Geneva Switzerland - The Smallest Metropolis in The World
Geneva Switzerland surprises as the smallest Metropolis in the world. Until 1870 it was the most densely populated city in Switzerland. Then later on, it got rolled over by Zurich, but today is still larger than Bern, the capital of Switzerland or Basel and Lausanne. Today the city counts about 190,000 inhabitants. And from all the Swiss cities, holds the most foreigners: around 45% with almost 180 different nationalities. Geneva Switzerland including the Canton with the same name has approximately 440,000 inhabitants. Within that Canton are eight small towns, all with less than 30,000 inhabitants: Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Lancy, Meyrin, Onex, Thônex, Vernier, and Versoix. 
As the headquarters of many International Organizations as well as its university, the city is aligned very multicultural. Even the shops in the downtown area reflects this again. Nowhere else in Switzerland do you find expensive watch boutiques and travel agencies in such a tiny place. The city is also economically and socially the hot spot in Switzerland, in my opinion even better than Zurich. Geneva Switzerland is a wealthy city and has the highest density of billionaires in the world. And do not believe that they are coming here only for tax reasons. Monaco would certainly be a better tax paradise than Switzerland. But if you look at the whole package, then this wonderful city is hard to beat. According to the well-known Mercer Human Resource Consulting, it ranks second right after Zurich in the 2006 Quality of Living Survey. It has been like that since quite a few years. It summarizes the difference in living standards between cities and includes a total index and a sub-index for each of these factors: On the other side, Geneva Switzerland ranks seventh worldwide in theCost of Living Survey for 2006. Moscow in Russia is the most expensive city and Asuncion in Paraguay remains the least expensive city in the world. Because the living standards are very high, Geneva Switzerland is an expensive place to live. Mercer's survey covers 144 cities across six continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, which includes: The city also houses a big nuclear research facility in quantum physics "CERN" and operates one of the three intercontinental airports, called Genève-Cointrin. Every year in March, the city hosts the famous car exposition "SalonSuisse des Automobile". It is proud to be one of the least polluted cities of Europe. It has amazingly many parks and green areas that invite you for walks or for a pick nick in a park. If you want to see Geneva Switzerland from the top, head to Mont Salève, a long limestone ridge just south of the city on French territory. When you leave Geneva by route de Florissant and road 42, you get to the suburb of Villette. Close to Veyrier on the French border, a cable car will take you quickly to a height of 1,143 m (3,750 ft) to Mont Salève. On a beautiful day, take a boat trip over the lake and head to Montreux or Lausanne. Places Of Interest in Geneva Switzerland Jet d'Eau - Geneva's most noted landmark The city's most noted landmark, the Jet d'Eau (water-jet fountain), is situated on Lac Léman. This 140-meter high water column is visible from most parts of the city. To shoot one half cubic meters of water per second to 140 meters high requires two very powerful pumps. The weight of those two pumps is more than 16 tonnes and produce around 1000 Kilowatt, fed by an electric tension of 2400 volt. St. Peter's Cathedral 
The construction of this cathedral began around 1160 and ended in1232. The original ceilings were roman but were later extended in the Gothic style. The chapel Chapelle des Maccabees, was added in 1397. Since the reformation, this impressing building changed into the protestant style. When John Calvin preached here from 1536 to 1564, the cathedral became the guilding center of Protestantism. There you can admire the "Calvin chair", a choir chair chopped in stone and a statue of the count von Rohan. John Calvin was the leader of the French Protestants, and buried in that church. Under that cathedral in Geneva Switzerland, you will discover one of the greatest archeological finding sites. Place St. Pierre Opening hours: Nature and Parks Botanical Garden It's like a living museum with over 16,000 plants from all over the world. The botanical garden of Geneva Switzerland has several sections like the Arboretum, the stone garden, plants for medicines, the animal garden, and the "house of growing". The latter, which has (meat eating and good tasting Plants, as well as tropical and Mediterranean plants. Take a tour with a Guide, it is quite interesting. There is also a gift shop on location. Opening hours: Chemin de l'Impératrice 1 Flower Clock 
The flower clock is without a doubt one of the most photographed objects in Geneva. The flower composition varies depending on the season of the year. For the decoration of the flower clock with a diameter of 5 meters requires more than 6,500 plants. However, the new millennium provided it with decisive artistic dimensions thanks to the ingenuity of the gardeners for the Services of Green Spaces and the Environment. Parc des Eaux Vives This property was one's in private possession and was bought in 1912 from the town of Eaux-Vives. Earlier on, also known as the Luna parc, it is today called the parc de Eaux-Vives. It is a rich planted area and perfect for all those who like to relax in a quite place. In the middle of the parc a little stream runs from a small cave. Here you can admire a multitude of alpine flowers and other wild plants. The castle in the centre of the park was built around 1750 and today it is a restaurant of high reputation. In the spring the eyes of many visitors are delighted by the hundreds of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. They are in part a gift of the Dutch royalty, in recognition of the humanitarian services which the city of Geneva Switzerland furnished. Museums in Geneva Switzerland Museum of natural history The museum of natural history with its modern concept is the most visited museum in Geneva Switzerland. The building provides plenty of room to hold different expositions. The collection holds nature and wildlife like for example our regional fauna with almost all turbulence animals of Switzerland. Exotic birds and mammals like all the different tigers that are known, like marine animals, fishes, reptiles and insects. In two areas, you can admire the fascinating history of the universe and our planet. The visitors have also access to a special library, and the children guided to a special pedagogical museum. Opening hours: Museum of natural history Microcosms, Science, Technology - CERN CERN is the biggest research center in the world. More than 7,000 scientists from all over the world are working there. Discover how the exciting basic research led us to the breakthrough in all the areas of medicine, communication and computing. Be prepared to spend a half day at this location. After the introduction speech about CERN, your trip goes to one hundred meters below the earth. There you visit an experimental plant about physic of the 27 km large LEP particle accelerator. You can visit the permanent exposition of CERN called Microcosms without a guide and without pre registration. At this location, they represent you with the physic of the universe focusing on tiny particles. You can admire the super large detectors and observe what is happening when two high-energy particles collide with each other. Opening hours: CERN Patek Philippe Museum Switzerland has two excellent watch and luxury boutique museums. One of them is the Patek Philippe Museum with more than 2000 objects in their exhibition from 1839 until 1980. Of all the objects, about 1000 watches can be admired on three floors which are in possession of the owner and president of the company, Philippe Stern. On the fourth floor, there is a big library with watch books. This part will be opened only to collectors, journalists or by request. Guidance is only according to arrangement. Patek Philippe Museum Opening hours Vacheron Constantin - Watches and Luxury Boutique Vacheron Constantin is as can be proved the oldest watch manufacturing company in Switzerland. The watches of the actual collection are homage to the founders Jean Vacheron (1731-1805) and Francois Constantin (1788-1854). With the takeover by Vendome group "Richemont" in 1996 found the Genevan enterprise the ideal partner for a widely independently formed future. Vacheron ConstantinRue des Moulin 1 Opening hours International Red Cross The International Red Cross was founded in 1863 by Henry Dunant and a few other locals from Geneva Switzerland. The ideas and the role model were not changed as of this day. And it is since this day that Geneva represents itself as the city of peace where all international negotiations are held. When you visit the headquarters of the Red Cross and the Red HalfMoon, you will be able to see pictures and presentations from its history from the beginnings until today. Guides for groups are available in many languages. For your convenience, there is a restaurant and a boutique. I recommend visiting this extra ordinary museum - you will never forget it. Opening hours International Museum of the Red Cross and the Red Half Moon Other museum or interesting sites worth seeing are: Museum of Art and History Palais des Nations
United Nations Once you leave behind the gates of the United Nations, you enter International grounds. It is a zone in which almost all countries are represented. It's a zone without frontiers that receives every year more than 20,000 Delegates from all nations. More than 3,000 officials work there for the same mission permanently for peace, the security, and the right forHuman dignity. Constructed between 1929 and 1936 to house the League of Nations, the Palais des Nations did not become the headquarters of the United Nations until 1946 when the former organization dissolved. After the completion of a new wing in 1973, it became the second most important centre of the United Nations, right after New York The office of the United Nations in Geneva Switzerland is one of the biggest Conference places in the world. The seating capacity of 2000 is as large as the Paris Opera House. It is incredible but more than 7,000 conference sessions are hold with over 25,000 delegates who meet here annually to negotiate for world peace. Palais des Nations Geneva Switzerland Hotels Hotel des Bergues The Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues was the city's first hotel in the heart of Geneva. Over the years, it has become the first choice of world statesmen and global travelers. The Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues is also one of the best hotels that Switzerland has to offer. This exclusive hotel is located next to the main shopping area and overlooking Lac Léman. President Wilson The President Wilson is the new star of the Geneva Luxury Hotels. It was renovated for 190 Million Francs in an excellent location directly on the lake with an outdoor pool and a generous Spa. The President Wilson has 233 rooms and elegant business suites as well as exciting catering that reaches from Asia into the Lebanon. Beau-Rivage The Beau-Rivage is a hotel managed by the family Mayer since four generations. The most modern rooms and suites and a top service distinguish this hotel. The location on the shores of Lake Geneva Switzerland is magnificent. The hotel has the well-known 18-points GaultMillau French restaurant "Chat-Botté" as well as the 14-points GaultMillau "Patara" Thai restaurant. Hotel d'Angleterre The Hotel d'Angleterre is like the Beau-Rivage, a marvelous, charm furnished Patrician building. Refinement and discretion distinguish this small high-class hotel. The Hotel d'Angleterre is a good 5-Star hotel, but a bit overpriced from what you get and it certainly does not compare to the Four Season's Hotel. High-End Restaurants in Geneva Domaine de Châteauvieux Ermitage Bernard Ravet Restaurant Philippe Rochat Bars in Geneva Switzerland Café Art's Alhambar Le Baroque Arthur's Rive Gauche Senso Return from Geneva Switzerland to Swiss Cities Return from Geneva Switzerland to High-End-Travel-Switzerland
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