The city, surrounded by picturesque mountains, has its own symbol, which is an image of a fountain, personifying the aspiration upwards, towards the sky, to the kingdom of spirits.

The capital of Switzerland is also the administrative center of the state federal unit, which has the same name. It is located on the western shore of the largest in the country's Lake Geneva.

The capital of Switzerland is a true crossroads of human life and thought. This is the place that many great people visited. It is worth saying that in the territory of a modern city in 58 BC. The great Julius Caesar founded a border post for the protection of the Empire.

History

Geneva (Switzerland) until 534 was part of the Burgundian kingdom. After it was conquered by the French. Toward the end of the ninth century, Geneva became the capital of the newly created Burgundian kingdom.

The heyday of the current capital of Switzerland fell for the period from 1290 to 1536. Then the rulers of the city were the dukes of Savoy. In these historical times, in the hearts of the Genevaites, a heated response from Protestantism was found.

In the seventeenth century the city received great development in the economic sphere. During this period it became the world capital of watchmakers and jewelers. In the eighteenth century, Voltaire and Rousseau worked in Geneva.

At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Geneva (Switzerland) became the seat of the League of Nations and the international organization Red Cross. After the end of World War II, the European headquarters of the UN was located here.

Geneva (Switzerland) has the reputation of a city that is the center of various conferences and international congresses. More than one hundred and twenty banks operate here. That's why Geneva is also called a major center of finance and business.

Nature

Geneva (Switzerland) is a city whose landscapes are breathtaking. Parks and bays, alleys and rivers - the surrounding nature amazes with its virgin beauty. North of the city is the famous wine region. On this territory landscapes delight the eye with age-old handsome oaks and peaceful small villages.

Along the Lake Geneva there are magnificent parks. There are many on its shores and small settlements. Decorate the landscape of the city magnificent Alps. It seems that you can reach them with your hand.

Quite interesting is the very location of the city of Geneva (Switzerland). Crossing two rivers, the waters of which are found on the territory of the capital, is a wonderful sight. In this place, a vivid contrast of colors is visually observed. Why does Ron and Arva differ so much? Geneva (Switzerland) is a meeting point for rivers that differ in the number and types of suspended matter in them.

The source of Rona is Lake Lehman. Approaching Geneva, the river enriches its waters with a high level of mud mass. The Arva, on the other hand, comes from glaciers in the Chamonix Valley. Meeting together, the light and dark waters of the two rivers flow for a while in parallel. Here and there is an amazing contrast of two colors.

Residents of the capital

The city of Geneva (Switzerland) until 1870 was considered the most populous in the country. Currently, Zurich is the first in this indicator. Somewhat ahead of Geneva and Basel. The population of this city is several thousand more than the capital. Today in Geneva, there are one hundred and eighty thousand inhabitants.

This is the population of the city. However, the entire Geneva area includes seven more small settlements. Their list includes the following:

- Vernier, whose population totals thirty thousand people;
- Lansy with a population of twenty-six thousand;
- Meran, in which twenty thousand people live;
- Carousel with eighteen thousand inhabitants;
- Ones with a population of 16,500;
- Tone with thirteen thousand inhabitants;
- Versua, where the population is 11,000 people.

The capital of Switzerland ranks first in the number of foreigners residing in the city. Forty percent of the population is represented by more than one hundred and eighty nationalities.

Climate

The weather conditions in Geneva are typical for the Central European territory. In the spring period, the average air temperature varies from three to thirteen degrees. Summer is cool. In the warmest period, the air warms up to sixteen or eighteen degrees. In winter, there may be a slight frost. The average air temperature during this period is in the range from minus four to plus four degrees. Geneva Autumn is also cool. It is characterized by an average temperature of six to twelve degrees of heat.

Excursions around the Old Town

The sights of Geneva (Switzerland) will not leave a single tourist indifferent. An unforgettable impression is sure to leave the fountain of J. O. It is the main attraction of the city. The fountain ejects five hundred liters of water within a second. In this case, the jets reach a height of 147 m. On the water path of the fountain it is always possible to determine the direction of the wind.

The flower clock is a unique and curious sight of the city. Located on the Promenade du Lac, they have the world's largest second hand. Its length is two and a half meters. The total diameter of the watch is 5 m.
The Rhone River divides the capital of Switzerland into two parts. On the left bank there is an old center of Geneva with a town hall, a cathedral and narrow streets. In this part of the city there are many cafes, shops, and interesting museums. The right bank is international Geneva. In this part of the city is the UN Palace, as well as the buildings of world-renowned organizations.

The main attraction of the left-bank Geneva is St. Peter's Cathedral. Not far from this Protestant temple is the house of Tavel. Visiting it, you can learn the detailed history of the city. A little further is the square with the Town Hall. In one of the halls of this historic building in 1864, the Geneva Convention of the Red Cross was signed.

Tour of the old part of the city certainly leads any tourist to the park of bastions. This is a beautiful place, located on the remains of the former city fortifications. On the one hand, the park borders with the university, and on the other - with the so-called Wall of the Reformers.

The monument, installed by General Dyufor, can be seen in the very center of the New Square. This commander at one time united Switzerland. In the same square there is also the Rath museum, which is the location of the largest art exhibitions. Nearby is the ancient cemetery of Pleenaple. On its territory is the grave of Jorge-Luis Borges. On the island, located in the middle of the Rhone River, is the Arts Center, which is located in the premises where slaughterhouses were formerly located. There you can admire the ancient tower, which was once built by bishops.

Walks around the New Town

The right bank of the Rhone is remarkable by the UN Palace. There are also buildings of many well-known international organizations. The UN Palace is erected in a huge beautiful park.

This is an original state in the state, as well as the largest exhibition center in Europe. This place is worth a visit to see the famous hall of the Lost Steps, as well as the Assemblies Hall. An unforgettable impression will be left also by the park itself, which is the habitat of not the first generation of peacocks, once presented to the League of Nations.

Transport

Walking is the most practical and cheap way of traveling around the capital of Switzerland. Only they will allow tourists to feel the measured rhythm of life of the city and enjoy its views. For those who want to save time, public transport works. Travel on it is quite affordable. A large number of Geneva bus and tram lines start at the entrance to the main railway station, at Cornavin Square. Using the route number 8, you can easily get directly to the Palais des Nations.

The work of urban transport is carried out from 5 am to midnight. You can buy tickets either in vending machines installed at stops or at the central station in the offices of transport companies, where you will be offered maps of local routes free of charge.

In Geneva, there are also trolleybuses and electric trains. In order to use their services, you will need to purchase tickets directly at the stops.

In Geneva, a bicycle can be rented. It is best to travel around the city. Moving on a bike along the streets of the capital is difficult due to the large traffic flow and cobblestone streets.

How to get there

The city of Geneva (Switzerland) has a privileged geographical position. From Paris or Milan to him you can fly in just an hour, and from Rome, London or Madrid - for two. From Moscow, you can get there in three and a half hours.

So, your destination is Switzerland (Geneva). The airport of this city is located on the territory of two states simultaneously. In addition to Switzerland, it is also France.

To date, Geneva International Airport is able to accept all existing aircraft types and serve 12 million passengers per year. In order to get to the capital of Switzerland when arriving, it is necessary to get a free ticket for the train that runs to the city in a special machine. The journey from the airport to Geneva takes only six minutes.

Time

The clock hands in Switzerland lag behind Moscow for two hours. It is worth considering when planning a trip.

Hotels

For your holiday you chose Switzerland (Geneva)? Hotels for many tourists will not seem quite cheap. An additional mark-up on quite ordinary rooms is made by almost all hotels. Those who intend to save on living will not be easy. Even accommodation at the hostel will exceed all-European prices. On the other hand, Geneva hotels have established themselves as the most luxurious in the Old World.