The Four Seasons Hotel Geneva is the first and oldest hotel in the city (built in 1834) and is a designated Swiss heritage building. Located near business and shopping on the banks of Lake Geneva, the hotel houses 103 residential-style guest rooms and suites with Louis Philippe-style furnishings. Hotel guests can dine at the Il Lago restaurant (Italian cuisine) in the hotel and enjoy cocktails at the Le Bar de Bergues. The hotel is located near a number of galleries, monuments, mountains, wineries, gardens, golf courses and other historical and natural attractions.
History[]
Situated conveniently one hour by plane to Paris and Milan and two hours to London, Geneva, located in southwestern Switzerland, is rich in history and offers stunningly beautiful views of Lake Geneva and the surrounding area. Geneva began as a Roman settlement in approximately 60 B.C. Geneva was in the 1550s a sanctuary for persecuted Protestants and again served as sanctuary for French Protestants fleeing France in the 17th century. Geneva also served as a peaceful place of refuge for political refugees in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Geneva grew into a prosperous banking and business center and at the end of World War I it was chosen as the site of the League of Nations then the European site for the United Nations. Geneva currently is home to a number of international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO); CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory; International Olympic Committee (in Lausanne) and many more.
Nearby Activities And Attractions[]
Bol d’Or: On Lake Geneva in June this regatta features over 600 yachts.
Fêtes de Genève: During July and August on the waterfront this 2 week festival includes concerts, fireworks, a lake parade, international foods, street entertainers and more.
Reformation Monument: Built during 1909-1917, the Reformation Wall or Monument commemorates 4 prominent Genevan Reformers: John Calvin, Guillaume Farel, Theodore Beza and John Knox. The wall is 325 feet long and 30 feet high.
Old Town: Walking through this historic area offers the traveler courtyards and fountain scenery plus bistros, antique shops, art galleries and more.
CERN: The European Organization for Nuclear Research, this scientific research center is home to the world's biggest particle accelerator. Allow a half day for tours and contact CERN in advance for visitor tour planning before booking transportation or lodging.
The Museum of Art and History: The museum includes three main sections (Fine Arts, Archaeology and Applied Arts). The museum is open 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily, closed Monday.
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum: The museum commemorates the world's first humanitarian organization. The Red Cross museum features permanent exhibitions on the Founding of the Red Cross and the First and Second World Wars. Their temporary exhibits have ranged from "Footnotes of the Great War" to "All About Blood." Guided tours are given in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Japanese.