![Palace of Nations, Geneva](/img/gd_attr/457.jpg)
Palace of Nations, Geneva (must see)
The League of Nations, predecessor of the United Nations, first established itself in the old Hotel National building (later called Wilson Palace) on the shores of Lake Geneva in the early 1920s. In 1926 a competition was held for the construction designs of the Palace of Nations, future home of the League.
Five architects were chosen: Julien Flegenheimer of Switzerland, Camile Lefevre and Henri-Paul Nenot of France, Carlo Broggi of Italy and Jozsef Vago of Hungary. The library, in a separate wing, was funded later by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. A place for the Palace of Nations was found in the 114-acre Ariana Park.
The palace is a Modernist stone combination of Art Deco and Rationalism, with a soupçon of Bauhaus. The foundation stone was laid in 1929. Underneath the stone, a time capsule contains a list of members, a copy of the League Covenant, and coins.
On the south side of the Palace of Nations, four rows of the flags of 190 nations extend from the gate to the building. The 40-foot high Broken Chair sculpture in front of the palace, makes visitors mindful of the dangers of land mines scattered throughout the world.
The massive "Celestial Sphere" of steel and bronze before the palace mirrors the heavens, as seen from the earth. Created by American sculptor Paul Howard Manship in 1938, the sphere has witnessed the fall of the League of Nations and the birth of the United Nations. Hope lives on.
Five architects were chosen: Julien Flegenheimer of Switzerland, Camile Lefevre and Henri-Paul Nenot of France, Carlo Broggi of Italy and Jozsef Vago of Hungary. The library, in a separate wing, was funded later by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. A place for the Palace of Nations was found in the 114-acre Ariana Park.
The palace is a Modernist stone combination of Art Deco and Rationalism, with a soupçon of Bauhaus. The foundation stone was laid in 1929. Underneath the stone, a time capsule contains a list of members, a copy of the League Covenant, and coins.
On the south side of the Palace of Nations, four rows of the flags of 190 nations extend from the gate to the building. The 40-foot high Broken Chair sculpture in front of the palace, makes visitors mindful of the dangers of land mines scattered throughout the world.
The massive "Celestial Sphere" of steel and bronze before the palace mirrors the heavens, as seen from the earth. Created by American sculptor Paul Howard Manship in 1938, the sphere has witnessed the fall of the League of Nations and the birth of the United Nations. Hope lives on.
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.
Palace of Nations on Map
Sight Name: Palace of Nations
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
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
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