Geneva is beautiful, elegant, well-kept, and fashionable. The city beckons with its glitz, glamor, prosperity, its architecture, picturesque parks, luxurious hotels and boutiques on the Rue du Rhone, its art galleries, museums, restaurants, and bars, which creative people usually attend. Many people think of this city as the capital of Switzerland, but it is not. Geneva is the second-largest city in the country. It is cosmopolitan and rich. It is the location of many global organizations, various conventions, and conferences of the world scale are held here. The city lies in a hollow between two mountain ranges, the Alps and the Jura mountains, on Lake Geneva banks (the largest in Switzerland), and the Rhone river. You can admire the beautiful Mont Blanc from any part of the city. Geneva is a center of human thought, visited by many great men, including Julius Caesar, Albert Einstein, Gustav Jung. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born here. The city encourages contemplation, reflection, and dreaming — everything in it is made thoroughly and soundly. It stands firmly on its feet, unaware of crises, enjoying Swiss chocolate and fondue.
The city is divided administratively into eight districts (sections). Jonction, Centre, Plainpalais et Acacias, Eaux-Vives, and Champel are on the left bank of the Rhone, while Saint-Jean et Charmilles, Servette-Petit-Saconnex, Grottes-Saint-Gervais, and Pâquis et Nations are on the right. Some of them are subdivided into neighborhoods. The left bank of Geneva is more attractive to tourists. It contains the historical center, popular city attractions, and the most comfortable places for tourists.
The modern part of the city lies on the right bank. It includes its business and international center, the Palace of Nations, and the railway station. The districts of Geneva, in turn, are divided into quarters. The most picturesque of them include Cité on the left bank and beautiful, elegant Saint-Gervais on the right.
Geneva is one of the most comfortable, beautiful, and elegant cities in Europe. Every year, it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world and even won the prestigious World Travel Awards, which is considered the Oscar of tourism. It harmoniously combines modern and gothic architecture, classics and the latest technology, sophistication and comfort. You can feel the famous French charm and Swiss sophistication. The magnificent nature is one of the most attractive attractions of Geneva. Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva, the Rhone promenade, and the Prealps enchant you with their views.
Until the end of the XIX century, Geneva was the most densely populated city in Switzerland. Later, this status passed to Zurich. It has a very high population density per square meter, as so many people aspire to live in this prosperous and well-kept city. Almost 50% of the population is not Swiss, as there are many international organizations, which employ newcomers. The proximity to the French border explains a large number of French people in Geneva. English is second only to French, and there are also speakers of Spanish, Italian, and German. The locals are calm, pedantic, well-bred; they value high quality, adore parties, are sympathetic and easygoing. Maybe that's why there are so many concerts, festivals, auctions, and exhibitions for all tastes in Geneva.
The history of Geneva dates back to ancient times. Archaeologists have established that as early as 1100 B.C., there were settlements of hunters here. In the III century B.C., the Celtic tribes of the Allobroges appeared in the area of Lake Geneva. The strategic location of these lands attracted them. In 124 B.C., the Allobroges surrendered to the Roman Empire, and retired legionnaires began to settle there.
The city of Genava is first mentioned in Julius Caesar's treatise on the Gallic Wars, in 58 B.C. During the Roman period, Geneva developed and prospered thanks to its advantageous location at the crossroads of two important roads to France and southern Germany. In the IV century A.D., the locals converted to Christianity, and Geneva became an episcopate within the Roman Empire.
In the V century, the city faced hard times. Many invaders attacked it: Burgundians, Franks. As a result, It became part of the Carolingian Empire. Since 888, Geneva had been the capital of the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy.
In the XIV century, the city experienced a new economic and cultural boom: trade, various crafts, insurance companies, banks, printing houses, and the Academy of Liberal Arts were actively developing.
In the XVII century, Geneva became the world capital of jewelers and watchmakers. In 1798, Napoleon conquered it, but already in 1814, the French were forced to leave the city, and it proclaimed its independence. In 1815, Geneva became part of the Swiss Confederation, which remains to this day content for all its citizens.
The modern Geneva is a world-class center of finance and diplomacy. It is home to many international organizations such as the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank.