Geneva is the administrative centre of the administrative district of Geneva and is the second more populated city of Switzerland after Zurich. The majority of the 195031 inhabitants speaks French (but a lot speak English too). Indeed, in Switzerland, there are three languages: German, French and Italian.
The symbol of Geneva is the water jet (460 feet high) inaugurated in 1891.
Geneva is a real global city with his important economic and politic role. For example, Geneva is the first global city for the negotiation of oil (before London)!
The history of Geneva:
The first inhabitants who lived near the Lake of Geneva came in 3000-2500 BC. In 443, Geneva is the Burgonde Kingdom's first capital and the city belonged to the Holy Roman Germanic Empire in 1260.
In 1541, Geneva called Calvin where he moved in for good. Jean Calvin is a French man, an author, a Protestant theologian, polemist and religious leader. He is, with Martin Luther, one of the main founders of the Protestant Reformation, which he developed in Geneva. Between 1615 and 1616 and then between 1636 and 1640, Geneva knew outbreaks of classical fever which killed a lot of people. The foreign trade decreased like the industry. Then, in 1685, many protestant refugees arrived in Geneva. Indeed, after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (the treaty witch authorized the Protestants of their religious freedom) by Louis XIV (the king of France), many Protestants settled in Switzerland and Germany.
On june 28th 1712, Jean Jacques Rousseau, a very famous writer and philosopher, was born in Geneva. He is one of the founders of the motto: Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood; the three values of France.
The town of Geneva is a place of publication for several works of conscience in order to escape censorship, a place of refuge for the writers. Diderot and Alembert named Geneva the " city of reason or city of wisdom" in 1757. In 1748, Montesquieu published "De l'esprit des lois" and Voltaire came and lived in the "Délices" in 1755.
In June 3. 1754, the Turin's treaty set his border between Geneva and the Savoie. But in 1789, Geneva is annexed to France and became the administrative district of the Lake of Geneva's department.
The Red Cross was founded in 1864.
Geneva’s Grand Theatre (inspired by the Paris Opera), was built between 1870 and 1879. Geneva became more and more rich. In 1910, there was the inauguration of the art and history museum.
It's in 1920 that Geneva became an important city, with the construction of the Cointrin's landing strip. Then Geneva became the European headquarters of the United Nations in 1946, and installed the ILO (1946), WTO (1947), WHO (1948) and the UNHCR (1951). In 1950, Denis de Rougemont founded in Geneva the European Centre for Culture. The CERN installed in Geneva 1953.
Geneva has had an important political power since 1985; it was in this town that Reagan and Gorbatchev met.
Sources
http://www.geneva-palexpo.ch/resources/CroixRouge_f.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Esprit_Loix_1749.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Voltaire-Baquoy.gif
http://www.lvbeethoven.fr/Lieux/Suisse/GrandTheatre.jpg
http://www.agence-cb-voyages.com/images/operas/suisse-geneve-grand-theatre-6.jpg
http://netia59a.ac-lille.fr/lc-rousseau/IMG/siteon0.jpg
http://huguenots-france.org/france/celebrites/images/calvin.jpg
http://geneve.suisse-blog.ch/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/jet-deau-geneve.jpg
http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/uploads/pics/CarteEurope_MUSTSEE_01.jpg
http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/uploads/pics/CarteEurope_MUSTSEE_01.jpg
http://www.fondationpourgeneve.ch/files/images/Cercle_des_Conjoints/geneve.jpg
Art and history museum
This museum is a real encyclopaedia of culture from prehistory to contemporary era. We are attending a real trip throughout the ages. Open since 1910, this museum is in the 3 biggest museums of Switzerland. But it’s the only one to assemble so many varied collections of archaeology, applied arts and fine arts.
Touristic activities of Geneva
Some interesting museums
The Globe of Science and Innovation (CERN)
Science’s and Innovation’s Globe is a symbol for the CERN and a visual landmark that represents the Earth. It is 27 metres high and 40 meters diameter, it’s so impressive!
In the ground flour, there is an exhibition “Universe of particles” that takes visitors back in the world of particles and big bang.
Geneva Photography Centre
Geneva Photography Centre was created in 1984 by Genevan photographs which were concerned about promoting photography in fine arts. This Centre gives priority to contemporary photographs and put emphasis on the fields of urbanism, documentary and representation’s critic.
This garden is ideal to chill out, walk or discover Geneva’s vegetal heritage. Alpine Garden shelters magnificent collections of plants and about 110 flowerbeds.
Rousseau’s Island is a symbolic place for Geneva and offers an original view on the city.
This old fortification of the city, situated in the embouchure of the Rhone, is nowadays, a little island of vegetation and a place for relax. An imposing statue of Rousseau, philosophe of Lumières, stays here.
This Flower Watch is one of the most photographed attractions in Switzerland. It has got the biggest seconds’ hand of the world; it is about 2,5 meters long! This flowery Watch situated in the center of the English Garden was created in 1955 and is done with about 6500 flowers. Pattern and floral arrangements are often reconstructed, depending of the season, for the biggest enjoyment of amateurs. Moreover, the Flower Watch gives the hour precisely, thanks to a satellite that transmit it.
The Jet d’eau de Genève, a real liquid flag, is almost a coincidence. In 1886, a hydraulic firm was build in order to distribute the force of the Rhone to the genevan artisans. But in the night, engineers had to leave a supplementary throughput: the Jet d’eau was created. It’s now considered as a touristic attraction and grows up gradually. Since 1951, a pumping firm shoot out about 500 liters of water per second, and 200km per hour!
Must-sees
Thanks to this commented cruise on Geneva’s lake, you will discover the principals attractions of Leman’s rives. This stroll is the better way to admire the most magnificent sites of Leman: stones of Niton, the Jet d’eau, the Black Port, the villa Diodati, the building of Unites Nations, the castle of Bellerive, the statue of the Little Mermaid and other.
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