GENEVE
Country: Switzerland
Coordinates: 46° 12' 0'' N
6° 9' 0'' E
Altitude: 375 m
Area: 15,86 km2
Population: 185 726
Density of Population: 11 710/km2
Website: www.ge.ch
Mayor: Patrice Mugny
Geneve is a city in Southern Switzerland lying at the southwestern end of the Geneve Lake where the Rhône River flows out of it. It is bounded by two mountain ranges, the Alps and the Swiss Jura.
The lake offers a nice view of the excellent location of the metropolis surrounded by the mountains. The river divides the city in a right-bank part (Rive Droit) and a left-bank part (Rive Gauche). The city centre spreads out on both banks of the Rhône River, having suburbs and the Central Railway Station on the north and the Old Town (Vieille Ville) on the south.
The first settlements in this area took place in the neolithic period. Originally, there was a Celtic colony here and since the year of 350 the bishopric already resided here. At the beginning of the 11th century, along with the Burgundy region, this area was a part of the Saint Empire of Germany. Geneve first became an imperial town in 1032 under the rule of the Emporor Conrad II., then prior to independence in 1530 and lastly after joining the Swiss Confederation in 1814.
The position of Geneve towards religious toleration in the period of reformation contributed to its further development. For centuries this city was a place of choice for religious and political emigrees. In the 20th century Lenin also lived in here in exile.
As a result of an exceptional mixture of nationalities represented mostly by intelectual immigrants, the city became one of the centres of education for children of better circumstanced families.
The Swiss neutrality contributed to domestication of international organisations in Geneve (currently it is a home to more than 200 associations). Thus the number of foreign community in the city increased to one third.
The first impulse was the establishment of the seat of the League of Nations (previously United Nations) in 1919. Although the United Nations moved to New York in 1945, the European Office remained in Geneve and is the second biggest building on the continent (right after the Versailles Palace). Another remarkable organisations include the International Red Cross Bureau (established by the Swiss Henri Dunant in 1864) and the World Health Organisation.
Geneve is the main centre of banking and plays an important role in watch production, scientific instruments, jewellery and gastronomy. These aspects contributed to the fact that life in the city is associated with high costs.
Visitors are offered a sight-seeing in the Old Town and in some museums while the city centre can be explored on foot as well. The metropolis is clean and has an excellent transport system.
Geneve enjoys a mild Central European climate with relatively low rainfalls. Abundant community of international clerks requires supplies of quality services in top hotels and amusement enterprises.
The city is crowned with several museums, has a full cultural calendar and is an ideal starting point for visits to the Swiss and French Alps. The Geneve Lake is surrounded by the city centre which is further divided by the Rhône River. Most monuments are situated in the south just like museums, including the Red Cross Museum, the Half Moon Museum, Clock Museum or the Museum of Arts and History. The old part of the city is called "Vieille ville". It has so far managed to retain its nature of the previously independent town of Carouge.
The best period for a visit to this place is June to September. Tourists should not miss some of the Geneve festivals and feasts, also called as "Fetes de Geneve", which are held in August and are full of open air concerts with fireworks. The impressive St. Pierre`s Cathedral built in Romanic and Gothic style (9th to early 13th century) and the world`s biggest fountain of Jet d´Eau reaching the height of 140 metres both dominate the city.
