Geneva |
City of Geneva in Switzerland
The eclectic range of businesses and international institutions located in the city are complemented by an equally diverse and multicultural population, with over 40 percent of Geneva's inhabitants being well-heeled expatriate workers. The prevalence of diplomats and wealthy individuals from around the globe means that luxury cars, large mansion houses, and private yachts are all part of the city's fabric, as are myriad high-quality international restaurants.
Natural and Cultural Attractions When they are not working hard, Genevans like nothing better than to shed their supposed reserve and take advantage of the city's location and open green spaces. On warm sunny days the Parc des Bastions and the Jardin Anglais (English Garden) fill with people, as do the various cruises that ply the waters of Lake Geneva. Other favorite haunts of the locals, in both summer and winter, are the nearby Jura Mountains and the Alps.
In inclement weather Genevans turn to the city's cultural attractions, which include over 30 museums that champion everything from the history of art and science to the philosophies of Voltaire. Meanwhile the Cathedrale de St. Pierra is an austere reminder of the city's role as the birthplace of Calvinism - relics dating from the fourth century have also been excavated from beneath the church's foundations. The colossal Monument de la Reformation also pays tribute to the sermons of Calvin, Knox, and their followers. Inscribed on the memorial is the Latin phrase Post Tenebras Lux, meaning "After Darkness, Light" which Geneva has adopted as a symbol of the city and an eternal reminder of its democratic values.
History of Geneva Geneva's history dates back 5,000 years to when a settlement was first established on the shores of Lake Geneva. Down the centuries the city fell under Roman, Burgundian, Frankish, German, and French rule before joining the Swiss Confederation and becoming a Swiss Canton (region) in 1814. Geneva prospered during the 19th century, with the Swiss tradition of watch-making taking hold; financial and commercial institutions also flourished at this time.
A more unique aspect of Geneva's history is its role at the heart of the Protestant Reformation during the 16th century, with John Calvin (1509-64) and John Knox (1505-72), who both espoused the restrictive Calvinist doctrine, which forbade dancing and the wearing of jewelry, from the city's pulpits. During the Reformation, Geneva became a haven for French and Italian Protestants fleeing religious persecution. As the Calvinist dogma softened, Geneva spawned great intellectual talent, attracting the likes of Jean-Jacque Rosseau (1712-78) and Voltaire (1694-78), two 18th-century writers who championed democracy, reflecting the ethos of the city itself. |
Switzerland's third largest
city, after Zurich and Basel, is dramatically situated on the
southwestern shores of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) and flanked by the Alps.
This flat, mainly French-speaking, and cosmopolitan city is home to a
large number of non-government organizations (NGOs), such as the
International Red Cross, the United Nations (UN), and the World Health
Organization (WHO), consulates and diplomatic missions, which are all
attracted by the city's modern and efficient infrastructure. Swiss
neutrality also makes Geneva a popular place for politically sensitive
negotiations. A considerable number of international corporations have
located the Swiss arm of their operations in Geneva with commerce and
industry (engineering, construction, pharmaceutical, chemical, jewelry
manufacturing, electronics, IT, and telecommunications) all contributing
to the city's thriving economy. Geneva is also important as an oasis of
private banking and as the center for the manufacturing of Swiss watches,
renowned throughout the world as high-quality precision timepiece.