Photo essay: Geneva is more than just Red Cross and heavy heat (Includes interview and first-hand account)

When I look back at my time in Geneva this summer, I’m struck by how compact the city is, even on foot. I was able to visit most areas of Geneva within an afternoon, whether it was enjoying a stroll through the historic heart called Old Town or the student-friendly ‘hood known as Plainpalais.

Undoubtedly, Geneva is a beautiful city. Its architecture carries a grace reminiscent of Parisian architecture, but with a more lavish flair. This is an expensive city, as anyone who has visited Switzerland knows well, and it was intriguing to see that wealth on display in retail design or culinary delicacies. Thanks to its position as a host for many international organizations, such as the Red Cross, its populace diversity sets it apart from many other European centres.

As for hotspots to check out, Bastions Park was a highlight I’d recommend. It features the Reformation Wall, which stretches for 100 metres and features many of the key players behind the Protestant Reformation. Fun fact: The monument inspired one of the most well-known 20th century Hungarian poems, written by Gyula Illyés in 1946 under the title Before the Monument of Reformation in Geneva.

Reformation Wall in Geneva, showing the Protestant Reformation by depicting them in statues and bas-reliefs

David Silverberg

It’s hard to miss the Geneva beaches. On a sweltering evening, my friend Virginie took me to a beach-bar area where revellers enjoyed swimming and surfing while others laid back on chairs or relaxed in the sand. I heard a mix of French, Spanish and English among the crowd, reminding me again of the city’s diversity.

Other highlights include the high-reaching fountain Jet D’eau, a landmark for visitors to Geneva’s waterfront, and a fun site for anyone who loves a good fountain-related spectacle; the giant chess boards in Bastions Park; the many farmers markets dotting open spaces in Geneva; Old Town’s cobblestone and winding streets, hugging the Bourg-de-Four Square, a must-visit square and the the oldest place in Geneva, where the Roman marketplace used to trade its wares.

At Bastions Park in Geneva, a giant chess board is available to play

David Silverberg

Below are some more photos of my visit to Geneva:

The Jet d’Eau is a large fountain in Geneva. Here I capture the non-stop fountain beside an unused ferris wheel

David Silverberg

Guillaume-Henri Dufour presided over the First Geneva Convention which established the International Red Cross.

David Silverberg

A statue near a Geneva bridge

David Silverberg

Found in Bastions Park in Geneva is a delicious croissant filled with cheese and turkey

David Silverberg

Street art found on buildings in Geneva

David Silverberg

The front of Grande Synagogue in Geneva, built in 1858

David Silverberg

See more photo essays of my European holiday below:

London

Paris

Berlin