Geneva City Information : Geneva Hotels

With Romanesque and Gothic architectural influences, this stunning cathedral is where John Calvin established the Reformed Church during the 16th century. Originally built by Catholics in 1160, it became a Protestant church in 1536. The interior features Calvin's seat near the transept crossing, and the tomb of Duke de Rohan, who headed the Reform Church during the reigns of Henri IV and Louis XIII. The cathedral's exterior includes a 157-step North Tower that visitors climb to get a spectacular panoramic view of the city. An added bonus is the hourly bell tower recital, which has been conducted since the mid-1700's.

A popular local landmark, the Flower Clock sits at the edge of the Jardin Anglais. The clock face is made of roughly 6500 flowering perennials and annuals that are replanted, rebedded, and relandscaped twice a year. The clock sits on an incline, measures five meters in diameter and dates back to 1955. Originally commissioned by the Office of Tourism, this technological and gardening marvel was financed by the Vaud and Geneva 's Union of Watchmakers.

Best known for his 18th century works on education, politics and liberalism, Jean-Jacque Rousseau was considered by some to be a visionary. As a native of Geneva , however, he was mostly shunned because of the city's strict conservatism. Ile Rousseau, an island where the writer spent time and which once served as a city bastion, sits in the center of the Rhône River , is now home to a variety of wildlife and a statue honoring Rousseau.

With a water stream that shoots 460 feet into the air, this fountain originally served as a water supply safety valve. Probably one of Geneva's most recognizable landmarks, the Jet d'Eau dates back to 1891 when it was designed to release the additional water produced by the Rhône River's turbine house. Both practical and scenic, the jet stream releases 132 gallons of water per second between March and October, and is located in Lake Geneva.

Located across from the Place Bel Air, this quaint island was once a geographically strategic military stronghold. In 58 BC, Julius Caesar destroyed the bridge that connected the Tour-de-I'lle to the city of Geneva. During the 1200s the Bishop Aymon de Grandson constructed a chateau which eventually served as a prison during the Reformation. In time the island evolved into a prosperous commercial market . Now visitors can see the remnants of various forms of architecture including a clock tower, the chateau and a bronze statue by Regazzonni.

Located in Old Town and known as Geneva 's oldest dwelling, the Maison Tavel is an architectural tribute to everyday medieval life. The house was destroyed by fire in 1334 and rebuilt by a noble family, the Tavels, as a fortified palace. The Maison Tavel showcases cellars where traders bartered their wares, as well as kitchen and apartment areas where the average Geneva denizen lived and worked. The Maison Tavel is also a prime example of the time period's civilian architecture.