Geneva illuminations

The long history of the Republic of Geneva is intertwined with Europe's own. A small State on the banks of the Rhone which flows right down to the Mediterranean, Geneva has developed in rhythm with the trade customs and social, military and political upheavals of the times. It has experienced phases and periods which have shaped it deeply, making it the beacon for a humanism which led to the foundation, within its walls, of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and later to the establishment there of the headquarters of a number of international organisations.

It took time to forge this unique place, whose art of living is envied by many. That's what is revealed here. The arts practised there, its economy, its parks and countryside, the education provided there, the architecture of its various quarters, the town planning revealed in its suburbs, the sculptures adorning its squares and streets, the wine it produces, the waterways it maintains... All this forms a surprising yet coherent whole, fully in tune with the cultural diversity which is the distinguishing feature of a multi-faceted Republic, forever innovating with an eye to the future.

In this reference work, readers will appreciate a Geneva they believe they already know, yet at any moment they will discover it anew.