Geneva, this multi-faceted city of humane dimensions, has all a metropolis can offer. Geneva Tourism & Conventions will guide you through the city and its region through a unique, creative and ongoing concept.
A Brief History of Geneva
Dominated by the Romans, the Burgundians and then the Franks, the city of Geneva was already an independent diocese by the end of the 13th century.
In 1536 it adopted the Protestant Reformation with the arrival of John Calvin. During the night of 11 to 12 December 1602 the Genevans repelled the troops of the Duke of Savoy who were trying to seize the city by scaling its fortifications.
In 1798 Geneva was occupied by the French and became the administrative centre of the Departement du Léman.
The Republic was restored on 31 December 1813 and two years later Geneva became part of Switzerland. The International Committee of the Red Cross was founded in the city in 1863 and the following year the basis of international humanitarian law was laid with the signing of the First Geneva Convention.
In 1919 the city was chosen as the headquarters of the League of Nations, the forerunner of the UN which today has its European headquarters in Geneva.
Population
City and Canton of Geneva: 457’628
City of Geneva: 189’313
Official language: French; other common languages: English and German
Visa : Switzerland has been in the Schengen Zone since 12 December 2008. As a result, “Schengen” visas also cover entry into Switzerland provided they are part of a valid travel document.
Geography
Area of the canton: 282 km2 Altitude: 373 m above sea level Climate: average temperature: winter 10ºC; summer 23ºC. Time zone: Geneva is in the Central European zone (G.M.T +1). Summer time (G.M.T +2) runs from end of March to the last week of October.
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