After exploring more of Vienna by downloading these audio walking tours, I decided to check out one for Geneva as well and use that to wander a bit, rather than having to look too much like a tourist with maps and tour books in my hand. I'm not going to attempt to recount all the odd bits and stories that they tell you on these things...but there are a ton of pictures to perhaps give a better idea of what Geneva the city looks like.
Rue du Marché...the main shopping street
There are lots of swans in the lake, and they are quite heavily protected...regardless of the fact that they will apparently give you a pretty nasty bite.
Brunswick Monument...the Duke of Brunswick gave a large sum of money to Geneva on the condition that this mausoleum be built based upon the Scalinger Tomb in Verona.
This is one of the pedestrian walkways that goes under the Pont du Mont-Blanc.
The walkway is actually floating so that it moves up and down with the water level, but it is still slightly unsettling to have not much between yourself, a busy bridge, and rushing water.
Ile Rousseau...a small little island in the middle of where the lake flows into the Rhone River, houses a little restaurant and a swan sanctuary
Temple de la Fusterie. The first Calvinist church built in Geneva, about 1715
The fountain monument to L'Escalade which celebrates the defense of Geneva from a surprise attack by Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy in 1602. They still celebrate that night as a holiday each December.
Walking up the Grand Rue which leads into the old town.
The old Armory across from the Hotel de Ville (City Hall)
The Hotel de Ville
Inside...built in the 15th century...this is also where the League of Nations met...and the Red Cross began
Moving on towards the cathedral...this is the Auditory Chapel where Calvin taught
Now...as I had little else that had to be done on Sunday, I decided to pay my 5 francs and get a ticket to climb up to the top of the cathedral...
The guy just sort of points "over there" and it's just this tiny little door in the wall...I had to duck a little bit to get through
And then you just start going up this very tight winding staircase
Eventually you pop out in what appears to be an attic...complete with creaky wooden boards and a pathway to the next set of stairs.
And then you come out to this. I suggest clicking that to make it larger...so beautiful
And basically you can just walk around all 4 sides of this tower...and take another flight of stairs up to see even higher
And on the way out you get to see Calvin's chair...pretty cool.
Random side note...but I am thankful for all these little fountains and faucet type things with water in them. Perfect for washing your hands or refilling water bottles especially on these really hot days
Maison Tavel...this wasn't really on my list of things to do on Sunday, but it's near the cathedral and the entire thing is free on the first Sunday of the month (many of the exhibits are always free though). It is the oldest residence in Geneva. There are some remnants still of an 11th century tower as part of this residence.
The inside is filled with various exhibits about Geneva...yikes.
The Magnin Relief Map...which is up in the attic. An architect spent 18 years making this 32 square meter map of Geneva as it was in 1850. It was first displayed at the 1896 National Exhibition in Geneva.
Houses made of zinc, roofs in copper.
Another floor of the house is set up how it might have been back in the 18th and 19th century.
They have removed the original statues from the facade and taken them inside for restoration...copies are now in their place on the outside of the building
The level below ground shows all the trading that would have taken place, with direct street access so as not to disturb those living in the house.
Back outside...one of the gates to the old town
Statue of Rochemont, the man who prepared Switzerland's declaration of permanent neutrality
Apparently the longest wooden bench in the world...so says the guide in my ear...
A portion of the old city wall that is still remaining
Place de Neuve...on the left, the Grand Theatre...on the right, Musee Rath
And finally, the Reformation Wall in Parc des Bastions
I didn't really intend for this to have quite so many pictures, but I was having trouble editing further. I'm writing this from rather rainy and cold Geneva today, but the weather should improve in time for the weekend!
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