Geneva
French-speaking Geneva (Genève) is Switzerland's second city,
which lies on the shores of Lake Geneva at the point where the
River Rhône exits the lake. The city is one of Europe's largest and
most important financial centres and is home to a wealth of global
organisations, including the International Red Cross.
Known as the 'peace capital of the world', Geneva enjoys a
beautiful setting at the very edge of Lake Geneva's turquoise
waters, with the snow-capped Alpine peaks of the nearby mountains
providing a picturesque background. The city has a compact
financial and commercial centre, but also boasts a pretty Old Town
area, delightful lakeside promenades and a number of pleasant
parks. The symbol of the city is the 'Jet d'Eau' - a 459-feet
(140-metre) high water jet at the edge of Lake Geneva that is
visible for miles around.
Sightseeing in a global city
Geneva's top attractions include the poignant International
Museum of the Red Cross, which is set at the place where the
organisation was born and showcases the history of the Red Cross
and the work it has done all over the world.
The headquarters of the European branch of the United Nations
are also located in Geneva. The Palace of the United Nations opens
to visitors and is a grand, stately marble building surrounded by
green parks. By walking through the Palace gates, you leave
Switzerland and enter international territory - although you could
be considered to be on "neutral territory" on either side of the
gates.
