Fun and Physics in Geneva, Switzerland

An October 2005 trip to Geneva by travelswithkids

Part of the LHC at CERN Photo - Geneva, Switzerland

Quote: My wife and I spent a week in Geneva. She had fun while I attended work meetings during the day, but we explored at night.

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Fun and Physics in Geneva, Switzerland

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Overview

View of Lac Leman from within Chateau Chillon Photo - Chillon Castle/Château de Chillon, Montreux, Switzerland

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While not on many "must visit" lists Geneva is a great city, containing many unique attractions, with one of the most scenic locations of any city. Sitting beside Lac Leman, with the Alps in nearly every other direction, you'll want to enjoy the outdoors while you're in Geneva.One of it's unique attractions is CERN, the European center for particle physics. It's on the outskirts of Geneva, straddling the border with France. CERN is currently very busy building the Large Hadron Collider in a 27 km circular tunnel, which will produce the highest energy particle collisions in the world. Their visitors center explains their experiments, and what they are studying. For anyone interested in science,...Read More

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Manotel Jade

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Hotel

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The Manotel Jade hotel is a moderately priced hotel by expensive Geneva standards. We had an enjoyable stay here for a week and found that it was a classy place at a pretty good value (again, taking into account how expensive Geneva is in general).The hotel is in a nice location--relatively close to the train station, but not so close that you are in a seedy train station neighborhood. It's only a 10- to 15-minute walk from the station, or two tram stops and a very short walk. The Jade is on a relatively quiet side street, but there will still be plenty of street noise to wake you up if you have the windows open. The Jade is also relatively close to the lake and all the rest of downtown Gene...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 19, 2006

Manotel Jade
55, rue Rothschild
Geneva, Switzerland
+41(22) 5443838

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Chez ma Cousine

Restaurant

Quote:

This small place serves chicken (and fries) only, but it is very good, and probably about the cheapest option in Geneva's old town. It does have a non-smoking section in back. It fills up quickly, so come relatively early or be prepared to wait.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 20, 2006

Chez ma Cousine
6, Place Du Bourg-de-Four
Geneva, Switzerland 1204
+41 22 310 9696

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Café de Bourg de Four

Restaurant

Quote:

This place is my favorite restaurant in Geneva. It is a small casual place on the Place du Bourg de Four in the historical old-town area of Geneva, just down the street from the Cathedral. It has a pretty simple menu and the best thing to get are the typically Swiss Rösti, which are pretty much equivalent to hash browns in the US. They come served with a variety of accompaniments, such as ham or fried eggs; or my favorite dish, a sort of steak curry. Also good salads and beer. There are a few other things on the menu, too. The only draw back is it gets very smoky, since so many people here smoke. But if you can put up with that, it's a fun, casual place with a great local feel. Moderate prices; includ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 20, 2006

Café de Bourg de Four
13 Place du Bourg de Four
Geneva, Switzerland
+41 22 311 90 76

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La Cathédrale St Pierre

Attraction | "St. Pierre Cathedral"

Quote:

We attended an organ recital and brass ensemble concert in the St. Pierre Cathedral of Geneva. The organist was one of the master organists, and one of the only people allowed to play the world's oldest organ—which is in a museum at the other end of Lake Geneva.The music sounded truly magical in this ancient cathedral, and listening to the magnificent organ as darkness fell outside was an experience to remember. After the organ concert, we were treated to a concert outside of the carillon, by the cathedral's bell tower. If you have any opportunity to hear any concert in this cathedral, take advantage of it.St. Pierre is the centerpiece of the historical old town district of Gen...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 20, 2006

La Cathédrale St Pierre
Cour St Pierre
Geneva, Switzerland 1204
+41 22 738 56 50

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Chillon Castle/Château de Chillon

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Attraction | "Chateau de Chillon"

Detail of two coats of arms at Chillon Photo - Chillon Castle/Château de Chillon, Montreux, Switzerland

Quote:

Chateau de Chillon is a wonderfully preserved 900 year-old castle, in a stunning setting on Lake Leman at the opposite end of the lake from the city of Geneva.This is one castle where you really come for the beautiful setting more than the history. Unless you're Swiss, or a big fan of the author Lord Byron (who wrote a poem about Chillon's most famous prisoner which was quite well-known in its time), you've probably never heard of any of the history.Its history isn't concerned with the usual kings, emperors, etc. of other European sites, but it doesn't matter too much.It is a good castle to explore around, climbing its tower, seeing its dungeons, and walking through its great...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 24, 2006

Chillon Castle/Château de Chillon
Avenue De Chillon 21
Montreux, Switzerland
+41 (21) 966 8910

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Telepherique du Saleve

Attraction

Quote:

A fun experience in the Alps is literally just a city bus ride away. The Telepherique du Saleve is a cable car that takes you up to the top of the Saleve mountain ridge. It takes you up 1100m in just a few minutes. When you look at the cable car from a little ways away on the ground, it looks like it goes straight up, so the ride is a lot of fun.There is a little restaurant at the top, and a nice hiking trail that takes you along the ridgetop. I was there in June and only saw a couple other people while I was hiking. It has a perfect view over the Geneva and Lac Leman area valley from many points along the trail.There's is also a "parapente" club a little ways up the trail from...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on February 24, 2006

Telepherique du Saleve
Across the French Border
Geneva, Switzerland