Place des Nations - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Broken Chair is the work of sculptor Daniel Berset. It was made in 1997 for the NGO Handicap International. Made out of 5.5 tonnes of wood and standing at a height of 12 meters, this impressive work of art has been dominating the Place des Nations since 1997. Its message is simple: remember the victims of landmines, urge your government to promote a ban on landmines. It is one of the famous attractions in this area.

The Musée Ariana, also known as the Musée Suisse de la céramique et du Verre, is a museum in Geneva, Switzerland. It is devoted to ceramic and glass artwork and contains around 20,000 objects from the last 1,200 years, representing the historic, geographic, artistic and technological breadth of glass and ceramic manufacture during this time. The collection is the only one of its kind in Switzerland.

The “Celestial Sphere” is the large, metal sculpture located at the Palais des Nations on the Cour d’honneur easily viewed both from the UN Cafeteria and upstairs in the Assembly Hall from the Salle des pas perdus. The Celestial Sphere was installed in 1939 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the League of Nations and to honor the leadership of American President Woodrow Wilson.

Built between 1929 and 1936 and located at the heart of the Parc de l'Ariana, the Palais des Nations houses the European headquarters of the United Nations and is the largest UN centre after New York. More than 25,000 delegates pass through the center each year, and many works of art are on display there. Furthermore, the Palais opens its doors daily and provides fascinating guided tours. It is one of the unique attractions in this area.

The United Nations Office at Geneva is housed at the historic Palais des Nations, originally built for the League of Nations in the 1930s. A beautiful art deco building overlooking Lake Geneva, the Palais is the largest center for conference diplomacy in the world. Besides United Nations administration, it also hosts the offices for a number of programmes and funds such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affai

Parc de l’Ariana is the perfect place to enjoy a quiet stroll under beautiful trees surrounded by meadows and lawns. Flowerbeds in full bloom and elegantly trimmed box trees decorate the plateau surrounding the flamboyant Palais de l’Ariana and its baroque fountain. It is a historic and prestigious park in Geneva which was open to the public 24/7, 365 days a year. This lush green public park has many scenic spots and trails for hiking.