10 Iconic Buildings to Explore in Geneva

The Calvin Auditorium or Calvin Auditory, originally the Notre-Dame-la-Neuve Chapel, is a chapel in Geneva, Switzerland, which played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. It is associated with John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox. The auditorium lies directly adjacent to St. Pierre Cathedral in the Place de la Taconnerie. The austere Gothic-style building was constructed in the 15th century, on the site of earlier 5th-century religious buildings, and was originally dedicated t

CERN is a research institute near Geneva, Switzerland. The full name is Organisation Européene pour la Recherche Nucléaire. The letters "CERN" are leftover from the older Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire. CERN was founded in 1954. Today 22 nations are members of the organization. It is the world's biggest laboratory for particle physics. About 2600 people work there full-time, and over 7800 scientists from about 500 universities and research institutes work there in total.

L'Usine is an alternative and self-managed cultural center located in Geneva. It is also a structure bringing together 18 collectives and associations which has established its headquarters in the former Geneva gold roughing factory. The most visible aspect of the Factory is the programming of shows, events, parties, concerts, and exhibitions in the different places that compose it: concert halls, nightclubs, art galleries, theater, cinema, and various branches dedicated to the development of c

The Bodmer Foundation is a library and museum specialized in manuscripts and precious editions. It is located in Cologny, Switzerland just outside Geneva. Also known as Bibliotheca Bodmeriana, it is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The library was established by Martin Bodmer and is famous as the home of the Bodmer Papyri. Some of these papyri are among the oldest remaining copies of the New Testament.

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.

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 imposing Reformation Wall stands in the Parc des Bastions, portraying the major figures of the Reformation in the form of huge statues and bas-reliefs. At the centre are John Calvin, William Farel, Théodore de Bèze, and John Knox. On the sides are those who spread the Reformation throughout Europe. Engraved in the wall, the motto of Geneva “Post Tenebras Lux” is a core phrase of Calvinist philosophy. At the park’s exit lies the Place de Neuve with its buildings dedicated to art and culture.

Maison Tavel, meaning Tavel House, is the oldest house in Geneva, built in the 12th century by the Maison family. In 1334, the house was reconstructed following a devastating fire. In 1963, the house was purchased by the city of Geneva and remade into the museum of history of Geneva.

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

The Villa Diodati is a mansion in the village of Cologny near Lake Geneva in Switzerland, notable because Lord Byron rented it and stayed there with John Polidori in the summer of 1816. Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley, who had rented a house nearby, were frequent visitors. Because of poor weather, in June 1816 the group famously spent three days together inside the house creating stories to tell each other, two of which were developed into landmark works of the Gothic horror genre: Franken