English,  Travel/Cestovanie

Geneva looks inconspicuous, but it is not necessarily like that

The Swiss city of Geneva is cramped in between lake Leman and the Alps, near the border with France. It is such a naturally constrained space, that the city cannot grow larger anymore. This puts an upward pressure on the house prices, rent, food prices and in general, prices of anything. On the other hand, the city is home to many global trading companies, but also international and intergovernmental organisations, such as the European section of the UN, High Commissioner for refugees, Red Cross and other. These companies pay decently to their employees and so many can afford to live in this high price environment. And those who prefer savings move across the border to France.

Geneva - the lake and the hills
Geneva – the lake and the hills

Švajčiarske mesto Ženeva leží medzi jazerom Leman a Alpskými kopcami pri hraniciach s Francúzskom. Je to taká ohraničená plocha, že mesto sa už nemá … pokračujte v čítaní v slovenčine tu.


This is why Geneva more often than not tops the lists of the most expensive cities to live in. I can confirm that. Starbucks cafes are at almost every street, so are the shops of Gucci, Bulgari, Patek Philip and the likes. Besides watches and jewelry Switzerland is famous for, you can also buy the famous Swiss army knives. Make sure you pack it in the checked luggage to avoid trouble.

Starbucks coffee, Geneva, Switzerland
Starbucks coffee, Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland

I would recommend visiting Geneva as a stopover on the way to or from the Alps. The city center is relatively small and you can do most of the sightseeing on foot in a day or two. There a few museums, but bigger attractions are the lake, the geyser, English garden and the flower clock.

Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland

Jet d’Eau on Lac Leman

The Jet d’Eau is an artificial geyser, or a water fountain, throwing water 140 meters in the air. It is located on the lake, but near a shore. If you plan to see this, I would recommend to check the maintenance schedule. I visited Geneva three times, but it was twice under maintenance.

Lac Leman without the geyser, Geneva, Switzerland
Lac Leman without the geyser, Geneva, Switzerland (April 2016)
Geyser on Lac Leman, Geneva, Switzerland (July 2011)
Geyser on Lac Leman, Geneva, Switzerland (July 2011)
Geyser on Lac Leman
Geyser on Lac Leman, Geneva, Switzerland (July 2011)
Geyser
Geyser on Lac Leman, Geneva, Switzerland (July 2011)
And from the plane, Geneva, Switzerland
And from the plane, Geneva, Switzerland

Jardin d’Anglais and other parcs

Jardin d’Anglais is a lovely, yet small, park on the lake shore. At its side, there is the famous clock made of flowers. I guess the time must be right as it is a Swiss watch. Another lovely park is Parc des Bastions, a little bit outside of the old town. There are several statues and even a giant chess board.

Jardin d'Anglais, Geneva, Switzerland
Jardin d’Anglais, Geneva, Switzerland
Flower clock, Geneva, Switzerland
Flower clock, Geneva, Switzerland
Flower clock, Geneva, Switzerland (July 2011)
Flower clock, Geneva, Switzerland (July 2011)
Giant chessboard at Parc des Bastions, Geneva, Switzerland
Giant chessboard at Parc des Bastions, Geneva, Switzerland
Greenery and mountains, Geneva, Switzerland
Greenery and mountains, Geneva, Switzerland
Parc des Bastions, Geneva, Switzerland
Parc des Bastions, Geneva, Switzerland

The international agencies district

A hidden gem is located a little to the north of the city – the international agencies district. Palais des Nations (my blog with more photos from the tour) is the European headquarters of the UN and they regularly offer guided tours for visitors. I can recommend not only the guided visit, but also a short stroll around the area. Maybe you will also find a giant chair. 🙂

Giant chair in the international organisations quartier, Geneva, Switzerland
Giant chair in the international organisations quartier, Geneva, Switzerland
Palais des Nations and member flags, Geneva, Switzerland
Palais des Nations and member flags, Geneva, Switzerland
Croix Rouge, Geneva, Switzerland
Croix Rouge, Geneva, Switzerland
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland

 

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