Old Town

lisanti
lisanti
First Reviewer
3 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
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Old town

  • October 7, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by hellbunnie from Dublin, Ireland
On the south of the river you'll find Geneva's old town. It's full of little cobbled streets winding up and down hills with plenty of enticing open-air cafes and restaurants. You can also visit the Cathedral and see lots of pretty little squares and historic buildings and such.

From journal A Few Days in Geneva

Antique Shops in the Old Town

  • October 7, 2006
  • Rated 3 of 5 by hellbunnie from Dublin, Ireland
There are so many art and antique shops in Geneva; you could spend a lot of money here if you had it... Head to the South side of the River and then walk up hill a bit the antique shops all seem to be clustered in the old part of the town. Some are general, others specialised, I was sorely tempted by a box of glass eyes in a scientific antiques shop...

From journal A Few Days in Geneva

Editor Pick

Old Town

  • May 19, 2004
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Invicta73 from London, United Kingdom
Old Town

The Old Town is an undeniably scenic spot overlooking the rest of the Geneva that thoroughly deserves the attention of visitors. In addition to enjoying its good sightseeing options, I was charmed by the relaxed atmosphere of the venerable quarter, which is a nice counterpoint to the cosmopolitan bustle that typifies the wider boulevards below.

A particularly pleasant thing to do whilst in the vicinity is simply strolling along the peaceful pedestrianised streets, the most important and largest of which is the gently ascending Grand Rue. Flanking the picturesque main road are some wonderfully well-preserved buildings that date back several centuries and now mostly host suitably sedate stores selling antiques, books and suchlike. Particularly notable is the stately Hôtel-de-Ville, which has been the location of the cantonal parliament for many centuries and has hosted various momentous events, such as the foundation of the Red Cross. The central courtyard is worth seeing, but more intriguing is the internal paved ramp that takes the place of the more usual main staircase, apparently so that eminent citizens could ascend on horseback. Meanwhile, directly opposite is the open-air but covered arcade of the Arsenal, which appropriately features several venerable canons and some beautiful mosaics depicting historic scenes.

The fine thoroughfare eventually opens out onto what is effectively the heart of the district, the pretty Place du Bourg-de-Four, which has a fine fountain in the middle and is surrounded by several appealing structures, including the Palace of Justice and the house where Rousseau was born. The unusually undulating cobbled square physically still evokes its past role as the site of medieval market, but also seems somewhat less refined than some nearby spots, primarily because of the number of establishments found there that cater for the invariable influx of tourists. Nevertheless, spending some time amidst such lovely surroundings on a café terrace still might be a very good idea if the sun is shining.

The area’s alternative hub is Place de la Taconnerie, which is a smaller, more enclosed and quieter plaza that is full of yet more impressive architecture. However, overshadowing everything else is the massive Cathedral of St Peter, which is as dominant now as it was during the tenure of the fiery Reformation preacher Jean Calvin.

The other particularly noteworthy attraction is the oldest house in the settlement, the so-called Maison Tavel. Although built during the 1300s, the edifice’s most eye-catching feature is actually the 17th century façade. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, it is home to displays of various items pertaining to everyday local life in the past. Despite being generally interesting, most of the exhibits simply do not compete with the relief map of the city that is located on the top floor. Crafted from copper and zinc around 150 years ago, it is a remarkable piece of work in terms of both detail and size, and single-handedly makes visiting the museum a very worthwhile activity.

From journal Geneva - A truly international city

Old Town

  • November 30, 2000
  • Rated 3 of 5 by lisanti from Houston, Texas
Old Town

It's a nice area to wonder around in, there's a lot of neat little local shops and neat buildings. There's even a Central Perk! :) However, it's a pretty expensive area, though and their are lots of well-dressed tourists and very nice cars (the best I saw anywhere in Europe). It's an expensive town, but so is all of Switzerland from what I understand. But, it is fun to just go weave in and out of the buildings and walk along the lake...

From journal Relaxing in Geneva

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