Buzz
In late February 2016, down to the very second like a Swiss watch, the Interegion intercity train with Vietnamese tourists on board comfortably settled in carriage number 1, departing from the tourist city of Lucerne at 2 p.m. arrived at Geneva station at 4:46 p.m.
Discover Geneva: Unveiling the 'Capital of Peace' of the world
And just a 10-minute stroll later, the group of 9, guests of Discover the World Vietnam Company, reached Hotel Bristol, a luxurious hotel styled in ancient English fashion, situated near the end of the bustling renowned street, Rue du Mont-Blanc. Stepping out of the hotel, guests can easily and swiftly navigate to the numerous landmarks, museums, fortresses, shops, restaurants, supermarkets... scattered throughout the old and new streets, two streets at either end of the Mont-Blanc bridge.
A trip to Geneva without acquainting oneself with Lake Geneva (also known as Lake Léman) is akin to not truly experiencing the city dubbed the “Capital of Peace” of the world (as numerous peace agreements have been reached here and over 200 international organizations involved in peace-building, humanitarian aid, refugee aid, mine clearance, environmental protection, education... have their headquarters here).
Lake Geneva is vast, so vast that we once heard a colleague mistake it and comment: “The sea here is so calm and tranquil!”. With a length exceeding 72km, a circumference of 167km, and a surface area of over 580 km², Lake Geneva is the largest natural lake in Europe.
Thanks to its cool climate and fresh air all year round, it's no surprise that around the lake remains a shared territory between Switzerland and France. It continues to be a magnet for the wealthy, famous figures in the business world, and many renowned artists of music (Freddy Mercury, from the iconic band Queen in the 80s), cinema (Charlie Chaplin), literature (Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, a perennial Hollywood favorite for horror adaptations).
Enter Villeneuve with the majestic Chillon Castle perched on a giant rock platform on the southeastern shore of Lake Geneva, welcoming millions of visitors each year; Montreux and Vevey, two quaint towns close to each other, equally peaceful and charming; the Olympic Capital, Lausanne, on the northern shore, just 12km across from the city of Evian on the southern shore, belonging to French territory.
Then there's Lavaux with its terraced vineyards, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2007, now attracting travelers keen on exploration and indulging in various types of wine...
Further west lies the city of Geneva. Of course, most international tourists are familiar with the city by the lake for its iconic architectural feat. That's the Jet d'Eau, a unique water fountain: since 1906, it has been spouting 500 liters of water per second, reaching a height of 140 meters at a speed of 200km/h!
Facing the water fountain, on the other side, along Quai du Mont-Blanc is a statue depicting an extremely slender, elegant beauty. It's the statue of Queen Elizabeth, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, affectionately known as Sissi, who was tragically stabbed to death by an Italian anarchist terrorist by the lake in 1898.
Honored twice in a row
Every guest visiting any hotel in Geneva will receive a small gift, a free transportation card valid on all modes of transport, from buses, trams, trains to boats crossing the lake, including the 'Mouettes Genevoises' (meaning 'Geneva's seagulls' in French), which are small boats carrying about 5-10 passengers back and forth between the two shores of the lake,” said Kristelle Gentina, Director of Southeast Asia Market at GenevAlive Tourism, the official tourism promotion agency of Geneva.
And from the boat pier on the North or South shore, you only need to walk about 100 meters to find yourself amidst bustling streets, indulging in shopping for watches, fashionable clothes, pastries, chocolates... and the world-renowned Swiss Army knives by Victorinox.
Perhaps this is one of the factors that contributed to Geneva being honored with the World Travel Awards for the top weekend destination in Europe for two consecutive years, 2014 and 2015, surpassing other prestigious nominees such as Athens (Greece), Dublin (Ireland), Istanbul, Lisbon, Lodz (Poland), London, Madrid, Paris, Porto (Portugal), Rome.
A Hub of Exquisite Watchmaking
While Basel, a modest-sized town, has been hosting Baselworld, the world's leading watch fair and trade show, Geneva is indeed the epitome of precision luxury watchmaking with the hallmark of perfection, 'Swiss made' quality assurance.
You cannot miss the upscale watchmaking district (haute horlogerie) along with the luxury haute couture fashion street, both easily accessible. Just step before the entrance of the English Garden to see the watch flower, a tourist hotspot located on the South shore. Crossing the street leads you right into the cradle of Swiss watchmaking profession.
Walking down Rue du Rhône, a luxury shopping street in the old town, tourists are greeted with a plethora of watch brands to choose from. To cater to international visitors, GenevAlive offers a unique Geneva Watch Tour, a tour that combines sightseeing and watch shopping, ready to meet the demands of discerning travelers.
With a total of 55 watch boutiques showcasing brands like Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Boucheron, and more, visitors are spoiled for choice. Upon exploring the prices, one realizes that brands like Longines and Tissot are merely mid-range. There are luxury brands with significantly higher price tags, such as Greubel Forsey, offering steel watches priced at $170,000, a fraction of the price of many traditional timepieces.
Patek Philippe, with over 175 years of establishment and development in Geneva, now owns a museum showcasing 500 years of watchmaking history in Switzerland. Another esteemed Swiss watchmaker is Vacheron Constantin, boasting a legacy of 261 years of continuous production in Geneva.
It's no surprise that Geneva is renowned worldwide as the birthplace of luxury watches. In 1541, Jean Calvin, a prominent figure in the Swiss reformation movement, prohibited the flaunting of wealth through clothing and jewelry in Geneva. This led craftsmen to seek alternative avenues, with watches becoming their ideal canvas.
When visiting Switzerland, especially Geneva, remember to purchase a timepiece adorned with the engraving 'Swiss made' as a gift for yourself or loved ones. Luxury watches are within reach at Bucherer stores, offering a wide range of styles at affordable prices. As dusk falls, unwind at a beer tavern near the train station, on Mont-Blanc street, savoring a bottle of Calvinius beer. After all, Geneva is also known as the City of Calvin.
Concluding a day of exploring Geneva is best done aboard a vintage boat with water wheels on both sides, gently swaying on the lake. Indulge in a serving of fondue, melted cheese with white wine, accompanied by crusty bread, and a delightful Swiss wine that's hard to find abroad.
Explore the wonders of the world with Saigon Entrepreneur
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For travel tips, consult the guidebook from Mytour
MytourApril 8th, 2016
