The city of Geneva lies on the banks of the river Rhône and Lake Geneva in the far southwest of Switzerland.
IThe most inhabited and the largest city of the region bears the title – capital, for so many reasons.
It is the capital of the Canton and the capital of the Republic.
It is also the capital of the French-speaking part of Switzerland, a financial center, and a proud owner of the “Peace Capital” title for two years in a row.
Geneva is unofficially a global center for diplomacy and a host to countless international organizations. It is also a place where the Geneva Conventions were signed and a permanent headquarters for numerous United Nations agencies and the Red Cross.
Infamous for being the second most expensive city in the world, it is one of the most important financial centers in Europe as well.
Geneva is cornered by two mountain chain – the Alps and the Jura, and on a bright day, you can see Mont Blanc from the city center.
One of the most distinctive features is the enormous fountain Jet d’Eau, towering 140 meters over Geneva.
Once just a hydropower pressure release, it was turned into a permanent fountain by the city’s authorities in 1891.
It is one of the largest water fountains in the world and it can even be seen from the plane flying over Geneva.
Geneva is home to many religious and historic buildings.
The monumental Cathedral of St-Pierre in Geneva’s old town is a beacon for tourists and archaeologists, with over 850 years of history behind it.
Take the archaeological tour beneath the cathedral or climb the tower of the cathedral, and enjoy the spectacular view of the city and Geneva Lake.
Highlights of the old city include various historic monuments and numerous antique shops.
The Palace of Nations (or the Palais des Nations) located on Avenue de la Paix was originally built to house the League of Nations.
Today, it is the headquarters of UNOG – the United Nations Office in Geneva.
It is worth taking a guided tour of the palace and wonder at the magnificent Assembly Hall, the library, a huge collection of public art, and the landscape architecture.
The city of Geneva houses many research and educational facilities, but probably the best known is CERN and its Large Hadron Collider.
CERN was founded in 1954, and it was one of Europe’s first joint ventures later developed as the world’s largest particle physics laboratory.
Physicists from around the world travel to CERN to explore forces and materials that form the essence of the universe.
