Without any doubt, one of the most wonderful times to be in the sedate town of Geneva is during the Escalade. To commemorate the bravery of the town back in 1602 when it was attacked by Savoyard forces, Geneva holds a weekend of events which celebrates the brave Genevois and allows you to join in. I have written about the…
Caesar and the Rhône: Masterpieces of Ancient Arles, César et la Rhône: Chefs-d’œuvre antiques d’Arles, Geneva, Switzerland When walking around the clean, tidy and efficient city of Geneva, it’s easy to forget the fact that it has ancient origins. There are no obvious outdoor remains, like amphitheatres or even walls, but the fact remains that it was an important place in…
Salève, France Who could arrest a creature capable of scaling the overhanging sides of Mont Saleve? So says Mary Shelley in her “Frankenstein”, when the monster runs away to the mountain to escape from those hunting him in Geneva. It’s an appropriate place for him to roam – the vast slug-like mountain looms over the city of Geneva, and with…
In Geneva, 8th December 2018 Having written at some length about the three-day 2017 Escalade celebrations in Geneva, I will not be adding anything except some pictures from the 2018 event (including some from the infrequently opened Arquebus Museum). It really is a wonderful time for the city, full of families and tourists all enjoying the fun atmosphere over the…
Continued from Part Three In Geneva, Switzerland; 9th/10th December 2017 On Sunday 10th December, Saturday’s events celebrating the Escalade are repeated, and in the evening the weekend’s celebrations reach their climax. Over 800 people form a procession that marches through old Geneva, looking truly majestic in the dark, with flickering torchlight to guide their way. It was raining most of…
Continued from Part Two In Geneva, Switzerland; 9th/10th December 2017 As there were going to be some re-enactments for the Escalade just outside Geneva Cathedral, we made sure we were in the Square in time. First we were treated to a sword fight. The man on the right was also explaining what they were doing, which was interesting, in that…
Continued from Part One In Geneva, Switzerland; 9th/10th December 2017 The City of Geneva began to celebrate the Escalade in earnest in 1898 with the formation of a Geneva Patriotic Association, renamed in 1926 as the Company of 1602. The group is in charge of the commemorations, ensuring that all is dignified and accurate, and they organise the reenactments in the…
In Geneva, Switzerland; 9th/10th December 2017 Let us go back to the year 1602; to the days when Geneva was a wealthy little city-state, getting on with making money and becoming one of the main economic hubs of late Renaissance Europe. Life was good in the Rome of the North – so good it was the cause of envy. One…
St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland About half way down the Royal Mile is St Giles’ Cathedral, dedicated to the patron saint of Edinburgh. It has been an important part of religious life in the city for almost 900 years and some of that rich history is still visible – albeit submerged under 19th century renovation. During the Middle Ages, the…
Schnaps & Rösti – Enamelled Glass and Swiss Pottery 17th-19th Centuries, at the Musée Ariana, Geneva, Switzerland There are times when you put off going to an exhibition, because you kinda think it’ll be nice… but next weekend. And then you get to the week before it’s due to close, and have to do a panic visit. And then you wonder…