Parc Beaulieu - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Basilica of Notre-Dame, built between 1852 and 1857. It is the main place of worship for Geneva's Catholic community. Located near the Cornavin railway station, pilgrims stop there on their way to Santiago de Compostela. In June 1875, after the anticlerical government came to power, the Basilica was occupied, then closed. In 1911, the Catholic Church was able to buy it back. Made of sandstone, its architecture was inspired by the 13th-century Gothic style.

It was the former house of Voltaire. The museum was opened to the public in 1954; It presents documents, paintings, prints, sculptures, including 3 masterpieces by Houdon, about Voltaire and his family. It contains the writer's furniture and personal objects that evoke his life, including letters and manuscripts. There are regular exhibitions on the writer and his century. Not a lot of objects, but an opportunity to imagine the life of Voltaire in this place.

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.

Place des Nations is a big square situated in the heart of Geneva's international district, in front of the United Nations headquaters, famous for housing Broken Chair. It is specally proposed as a place to freely express any opinion - political, religious, personal or other. It is thus often full of people demonstrating or filing petitions.

This former hotel was built at the end of the 19th century. After the first World War, it became the seat of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations. In 1997, this remarkable monument of international diplomacy was dedicated to the cause of Human Rights. The place has witnessed Geneva’s importance and influence on the international stage. The journey continues towards the splendid parks on the right of the lakeside, including the Perle du Lac.

The Brunswick Monument is a mausoleum built-in 1879 in the Jardin des Alpes in Geneva, Switzerland to commemorate the life of Charles II, Duke of Brunswick. He bequeathed his fortune to the city of Geneva in exchange for a monument to be built in his name, specifying that it be a replica of the Scaliger Tombs in Verona, Italy. The Grand Théâtre de Genève, opened in 1879, was built with the legacy. It was one of the ancient attractions in this area and also a nice tourist attraction.