Overview

Geneva, one of the world's major centers of international diplomacy, is not Switzerland's capital, despite what many think. This chic, sleek, cosmopolitan lakeside city is, in fact, only Switzerland's third-largest city and has an overwhelmingly international feel: 43.4% of the population is from elsewhere.

The city is crowded with museums, has many excellent cultural events and is ideally placed for quick hops to the Swiss and French Alps. Basking in the sunshine of its peaceful setting on Lake Geneva's banks, this acclaimed neutral territory displays an obvious self-confidence. It is in pristine condition, clean, efficient and safe, yet spirited in its style and love of adventure.

Typical Day Itinerary

Morning

• Enjoy your breakfast either on the terrace, nestled between the old Geneva Arsenal and the Maison Tavel, or in the ‘salle des artistes’.
  

Late Morning

• A walking tour of Old Geneva with Chocolate Tasting.
  A great chance to visit the highlights of the Old Town including its beautiful cathedral an the winding streets culminating in the famous "Jardin des Anglais" on the banks of the lake

Lunch

• A gastronomic cruise aboard the "Savoie"
  Lunch aboard the Savoie, one of the oldest paddle steam boats in Geneva. It was built in 1914 and carries up to 800 passengers. The boat is 68 meters long and 14.3 meters wide.

Afternoon

• Afternoon at leisure
  Free afternoon for shopping, sight-seeing and maybe some swimming in the lake

Evening

• Cocktails at ‘Le Baroque’
  This elegant bar, as the name suggests, has a magnificent baroque interior, all dark wood, mirrors and deep-rich upholstery in velvet or satin - worth the visit alone.
• • Dinner at Café du Soleil.
  Founded approximately 400 years ago, Cafe du soleil is the oldest restuarant in Geneva and is famed for its fondues. For many centuries, it was a meeting place for politicians of all parties. Today, it still remains a famed meeting point for all.

Overnight

• Hotel "Les Armures"
  A unique luxury hotel located in the heart of Geneva’s old town, the Hotel-Restaurant ‘Les Armures’ is a magnificent 17 th century residence situated 5 minutes from the lake, local shops and the business district. The hotel is composed of four distinct buildings built onto the old chapter house wall by the 13 th Century Caralèses gate. Surveys of the cellars have revealed many signs characteristic of Medieval stonework.

  This 13th century structure has been renovated on several occasions and for the most part, the present building dates from the 17th century. The current building belonged successively to the Counts and Bishops of Geneva, to Joseph of Normandy (from a family of Geneva syndics, 1636) and, in part, to Pierre Lauger, baker, 1640. It was left to the family of Samuel Chouet de la Rive to reunite the various parts of the building and restyle the whole in an Italian-inspired design (17th century).

  The ownership of the Hotel Les Armures, Geneva, stayed with the family of Samuel Chouet until 1977 when it became the home of Amédée Granges, who began the process of restoring this old, ‘well-worn’ building into a luxury hotel. As a result, the real beauty of the original decorative details – decorated ceilings and plasterwork, painted facades, frescos and chimney places, as well as numerous art treasures – can now be fully appreciated. The restoration work was undertaken by Anne-Marie Pellot and Claude Rossier, supervised by E. Nierle from the Commission des Monuments et des Sites, all overseen by the architect F Schenk, who carried out the general restoration of the hotel between April 1979 to September 1980. Ever since, gradual expansion and restoration have combined to turn Les Armures into a hotel of undisputed luxury, and its restaurant into a highly prized city venue.