Exploring Geneva: Europe's International City

The Palais des Nations was the headquarters of the “League of Nations”, the predecessor to the United Nations. It is now the European headquarters of the United Nations. It is located on the shores of Lake Geneva on the northeastern outskirts of Geneva, facing the majestic Alps in the distance. There is a huge Broken Chair in front of the Palais des Nations to appeal to the world and raise awareness of the harm inflicted by landmines on civilians.

To visit the Palais des Nations, you need to sign up for a guided tour. The duration is about one hour. You can not only enjoy the “multi-cultural” architecture including the Grand Conference Hall and the Council Hall, but also the artworks donated by the member states, experience the diverse world culture.

At the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, you can learn about the history and current activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent through photos, videos, sculptures, and other mediums. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum will also put on temporary special exhibitions.

The International Red Cross was founded by Henry Dunant, a native of Geneva. The flag is the result of swapping the Swiss flag’s cross color and background color. However, because the Red Cross symbol is reminiscent of the Christian cross, in the Islamic world, it is symbolized by a crescent-shaped mark, called the Red Crescent.

The Flower Clock is located on the west side of the English Gardens on the shores of Lake Geneva. The combination of flowers and clock is what highlights Geneva as the “Capital of Clocks” and has hence become a symbol of Geneva. Although flower clocks could be seen in other cities in Switzerland, the Flower Clock in Geneva is the true original flower clock.

The flower clock is 5 m in diameter. The mechanical structure of the clock is set underground. The clock face on the surface and the Arabic numerals representing 12 hours are covered by

fresh green grass or flowers. The patterns change with the seasons. After visiting the Flower

Clock, you can go along Lake Geneva to see the large fountain in the lake.

There is a large fountain on Lake Geneva near the English Garden. It is one of the most iconic sights in Geneva. The large fountain is like a water column ejected by a whale. It goes 140 m

high and ejects 500 l in volume. The spectacular sight can be seen from all over Geneva. At night, there is also a chance to see the big fountain under lighting, which is even more magnificent.

The old town of Geneva is situated on the slopes of the southern bank of the Rhone. Due to the relatively high terrain, the locals also call it the upper city. The old town is not only home to ancient buildings such as churches, but also has many art galleries, small bars, and antiqueshops hidden in the winding old streets.

This is a great place to slow down your pace of life and leisurely enjoy a specialty meal. You can stop and take a look at the magnificent cathedrals, visit the former residence of Rousseau, or sift through interesting mementos in the uniquely charming streets and find inspiration in

the stylistically divergent art galleries.

Built between 1160 and 1232, St. Peter's Basilica is the pillar of faith for the citizens of Geneva. It was also the base of the Protestant Reformation for religious reform leader John Calvin.

The cathedral has been rebuilt several times, blending a variety of architectural styles: the spectacular façade has Greek Corinthian-style white columns, like the style of a Greek shrine. The church's Romanesque main building has Gothic spires and arches, very unique.

St. Peter's Basilica has two towers, and you can climb the spiral staircase to enjoy a panoramic view of the old town of Geneva and Lake Geneva. The two towers are interconnected, linked by a corridor.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born at Grand-Rue 40 in the old town of Geneva. Today, this simple and quaint home has been transformed into the Rousseau House Museum, a place to learn about the life of the Geneva celebrity, writer, musician, and enlightenment philosopher. The museum not only introduces Rousseau's life, but also collects his works, manuscripts and other cultural relics. It also provides a Chinese version of the Audio Visual Tour, which is very lively.