Page 582 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

580  GERM AN Y , A USTRIA , AND SWITZERLAND

at alternative Geneva museums, 2 Lake Geneva
including Maison Tavel and Vaud. £ @ g n Avenue d’Ouchy
Musée Rath. 60, Lausanne (021-613 2626).
At the foot of the old town, _ Nyon Paléo Music Festival (Jul).
Geneva’s main shopping street ∑ region-du-leman.ch
– the Rue de Rive – runs parallel
to the lake shore. The quays The region skirting Lake Geneva
either side of the lake are offers a string of interesting
pleasant places to stroll, with settlements in a landscape
the Jardin Anglais and the Jet replete with rolling hills, pretty
d’Eau (one of the world’s largest stone-built villages, vine-clad
fountains) on the Left Bank, and slopes, and palm-fringed
the Quai du Mont- esplanades.
Blanc on the right. Coppet, 15 km
It is from the latter (10 miles) north of
that the ferries and Geneva, is a quaint
paddlesteamers medieval village. The
Narrow, winding street in Geneva’s historic operate pleasure 17th-century Château
old town cruises and regular de Coppet was the
services to towns home of Madame
1 Geneva along the lake. de Staël, whose
Geneva. * 198,000. k £ @ n Farther along the literary soirées
Rue du Mont-Blanc 18 (022-909 7000). Right Bank are the and opposition to
_ Fêtes de Genève (early Aug). city’s botanic Napoleon enhanced
∑ geneva-tourism.ch gardens, and if the popularity of
you take the road the château in the
Geneva is an ancient settlement bordering them you 18th century.
with origins that go back to will come to the Farther along
Roman times. The old town, international quarter the lake, Nyon is a
situated on a craggy hill up above of the city. Here, the charming lakeside
the western end of Lake Geneva, Palais des Nations – town dating from
is the most attractive part of the European head- Jet d’Eau fountain, Roman times, a
city, with narrow, cobbled lanes quarters of the UN – Geneva harbor heritage displayed
and streets, fountain-filled runs frequent guided at the excellent
squares, and an array of tours through the day Roman Museum.
galleries, shops, and cafés. (ID documents mandatory). With its fortress-like château
In the heart of the old town Opposite, the International and network of lanes, Nyon
stands the Cathédrale St-Pierre. Red Cross and Red Crescent commands a fine hilltop view
Although the building dates Museum offers a moving over the lake.
from the 12th century, it was testimony to the need for Lausanne, 60 km (38 miles)
much altered in the 16th such an organization. east of Geneva, is a bustling city
century – the plain facade and with a fine old town, a beautiful
interiors are in keeping with its E Musée d’Art et d’Histoire Gothic cathedral, and excellent
Reformist heritage. A splendid Rue Charles-Galland 2. Closed until shopping. The city is also home
14th-century town-house close 2022. ∑ ville-ge.ch/mah to the international Olympic
by, the Maison Tavel, gives a P Palais des Nations movement – at the lakeside
good insight into life in the Avenue de la Paix 14. Tel 022-917 district of Ouchy, the Musée
developing city of Geneva 4896. Open Mon–Sat. 8 obligatory. Olympique (www.museum.
through the centuries. In Rue Closed Sep–Mar: Sat. & 7 olympic.org) is a must for all
Jean-Calvin, the Barbier-Müller ∑ unog.ch sports enthusiasts. The resort of
Museum displays artifacts and
objects from traditional
societies in Africa and the
Asia-Pacific region. There is a
mesmerizing array of beautiful
carvings, jewelry, and textiles.
Geneva’s grandest museum,
the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire,
at the eastern end of the old
town, is currently undergoing
extensive refurbishment and
will remain closed until 2022.
Most of its collections of Swiss
and European art are on display Wine château and vineyards near the town of Nyon
For hotels and restaurants see p594 and p595

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