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.
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