![Broken Chair Sculpture, Geneva](/img/gd_attr/26704.jpg)
Broken Chair Sculpture, Geneva (must see)
Few monuments or statues are as evocative as the Broken Chair of Geneva. It is a wooden sculpture of a chair with a broken left leg. It is nearly 40 feet high, weighs 11,000 pounds, and stands in the Nations Square (Place des Nations) in Geneva. It is meant as a symbol for peace and a protest against the use of land mines and cluster bombs.
Paul Vermeulen, director of Handicap International, Switzerland, came up with the idea for an anti-land mine art project. The project was intended to get nations to sign the Ottawa Treaty of 1997. The chair was planned as a three-month exhibit. Except for removal to allow renovation of the square in 2005, it has stood in place to this day.
The Broken Chair was designed by Swiss artist Daniel Berset and built by carpenter Louis Geneve. The Ottawa Treaty was ultimately signed by 162 nations. There are 34 hold-outs. Among the hold-outs are the USA, Russia and China.
Paul Vermeulen, director of Handicap International, Switzerland, came up with the idea for an anti-land mine art project. The project was intended to get nations to sign the Ottawa Treaty of 1997. The chair was planned as a three-month exhibit. Except for removal to allow renovation of the square in 2005, it has stood in place to this day.
The Broken Chair was designed by Swiss artist Daniel Berset and built by carpenter Louis Geneve. The Ottawa Treaty was ultimately signed by 162 nations. There are 34 hold-outs. Among the hold-outs are the USA, Russia and China.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Geneva. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Broken Chair Sculpture on Map
Sight Name: Broken Chair Sculpture
Sight Location: Geneva, Switzerland (See walking tours in Geneva)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Geneva, Switzerland (See walking tours in Geneva)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Geneva, Switzerland
Create Your Own Walk in Geneva
Creating your own self-guided walk in Geneva is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Chocolate Tour
Chocolate started to gain popularity in Switzerland in the early 16th century and has since evolved to become a highly appreciated Swiss commodity throughout the world. Almost every city or town in the country has at least one chocolate shop, and Geneva is by far no exception.
The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The local chocolate scene is a true delight for any cocoa enthusiast. Here, you'll find a handful of iconic... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Architectural Jewels
Geneva, a city renowned for its diplomatic prowess and picturesque landscapes, boasts an array of architectural jewels. The remarkable medieval and more contemporary structures such as Geneva Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), Saint Peter Cathedral (Cathedrale de Saint-Pierre), and Schtroumph Buildings, showing a mix of French and German influences, have captivated both locals and tourists for decades.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Best Swiss Watch Shops Tour
When it comes to quality and precision, Swiss-made watches are known to be the best. Some of the world-renowned watch brands have been designed and masterminded in Geneva. The city's watch industry dates back to the 16th century, and since then has constantly developed to produce the most desired timepieces.
Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Geneva hosts a cluster of specialized shops that cater to the refined tastes of... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Historical Churches
As the cradle of the Reformist movement in Europe led by theologian Jean Calvin, the city of Geneva has no shortage of religious sites representing a great deal of historical and cultural value. A dedicated Christian, a keen churchgoer, or simply one who is interested in objects of spirituality will find here quite a few temples worthy of attention.
Whether you're drawn to the austere... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Whether you're drawn to the austere... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Geneva Introduction Walking Tour
The city of Geneva enjoys picturesque location at the southern tip of the expansive Lac Léman (aka Lake Geneva), surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, including the dramatic Mont Blanc peak.
The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
The city was mentioned for the first time in Latin texts, by Caesar, with the spelling Genava, derived probably from the Celtic genawa- or genu- ("bend, knee"), in the sense of a bending... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles