Museum to Museum, a different Sunday walk in Geneva
On those days where you don’t want to travel very far, a walk around the city can be a good way of getting some fresh air and exercise. To add in a history lesson or two is just a bonus.
I came across the Geneva Culture Trails last year when I picked up a leaflet just before the pandemic closed our borders between France and Switzerland. Since Geneva was out of limit for those of us living on the French side, I forgot about it, but still kept the leaflet because I still hoped to use it one day.
The Canton of Geneva has done a really good job mixing walking with culture and history. There are several trails available to download or you can pick up their respective leaflets in many local museums. The best part is that you can also install an app on your phone that will explain the sights you pass on your walk in English. You can find and download the app by searching for Geneva Cultural Trails in your preferred app store. Each audio explanation of the different sights that you walk past is two to three minutes long. Listening to these on your phone while you observe whatever is being explained with your own eyes makes the whole experience interactive, fun and educational.
The different walks take you around the United Nations area, the old town, and Plainpalais. On my first Geneva Museum to Museum walk I decided to try out the walk that explore the Plainpalais area.
I have been to the Parc de Bastion several times, and it is the starting point of this particular walk. Using the app with explanations in English made me see the Geneva Library and the Reformation wall with fresh eyes, and it was almost like exploring them for the first time. Even for people living in and around Geneva and knowing the history of the city it must be nice to have a little history lesson every now and again.
The walks also take you to some of the more hidden parts of Geneva – or at least they were for me. As an example, I did not know about Cimentiere des Rois, which is Genevas answer to the famous burial place Pantheon in Paris. Contrary to Pantheon, the Cimentiere des Rois is outdoors, which make each visit special depending on the weather, season and light. I had to ask my son who has been exploring Geneva with his friends for years if he knew and had visited this extraordinary place. He had not, so I assume this is a hidden treasure a little outside of the more known tourist areas.
Along the way was a museum I had no idea existed, The Museum of the Fire and Rescue Service. I wish I had known about this when my son was younger. Along with the Natural History Museum, I’m sure this would have been a favourite. My son is a young adult know, but as a good mum I will take him with me to explore this Museum next time he comes home. It is never too late to bring your kids to a museum!
The walk along the Rhone was so nice on this sunny Sunday, so I deviated from the marked trail on the map. I walked all the way to La Pointe de la Jonction. Seeing the different colours of the River Rhone and the River Arve is extraordinary. The best spot for seeing the colour differences in the rivers merging at Jonction is the big bridge that you see in front of you.
For those old and young with an interest in trams and buses, you will find the Transport de Geneve (TPG) depot interesting. You won’t be allowed to enter, but you can walk past the huge garages they have for trams and buses and peek at them through the windows.
Just around the corner is the Usine Kugler, which is an old faucet foundry turned into a Gallery for visual arts. Since the opening in 2011 over 400 artists have had this old faucet foundry as their workplace. Usine Kugler is the place to look for art exhibitions, festivals and workshops for both children and adults, especially when Covid is over, and we get back to a normal way of life.
Back on the marked trail all museums are open, but there is a limit on the number of people allowed inside, so for the moment be prepared to line up, be patient, and keep your distance to people that are not part of your cohort.
The market stalls selling food and clothes on Sundays were still in action at Planpalais, but maybe not in the same numbers as would be normally.
Enjoy exploring Geneva!
The Activity Factory 