The Old Town

Where Geneva began

Noteworthy for: The International Red Cross was founded here in 1864, when 16 countries signed the first Geneva Convention.
Stacked up a hillside south of the river Rhone, Geneva's old town is a small but atmospheric knot of steep, narrow streets and pretty, flower-filled squares. With handsome, sober-looking stone buildings fitting for the one-time capital of Calvinism, the area is both Geneva's historic hub and one of its most likeable shopping districts, filled with antique stores, art galleries and designer boutiques.

While the area contains some of the city's key sights, it also offers some attractive places to relax. The Treille Promenade on the Old Town's south side, has a lovely tree shaded outlook over the city, its railing flanked with what could be the world's longest bench.