Geneva 12521 225887906 2008-07-15T21:37:15Z Joowwww 1384323 removed image from left of intro, find another place for it {{otheruses}} {{Travel guide|date=April 2008}} {{Infobox Swiss town | subject_name = Genève | municipality_name = Genève | municipality_type = municipality | imagepath_coa = Coat_of_Arms_of_Geneva.svg|pixel_coa= | map = Carte Commune Genève.png | image_photo = Genf.jpg | image_caption = Geneva | languages = French | canton = Geneva | iso-code-region = CH-GE | district = N/A | lat_d=46|lat_m=12|lat_NS=N|long_d=6|long_m=09|long_EW=E | postal_code = 1200 | municipality_code = 6621 | area = 15.86 | elevation = 375|elevation_description= | population = 185726|populationof=2007 | agglomeration = 960000 | website = ville-ge.ch | mayor = Patrice Mugny|mayor_asof=2008|mayor_party=Vert | mayor_title = Maire|list_of_mayors = List of mayors of Geneva | places = | demonym = Les Genevois | neighboring_municipalities= [[Carouge]], [[Chêne-Bougeries]], [[Cologny]], [[Lancy]], [[Grand-Saconnex]], [[Pregny-Chambésy]], [[Vernier, Switzerland|Vernier]], [[Veyrier, Switzerland|Veyrier]] | twintowns = |}} '''Geneva''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Genève'', [[German language|German]]: ''Genf'') is the second-most populous city in [[Switzerland]] (after [[Zürich]]) and is the most populous city of [[Romandy]] (the [[French language|French]]-speaking part of Switzerland). Situated where the [[Rhône River]] exits [[Lake Geneva]] (French ''Lac Léman''), it is the capital of the [[Canton of Geneva|Republic and Canton of Geneva]]. Geneva is widely regarded as a [[global city]], mainly because of the presence of numerous [[international organization]]s, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the [[United Nations]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Staying on the Safe Side; Geneva|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDE133EF937A15755C0A966958260&scp=7&sq=Canton+of+Geneva&st=nyt|date=1990-06-24|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> and the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]].<ref>{{cite web|title=36 Hours in Geneva|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/travel/16hours.html?scp=1&sq=Geneva+Switzerland&st=nyt|date=2007-09-16|accessdate=2008-02-02}}</ref> It is also the place where the [[Geneva Conventions]] were signed, which chiefly concern the treatment of wartime non-combatants and [[prisoners of war]]. A 2007 survey by [[Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer Consulting]] found Geneva to have the second-highest quality of living in the world (narrowly outranked by Zürich). <ref>Mercer Human Resource Consulting [http://www.mercerhr.com/pressrelease/details.jhtml/dynamic/idContent/1173105 World-wide quality of living survey]. London, 2 April 2007. Last accessed [[13 January]] [[2008]]</ref> ==Etymology== The word ''Geneva'' is of [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] origin, and the city was later mentioned in [[Latin]] texts with the spelling ''Genava.'' {{Facts|date=March 2008}} It has been transformed by the speakers of other languages. Thus, it is ''Geneva'' in [[English language|English]] and {{pronEng|dʒɨˈniːvə}}, {{lang-fr|Genève}} {{IPA2|ʒənɛv}}, {{audio-de|Genf|de-Genf.ogg}} {{IPA|[gɛnf]}}, {{lang-it|Ginevra}} {{IPA|[dʒiˈneːvra]}}, and {{lang-rm|Genevra}}. == History == :''For the Catholic ecclesiastical history, see [[Lausanne and Geneva bishopric(s)]]'' [[Image:Escalade-battle-2.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[L'Escalade]] celebrating the defeat of the surprise attack by troops sent by [[Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy]] ]] [[Image:ReformationsdenkmalGenf2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Reformation Wall|The International Monument to the Reformation]]]] [[Image:Jet d'au Geneva.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Jet d'Eau]] in [[Lake Geneva]] ]] [[Image:Geneva SPOT 1124.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Geneva seen from SPOT Satellite]] ''Geneva'' (Genava of Geneva, also Janua and Genua), [[capital city|capital]] of the [[Swiss canton]] of the same name situated where the [[Rhône]] issues from the [[Lake of Geneva]] (Lacus Lemanus), first appears in history as a border town, fortified against the Celto-Germanic [[Helvetii]], which the Romans took in 120 B.C. In A.D. 443 it was taken by Burgundy, and with the latter fell to the [[Frankish Kingdom|Franks]] in 534. In 888 the town was part of the new [[Kingdom of Burgundy]], and with it was taken over in 1033 by the German Emperor. According to legendary accounts found in the works of Gregorio Leti ("Historia Genevrena", Amsterdam, 1686) and Besson ("Memoires pour l'histoire ecclésiastique des diocèses de Genève, Tantaise, Aoste et Maurienne", Nancy, 1739; new ed. Moutiers, 1871), Geneva was Christianised by Dionysius Areopagita and Paracodus, two of the seventy-two disciples, in the time of [[Domitian]]; Dionysius went thence to [[Paris]] and Paracodus became the first Bishop of Geneva but the legend is fictitious, as is that which makes St. Lazarus the first Bishop of Geneva, an error arising out of the similarity between the Latin names Genara (Geneva) and [[Genua]] (Genoa, in northern Italy). The so-called "Catalogue de St. Pierre", which names St. Diogenus (Diogenes) as the first Bishop of Geneva, is unreliable. A letter of [[St. Eucherius]] to Salvius makes it almost certain that St. Isaac (c. 400) was the first bishop. In 440 [[Salonius|St. Salonius]] appears as Bishop of Geneva; he was a son of St. Eucherius, to whom the latter dedicated his Instructiones'; he took part in the [[Councils of Orange]] (441), [[Vaison-la-Romaine|Vaison]] (442) and [[Archbishopric of Arles|Arles]] (about 455), and is supposed to be the author of two small commentaries, ''In parabolas Salomonis'' and on Ecclesisastis (published in P. L., LII, 967 sqq., 993 sqq. as works of an otherwise unknown bishop, Salonius of Vienne). Little is known about the following Bishops Theoplastus (about 475), to whom [[St. Sidonius Apollinaris]] addressed a letter; Dormitianus (before 500), under whom the Burgundian Princess Sedeleuba, a sister of Queen [[Clotilde]], had the remains of the martyr and St. Victor of Soleure transferred to Geneva, where she built a [[basilica]] in his honour; [[St. Maximus]] (about 512-41), a friend of [[Avitus, Archbishop of Vienne]] and [[Cyprian of Toulon]], with whom he was in correspondence (Wawra in "Tubinger Theolog. Quartalschrift", LXXXV, 1905, 576-594). Bishop Pappulus sent the priest Thoribiusas his substitute to the Synod of Orléans (541). Bishop Salonius II is only known from the signatures of the Synods of Lyons (570) and Paris (573) and Bishop Cariatto, installed by King [[Guntram]] in 584, was present at the two Synods of Valence and Macon in 585. From the beginning the bishopric of Geneva was a suffragan of the [[archbishopric of Vienne]]. The bishops of Geneva had the status of [[prince of the Holy Roman Empire]] since 1154, but had to maintain a long struggle for their independence against the guardians (''advocati'') of the see, the counts of Geneva and later the counts of Savoy. In 1290 the latter obtained the right of installing the [[vice-dominus]] of the diocese, the title of Vidame of Geneva was granted to the family of count [[François de Candie]] of [[Chambery]]-Le-Vieux a Chatellaine of the Savoy, this official exercised minor jurisdiction in the town in the bishop's. In 1387 Bishop Adhémar Fabry granted the town its great charter, the basis of its communal self-government, which every bishop on his accession was expected to confirm. When the line of the counts of Geneva became extinct in 1394, and the House of Savoy came into possession of their territory, assuming after 1416 the title of Duke, the new dynasty sought by every means to bring the city of Geneva under their power, particularly by elevating members of their own family to the episcopal see. The city protected itself by union with the [[Swiss Federation]] (''Eidgenossenschaft''), uniting itself in 1526 with Berne and Fribourg. The [[Protestant Reformation]] plunged Geneva into new entanglements: while [[Bern]] favoured the introduction of the new teaching and demanded liberty of preaching for the Reformers [[Guillaume Farel]] and [[Antoine Froment]], Catholic [[Fribourg]] renounced in 1511 its allegiance with Geneva. The Protestant leader [[John Calvin]] was based in Geneva from 1536 to his death in 1564 (though briefly exiled from Geneva from 1538 to 1541), and began systematically to preach his doctrine there. The city became a center of Protestant activity, producing works such as the [[Genevan Psalter]], though there was much controversy (which remains to this day) regarding the relationship between Calvin and the civil authorities. As early as 1532 the bishop had been obliged to leave his residence, never to return; in 1536 he fixed his see at [[Gex]], in 1535 at [[Annecy]]. The Apostolic zeal and devotion of [[St. Francis de Sales]], who was Bishop of Geneva from 1602 to 1621, restored to Catholicism a large part of the diocese. Formerly the Diocese of Geneva extended well into Savoy, as far as Mont Cenis and the Great St. Bernard. [[Nyon]], also often erroneously considered a separate diocese, belonged to Geneva. Under Charlemagne [[Tarantaise]] was detached from Geneva and became a separate diocese. Before the Reformation the bishops of Geneva ruled over 8 chapters, 423 parishes, 9 abbeys and 68 priories. In 1802 the diocese was united with that of [[Chambéry]]. At the [[Congress of Vienna]] (1814-15) the territory of Geneva was extended to cover 15 Savoyard and 6 French parishes, with more than 16,000 Catholics; at the same time it was admitted to the [[Swiss Confederation]]. The Congress expressly provided -- and the same proviso was included in the Treaty of Turin ([[16 March]], [[1816]]) -- that in these territories transferred to Geneva the Catholic religion was to be protected, and that no changes were to be made in existing conditions without agreement with the Holy See. [[Pius VII]] in 1819 united the city of Geneva and 20 parishes with the Diocese of Lausanne, while the rest of the ancient Diocese of Geneva (outside of Switzerland) was reconstituted, in 1822, as the French [[Diocese of Annecy]]. The Great Council of Geneva (cantonal council) afterwards ignored the responsibilities thus undertaken; in imitation of Napoleon's "Organic Articles", it insisted upon the ''[[Placet]]'', or previous approval of publication, for all papal documents. Catholic indignation ran high at the civil measures taken against Marilley, the parish priest of Geneva and later bishop of the see. Still greater indignation was aroused among the Catholics by the injustice created by the ''[[Kulturkampf]]'', which obliged them to contribute to the budget of the Protestant Church and to that of the [[Old Catholic Church]], while for their own religious needs they did not receive the smallest pecuniary aid from the public treasury. On [[30 June]], [[1907]], most of the Catholics of Geneva voted for the separation of Church and State. By this act of separation they were assured at least a negative equality with the Protestants and Old Catholics. Since then the Canton of Geneva has given aid to no creed out of either the state or the municipal revenues. The Protestants have been favoured, for to them a lump compensation of 800,000 Swiss francs (about $160,000 then) was paid at the outset, whereas the Catholics, in spite of the international agreements assuring financial support to their religion -- either from the public funds or from other sources -- received nothing. == Geography == [[Image:Ginebra-Suiza-NieveDeEnero-02.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[old town]] of Geneva in winter]] Geneva is located at 46°12' North, 6°09' East, at the south-western end of [[Lake Geneva]], where the lake flows back into the [[Rhône River]]. It is surrounded by two mountain chains, the [[Swiss Alps|Alps]] and the [[Jura mountains|Jura]]. [[Image:Eaux-Vives.JPG|thumb|left|300px|The Eaux-Vives quarter of Geneva]] The city of Geneva has an area of {{convert|15.86|km2|sqmi|1|lk=on|abbr=on}}, while the area of the [[Canton of Geneva]] is {{convert|282|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=on}}, including the two small [[enclave]]s of [[Céligny]] in [[Vaud]]. The part of the lake that is attached to Geneva has an area of {{convert|38|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=on}} and is sometimes referred to as ''Petit lac'' ({{lang-en|small lake}}). The Canton has only a {{convert|4.5|km|mi|1|abbr=on|sp=us}} long border with the rest of Switzerland; out of a total of {{convert|107.5|km|mi|1|abbr=on|sp=us}} of borders, the remaining 103 are shared with [[France]], with the [[Ain|Départment de l'Ain]] to the North and the [[Haute-Savoie|Département de la Haute-Savoie]] to the South. The [[altitude]] of Geneva is {{convert|373.6|m|ft|1|lk=on|sp=us}}, and corresponds to the altitude of the largest of the [[Pierres du Niton]], two large rocks emerging from the lake which date from the [[Wisconsin glaciation|last ice age]]. This rock was chosen by General [[Guillaume Henri Dufour]] as the [[reference point]] for all surveying in Switzerland.<ref>[[Swisstopo]], [http://www.swisstopo.ch/en/basics/geo/faq/horizon Height reference for Switzerland]. Last accessed on [[1 February]] [[2007]].</ref> The second main river of Geneva is the [[Arve River]] which flows into the [[Rhône River]] just west of the city center. ===Climate=== {{Unreferencedsection|date=April 2008}} In Geneva, the winter is cold and generally a little cloudy. During the winter season, it is possible to go several days without thawing, and a day or two with severe frosts where the thermometer displays {{convert|-10|°C|°F|sigfig=2}}. There are several days each month when, if anticyclonic conditions are stable, the clouds may stay for several days. From March, with temperatures rising it feels like summer in late May. However, the rain intensifies and often has a stormy character during the month of May. These may be short but strong storms depositing tens of millimeters of rain within just a few minutes. Summers are often hot and rather humid, although, while some may be more changeable, the mornings remain relatively fresh. During the summer season, the rains are less frequent but more intense. This is the season which brings thunderstorms with hail. If the weather in early September is still hot, it cools down quickly to become really cold in November. The morning frosts then begin to reappear. Autumn is also the season of mists, and the month of October is often the one with the most fog in the year. This fog can be very intense, restricting vision to less than {{convert|100|m|ft|0|sp=us}} in areas outside the city. ==Cityscape== {{wide image|Rade Geneve.jpg|1500px|}} ==Culture== ===Media=== The city's main newspaper is the ''[[Tribune de Genève]],'' with a readership of about 187,000, a [[Newspaper|daily newspaper]] founded on 1 February 1879 by [[James T. Bates]]. ''[[Le Courrier]],'' founded in 1868, was originally supported by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], but has been completely independent since 1996. Mainly focused on Geneva, ''Le Courrier'' is trying to expand into other cantons in [[Romandy]]. Both ''[[Le Temps]]'' (headquartered in Geneva) and ''[[Le Matin (Switzerland)|Le Matin]]'' are widely read in Geneva, but both journals actually cover the whole of [[Romandy]]. Geneva is covered by the various [[French language]] [[radio network]]s of the [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation]], in particular the [[Radio Suisse Romande]]. While these networks cover the whole of [[Romandy]], special programs related to Geneva are sometimes broadcast on some of the local frequencies in the case of special events such as elections. Other local station broadcast from the city, including RadioLac ([[FM]] 91.8&nbsp;MHz), Radio Cité (Non-commercial radio, FM 92.2&nbsp;MHz), OneFM (FM 107.0&nbsp;MHz, also broadcast in [[Vaud]]), and [[World Radio Switzerland]] (FM 88.4&nbsp;MHz), Switzerland's only English-language radio station. The main [[television channel]] covering Geneva is the [[Télévision Suisse Romande]]; while its headquarters are located in Geneva, the programs cover the whole of [[Romandy]] and are not specific to Geneva. Léman Bleu is a local TV channel, founded in 1996 and distributed by cable. <!--Probably not relevant to an article on the medias in Geneva: Due to the proximity to [[France]], [[List of television stations in France|French television channels]] have always been available in Geneva.--> ===Traditions and customs=== Geneva observes [[Jeune genevois]] on the first Thursday following the first Sunday in September. By local tradition, this commemorates the date the news of the [[St. Bartholomew's Day massacre]] of Huguenots reached Geneva. The Genevois joke that the federal equivalent holiday, ''Jeune fédéral'', is observed two weeks later on account of the rest of the country being a bit slow on the uptake. Since 1818, a particular [[chestnut|chestnut tree]] has been used as the official "herald of the spring" in Geneva. The ''sautier'' (secretary of the Parliament of the Canton of Geneva) observes the tree and notes the day of arrival of the first bud. While this event has no practical impact, the sautier issues a formal [[News release|press release]] and the local newspaper will usually mention the news. As this is one of the world's oldest records of a plant's reaction to climatic conditions, researchers have been interested to note that the first bud appears earlier and earlier in the year. During the first century, many dates were in March or April. In recent years, it has usually been in mid-February and sometimes even earlier.<ref>[http://www.geneve.ch/fao/2006/20060814.asp La Une de la FAO no 93 année 253 : FAO: La Treille, promenade et lieu d'observation climatique<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2002, the first bud appeared unusually early, on 7th February, and then again on 29th of December of the same year. The following year, one of the hottest Europe has ever had, became a year with no bud. In 2008, the first bud also appeared very early, on [[19 February]]. ===Sports=== The main sport team in Geneva is [[Servette FC]], a [[football (soccer)|football]] club founded in 1890 and named after a borough on the right bank of the [[Rhône]]. Servette was the only club to have remained in the top league in [[Switzerland]] since its creation in the 1930s; in 2005, however, management problems resulted in the bankruptcy of the club's [[Holding company|parent company]], causing the club to be demoted two divisions. It is now playing in second division. Geneva is also home of the [[Genève-Servette HC|Genève-Servette Hockey Club]], who play in the Swiss [[National League A]]. In 2008 the team made it to the league finals but lost to the [[ZSC Lions]]. == Administrative Divisions == The city of Geneva is divided into eight "quartiers" or [[district]]s, often made up of several conglomerated neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite web|title=Districts of Geneva|publisher=''Official Website of Geneva''|url=http://www.ville-ge.ch/en/quartiers/index.htm|accessdate=2008-02-09}}</ref> On the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) these include Jonction, Centre / Plainpalais / Acacias, Eaux-Vives and Champel while the Right Bank includes Saint-Jean / Charmilles, Servette / Petit-Saconnex, Grottes / Saint-Gervais and Paquis / Nations. == Demographics == As of 2005, the population of the Commune (city) of Geneva was 185,028, while 441,000 people lived in the [[Canton of Geneva]]; around 960,000 people live in the Geneva [[Residential community|urban community]], which extends into [[Vaud|Vaud Canton]] and neighboring France. The population of the Canton is split between 148,500 people originally from Geneva (33.7%), 122,400 Swiss from other cantons (27.6%) and 170,500 foreigners (38.7%), from 180 different countries.<ref>[http://www.geneve.ch/statistique/statistiques/domaines/apercus/pop_etat.asp Population of Geneva], on the website of ''Statistique Genève''. Last accessed [[1 February]] [[2007]].</ref> Including people holding [[multiple citizenship]], 54.4% of people living in Geneva hold a foreign passport.<ref>OCSTAT. Les binationaux dans le canton de Genève. Résultats du recensement fédéral de la population 2000. Communications statistiques n° 24, Geneva, December 2005.</ref> While Geneva is usually considered a [[Protestant]] city, there are now more [[Roman Catholics]] (39.5%) than Protestants (17.4%) living in the Canton. 22% of the inhabitants claim not to be religious, the rest being shared between [[Islam]] (4.4%), [[Judaism]] (1.1%), other religions and people who did not respond.<ref>[http://www.geneve.ch/statistique/statistiques/domaines/apercus/lang_religion.asp Inhabitants of the Canton of Geneva according to their religion], on the website of ''Statistique Genève''. Last accessed [[1 February]] [[2007]].</ref> ==Economy== Geneva's economy is mainly [[service sector|services]] oriented. The city has an important and old [[Financial services|finance sector]], which is specialized in [[private banking]] (managing assets of about 1 trillion [[United States dollar|USD]]) and financing of [[international trade]]. It is also an important centre of [[Commodity markets|commodity trade]]. Geneva hosts the international headquarters of companies like [[Japan Tobacco|JT International (JTI)]], [[Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.|Mediterranean Shipping Company]], [[Serono]], [[SITA]], [[Société Générale de Surveillance]] and [[STMicroelectronics]]. Many other [[Multinational corporation|multinational companies]] like [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]], [[DuPont]], [[Take-Two Interactive|Take Two Interactive]], [[Electronic Arts]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], [[INVISTA]], [[Procter & Gamble]] and [[Sun Microsystems]] have their European headquarters in the city too. There is a long tradition of [[watch]]making ([[Baume et Mercier]], [[Chopard]], [[Franck Muller]], [[Patek Philippe & Co.|Patek Philippe]], [[Rolex]], [[Raymond Weil]], [[Omega]], etc.). Two major international producers of [[flavour]]s and [[fragrance]]s, [[Firmenich]] and [[Givaudan]], have their headquarters and main production facilities in Geneva. Many people also work in the numerous offices of [[international organization]]s located in Geneva (about 24,000 in 2001). [[Geneva Motor Show]] is one of the most important international auto-shows. The show is held at [[Palexpo]], a giant convention center located next to the International Airport ==Infrastructure== ====Transport==== {{main|Transports Publics Genevois}} [[Image:Train Geneva.jpg|thumb|200px|The Geneva [[tram]]]] The city is served by the [[Geneva Cointrin International Airport]]. It is connected to both the [[Rail transport in Switzerland|Swiss railway]] network [[SBB-CFF-FFS]], and the [[France|French]] [[SNCF]] network, including direct connections to [[Paris]], [[Marseille]] and [[Montpellier]] by [[TGV]]. Geneva is also connected to the motorway systems of both Switzerland ([[A1 (Switzerland)|A1 motorway]]) and France. [[Public transport]] by [[bus]], [[trolleybus]] or [[tram]] is provided by ''[[Transports Publics Genevois]]'' (TPG). In addition to an extensive coverage of the city centre, the network covers most of the municipalities of the Canton, with a few lines extending into France. Public transport by [[boat]] is provided by the [[Mouettes Genevoises]], which link the two banks of the lake within the city, and by the ''[[Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman]]'' (CGN) which serves more distant destinations such as [[Nyon]], [[Yvoire]], [[Thonon-les-Bains|Thonon]], [[Évian-les-Bains|Evian]], [[Lausanne]] and [[Montreux]] using both modern diesel vessels and vintage [[paddle steamers]]. [[Image:Train Station Geneva 2006 808.JPG|thumb|left|260px| Geneva Train station]] Trains operated by [[SBB-CFF-FFS]] connect the airport to the main station of [[Cornavin]] in a mere six minutes, and carry on to towns such as Nyon, Lausanne, Fribourg, Montreux, Neuchâtel, Berne, Sion, Sierre, etc. Regional train services are being increasingly developed, towards Coppet and Bellegarde. At the city limits, two new stations have been created since 2002: Genève-Sécheron (close to the UN and the [[Botanical garden|Botanical Gardens]]) and Lancy-Pont-Rouge. In 2005, work started on the CEVA (Cornavin - Eaux-Vives - Annemasse) project, first planned in 1884, which will connect Cornavin with the Cantonal hospital, the Eaux-Vives station and [[Annemasse]], in France. The link between the main station and the [[classification yard]] of La Praille already exists; from there, the line will go mostly underground to the Hospital and the Eaux-Vives, where it will link up to the existing line to France. Support for this project was obtained from all parties in the local parliament. Taxis in Geneva can be difficult to find, and may need to be booked in advance especially in the early morning or at peak hours. In addition, which may be surprising in a modern country like [[Switzerland]], taxis often refuse to take babies and children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.20min.ch/ro/rechercher/story/27606758|title=20 Minutes: Bebés et enfants ne sont pas bienvenus dans les taxis (French)}}</ref> ==== Utilities ==== [[Water]], [[natural gas]] and [[electricity]] are provided to the [[municipalities of the Canton of Geneva]] by the [[Public ownership|state-owned]] [[Services Industriels de Genève]] (shortly SIG). Most of the drinkable water (80%) is extracted from the [[Lake Geneva|lake]]; the remaining 20% is provided by [[groundwater]] originally formed by infiltration from the [[Arve River]]. 30% of the Canton's electricity needs is locally produced, mainly by three [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] [[dam]]s on the [[Rhone River]] (Seujet, Verbois and Chancy-Pougny). In addition, 13% of the electricity produced in the Canton is made from the heat induced by the burning of waste at the [[Waste management#Incineration|waste incineration facility]] of [[Les Cheneviers]]. The remaining needs (57%) are covered by imports from other cantons in Switzerland or other European countries; SIG buys only electricity produced by [[renewable energy|renewable methods]], and in particular does not use electricity produced using [[nuclear reactor]]s or [[fossil fuels]]. Natural gas is available in the City of Geneva, as well as in about two-thirds of the municipalities of the canton, and is imported from [[Western Europe]] by the [[List of Swiss companies|Swiss company]] Gaznat. SIG also provides telecommunication facilities to carriers, [[service provider]]s and large enterprises. From 2003 to 2005 "Voisin, voisine" a [[FTTH|Fibre to the Home]] pilot project with a [[Triple play (telecommunications)|Triple play]] offering was launched to test the [[end-user]] market in the Charmilles district. ==Education== [[Image:University of Geneva.jpg|thumb|300px|right|University of Geneva]] Geneva is home to the [[University of Geneva]], founded by [[John Calvin]] in 1559. Also, the oldest [[international school]] in the world is located in Geneva, the [[International School of Geneva]], founded in 1924 along with the [[League of Nations]]. [[Webster University]], an accredited American university also has a campus in Geneva. The city is home to the [[Graduate Institute of International Studies]], as well as the [[International School of Geneva]] and [[Institut International de Lancy]] (founded in 1903). The [[Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations]] is a [[private university]] on the grounds of the Château de Penthes, an old manor with a park and view of [[Lac Leman]]. The [[Canton of Geneva]]'s public school system has ''écoles primaires'' (ages 4-12) and ''cycles d'orientation'' (ages 12-15). The obligation to attend school ends at age 16, but secondary education is provided by ''collèges'' (ages 15-19), the oldest of which is the [[Collège Calvin]], which is housed at the [[University of Geneva]], and could be considered one of the oldest [[public school]]s in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Du Collège de Genève au Collège Calvin (historique)|language=French|publisher=''Geneva Education Department''|url=http://wwwedu.ge.ch/po/calvin/histoire_college.htm|accessdate=2008-02-04}}</ref> Geneva also has a choice of private schools.<ref>{{cite web |title= Introduction to the Geneva Association of Private Schools |publisher= ''Geneva Association of Private Schools'' |url= http://www.agep.ch/eng/agep_presentation2.php |accessdate= 2008-02-04}}</ref> ==Communities== As the Geneva authorities say, the history of the city is closely related to that of the foreign communities. Ever since the migration of foreigners to Geneva, these communities have found refuge, bringing their [[Procedural knowledge|know-how]], their customs and hope of a new life. They have widely participated in the international influence of Geneva, to its economic prosperity, and also to the spreading of views and of science. ====LGBT community==== Many other communities or minorities are also very well represented in Geneva, including sexual minorities, with no less than three organizations: [http://www.dialogai.org Dialogai], a gay organization; [http://www.lestime.ch Lestime], a lesbian organization; and [http://www.360.ch association 360], an [[LGBT]] organization. The [[Gay International Group (Geneva, Switzerland)]] is a good resource for gay foreigners, tourists or expatriates. Also, a new LGBT group has debuted within the University of Geneva itself, called "Think Out". This group addresses students and professors linked directly or indirectly with the matter of sexual diversity. ====Religious communities==== Many religions are represented in Geneva. The [[Plymouth Brethren]] have an assembly there, established since the days of [[John Nelson Darby]]. The [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] religion has become more influential, thanks to immigration from Latin countries. The [[Kehilla|Jewish community]] is one of the oldest of Switzerland. There have been two mosques in Geneva for more than 20 years. [http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/religion/islam.html] == International organizations == [[Image:Palais des nations.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Palace of Nations]]]] [[Image:WIPO3.JPG|thumb|200px|The [[World Intellectual Property Organization]]]] Geneva is the seat of the European headquarters of the [[United Nations]] and of many other [[international organization|inter-governmental organizations]], including: * The [[European Organization for Nuclear Research]] (CERN) * The [[International Civil Defence Organization]] (ICDO) * The [[International Labour Organization]] (ILO) * The [[International Organization for Migration]] (IOM) * The [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU) * The [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]] (IPU) * The [[United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] (UNHCHR) * The [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] (UNHCR) * The [[OCHA|United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] (OCHA) * The [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) * The [[World Intellectual Property Organization]] (WIPO) * The [[World Meteorological Organization]] (WMO) * The [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) * The [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) Geneva was the seat of the [[League of Nations]] between 1919 and the league's dissolution in 1946. It was first housed in the [[Palais Wilson]], and then in the [[Palais des Nations]], which now hosts the [[United Nations]]. Numerous international [[non-governmental organizations]] have also elected Geneva as their headquarters, including: * The [[Aga Khan Foundation]] * The [[Airports Council International]] * The [[Conference of European Churches]] (CEC) * The [[International AIDS Society]] * The [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] (ICRC) * The [[International Baccalaureate]] program * The [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]] (IFRC) * The [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO) * The [[International Road Transport Union]] (IRU) * The [[International Union Against Cancer]] (UICC) * [[Mandat International]] (MI) * The [[International Committee of Committees]] (ICC) * The [[Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes]] (PEFC) * The [[UN Watch]] * The [[World Business Council for Sustainable Development]] (WBCSD) * The [[World Council of Churches]] (WCC) * The [[World Heart Federation]] (WHF) * The [[World Economic Forum]] (WEF) * the [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]] * The [[World Wide Web Virtual Library]] * The [[The Geneva Association|International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics]] (also known as [[The Geneva Association]]) * CARE International[http://www.care-international.org] * [[Youth With A Mission]] (YWAM) * The international board of directors for [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] The Geneva Environment Network (GEN) publishes the Geneva Green Guide<ref>[http://www.environmenthouse.ch/index.php?page=greenguide/ Geneva Green Guide]</ref>, and extensive listing of Geneva-based global organizations working on environment protection and sustainable development. A website<ref>[http://www.partnerships4planet.ch/ Partnerships for the Planet - Stories from Geneva]</ref> (by the Swiss Government, [[WBCSD]], [[UNEP]] and [[IUCN]]) includes stories about how NGOs, business, government and the UN cooperate. By doing so, it attempts to explain why Geneva has been picked by so many NGOs and UN as their headquarter location. ==Literature involving Geneva== *''Belle du Seigneur'' by [[Albert Cohen]], ISBN 2070404021 *''[[Eleven Minutes]]'' by [[Paulo Coelho]] *''[[Frankenstein]]'' by [[Mary Shelley]] *''Politics and the Arts'' by [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]] *''[[Angels and Demons]]'' by [[Dan Brown]] *''[[Daisy Miller]]'' by [[Henry James]] ;Comic books *''[[Asterix in Switzerland]]'' by [[René Goscinny]] and [[Albert Uderzo]] *''[[The Calculus Affair]]'' by [[Hergé]] ;Film and television *The final part of [[Krzysztof Kieślowski]]'s film trilogy, ''[[Three Colors]]'' called ''[[Three Colors: Red]]'' (1994), is set in Geneva *The sequence ''The Ozerov Inheritance'' (1972) of the television series ''[[The Persuaders!]]'' is set in Geneva *The protagonists of the television series ''[[The Champions]]'' were agents for a United Nations law enforcement organization called "Nemesis", which was based in Geneva. *In 2005 [[Academy Award]]-winning [[Syriana]] (2005) [[Matt Damon]] plays an energy analyst based in Geneva. *In the television series [[Babylon 5]], the capital of the [[Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)|Earth Alliance]] is located in Geneva. *The final scene of the movie [[F/X]] takes place in Geneva as the characters played by [[Bryan Brown]] and [[Brian Dennehy]] go there to recover a fortune from a bank. *In the television series ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers]]'', the original [[Red Ranger|Red]], [[Yellow Ranger|Yellow]], and [[Black Ranger]]s ([[Jason Lee Scott|Jason]], [[Trini Kwan|Trini]], and [[Zack Taylor|Zack]]) were sent to a peace conference in Geneva when their actors left the show mid-season. * Scenes from [[Sean Connery]]'s James Bond Film [[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]] (1964) are set in Geneva. While 007 supposedly lands in Geneva, and the map device in his car indicates that he is driving north along the left side of the city, the actual footage of the car moving along what should be Rue de Lausanne is not taken in or around Geneva, but rather further north-east in the [[German language|German]] speaking part of the country. ==See also== *[[French language]] *[[Franco-Provençal language]] *[[Calvin Auditory]] *[[Geneva Motor Show]] *[[Circuit des Nations]], the historic race track of Geneva *[[Lausanne and Geneva bishopric(s)]] *[[List of mayors of Geneva]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==Sources== *{{HDS|2903|Geneva (municipality)}} * Jean de Senarclens, "''Geneva: Historic Guide''", Editions du Tricorne, 1995. ISBN 2-8293-0144-7 == External links == {{commonscat|Geneva}} ;Official *[http://www.geneva.ch/ Geneva - Welcome to Networld] *[http://www.ville-ge.ch/index_e.htm Official website of the City of Geneva] *[http://www.ge.ch/ Official website of the Canton of Geneva] {{fr icon}} *[http://www.ge.ch/grandconseil/service/accueilmarron.asp The official Chestnut Tree], on the website of the Canton of Geneva {{fr icon}} * [http://www.geneva-palexpo.ch/ Geneva Palexpo, exhibitions and congresses center, owned by the State of Geneva]. * [http://www.salon-auto.ch/ International Geneva Motor-Show]. * [http://www.imaginas.gr/gallery/index.php?fID=30 Pictures from Motor-Show 2008] ;Tourism *[http://www.geneva-tourism.ch Geneva Tourism] *[http://www.tpg.ch Geneva public transport] *[http://www.rue-de-geneve.ch Geneva Maps and Interactive Blogs for every street of the city] *[http://www.cagi.ch/en/home.html International Geneva Welcome Centre] *[http://www.geneva.ch/GenevaHistory.htm Brief history of Geneva] *{{wikitravel}} *[http://www.geneva.info/ Geneva information] * [http://www.laurencelongueville.ch/main.html?src=%2F22901.html Some pictures] ;Study *[http://www.eu-student.eu/erasmusblog Student Blog Geneva] *[http://www.unige.ch University of Geneva] ;Other *[http://www.radiolac.ch/ RadioLac website] *[http://www.radiocite.ch Radio Cité website] *[http://www.onefm.ch OneFM website] *[http://www.lemanbleu.ch Léman Bleu local Tv station] {{Municipalities of the Canton of Geneva}} {{Cantonal capitals of Switzerland}} [[Category:Geneva]] [[Category:Cities in Switzerland]] [[Category:Cantonal capitals of Switzerland]] [[Category:Settlements established in the 1st millennium BC]] [[Category:Former associates of Switzerland]] [[Category:States of the Holy Roman Empire]] [[af:Genève]] [[als:Genf]] [[ar:جنييف]] [[an:Chinebra]] [[frp:Geneva (vela)]] [[az:Cenevrə]] [[be-x-old:Жэнэва]] [[bo:རི་ནོས་ཝ]] [[bs:Ženeva]] [[bg:Женева]] [[ca:Ginebra]] [[cv:Женева]] [[cs:Ženeva]] [[cy:Genefa]] [[da:Geneve]] [[de:Genf]] [[et:Genf]] [[el:Γενεύη]] [[es:Ginebra (ciudad)]] [[eo:Ĝenevo]] [[eu:Geneva]] [[fa:ژنو]] [[fr:Genève]] [[gl:Xenebra - Genève]] [[ko:제네바]] [[hy:Ժնև]] [[hi:जनीवा]] [[hr:Ženeva]] [[io:Genève (urbo)]] [[id:Jenewa]] [[is:Genf]] [[it:Ginevra (città)]] [[he:ז'נבה]] [[jv:Jenéwa]] [[kn:ಜಿನಿವಾ]] [[ka:ჟენევა]] [[ku:Jinêva]] [[la:Genava (urbs)]] [[lv:Ženēva]] [[lb:Genf]] [[lt:Ženeva]] [[hu:Genf]] [[mk:Женева]] [[mr:जिनिव्हा]] [[ms:Geneva]] [[nl:Genève (stad)]] [[ja:ジュネーヴ]] [[no:Genève]] [[nn:Genève]] [[oc:Genèva]] [[nds:Genf]] [[pl:Genewa]] [[pt:Genebra]] [[ro:Geneva]] [[rm:Genevra]] [[qu:Genève]] [[ru:Женева]] [[scn:Ginevra (cità)]] [[simple:Geneva City]] [[sk:Ženeva]] [[sl:Ženeva]] [[sr:Женева]] [[sh:Ženeva]] [[fi:Geneve]] [[sv:Genève]] [[th:เจนีวา]] [[vi:Genève]] [[tr:Cenevre (şehir)]] [[uk:Женева]] [[ur:جنیوا]] [[vec:Ginevra]] [[vo:Genève]] [[wuu:极乃伐]] [[zh:日内瓦]]