Geneva is considered to be a ‘garden city’. And it’s not without a reason. It offers over 330 acres of parks and green area. Cute squares, luxurious lawns in the style of virgin English park art, miniature well-groomed flower terraces in the spirit of the King of France Louis XIV, shady gardens in classical decoration or in the performance of bold modernism-all this makes Geneva one of the greenest cities in Europe.
Well, choose any of these 7 delightful parks in Geneva to enjoy walks and great views…
Jardin Anglais
Created in 1854, Jardin Anglais is situated on the left bank of Lac Leman. The park constantly expands and nowadays it’s one of the busiest Geneva’s spots for rest. You can admire there the large bronze fountain of the Parisian sculptor Alexis Andre, as well as busts of well-known artists and sculptors. However, the most famous landmark of Jardin Anglais is the famous flower clock.
This flower clock consists of eight concentric circles, and colors of these circles are changed depending on the season and the plants creating the composition. By the way, the second hand of Geneva’s Flower Clock is the largest one in the world. Its length is more than 2.5 meters!
Parc des Bastions
Parc des Bastions is a former botanical garden that lies in the heart of Geneva. Shady alleys of the park are decorated with majestic monuments, fountains and statues. The park allows admiring more than 50 rare species of trees. Among the major sights of Parc des Bastions are the Wall of the Reformation, the Einar Palace, which houses the Geneva City Hall, and the University of Geneva.
Jardin Botanique
Geneva’s Jardin Botanique is a world celebrity. In addition to enjoying a lot of various flowers and plants, you can also visit the zoo, and have a rest in a landscaped area on the lake shore. There’s also a children’s playground, so both adults and their kids won’t be bored. Jardin Botanique offers an enormous collection of more than 16,000 of plants from around the world.
Of course, don’t miss the so-called ‘garden of smells and touches’, where you can find bizarre plants with a whole train of different flavors. It’s possible to replenish your knowledge of the flora by visiting the Herbarium Garden ─ the collection of plants reaches over 6 million samples!
Another pleasant moment is that the entrance for all visitors, as well as excursions in the botanical garden are free of charge! Jardin Botanique of Geneva is open all year round.
Parc La Grange
This delightful park with an area of 12,000 square meters features over 12,000 of rose bushes! Parc La Grange was defeated in 1945-46, but now this rose garden offers a great collection of roses consisting of more than 200 kinds of these ‘prickly’ flowers. All the rose bushes are planted with taste and harmoniously combined with the amazing park architecture with beautiful ponds and cozy garden houses. Also, the annual international rosaries competition is held in Parc La Grange.
Perle du Lac
Translating into English, Perle du Lac means ‘the pearl of the lake’. So, even in ancient times this park was highly appreciated. In 1926, richly decorated thermal baths of Roman times were found there. Formerly, the park was named after the philanthropist Franatus Bartoloni, who founded Geneva Conservatoire. Perle du Lac offers countless diverse species of trees, bushes and flowers that relentlessly delight the eye of grateful visitors. Passing by a large fountain along a broad lawn, you can go down to the lake with a small harbor and a stone jetty.
Bois de la Batie
Bois de la Batie is a magnificent park situated near the confluence of the Rhone and the Arve rivers. There’s a large pond with an islet, shady terraces and a mini zoo with enclosures where goats, deer, mountain goats, wild bears, roe deer, marmots, chicken, ducks, peacocks, turkeys and other representatives of the local fauna coexist. Since the creation of this park, it has been increased several times and now covers an area of 20 hectares. The sports field, children’s games and two restaurants complement the local natural splendor. However, despite all the ‘gifts of civilization’, Bois de la Batie still retains the atmosphere of pristine and wild nature.
Jardin Alpin
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Gardens of stones, streams, a pond with water plants, summer houses, a rose garden in the shape of a rose, and a park with goats, chicken and ducks are waiting for you in Jardin Alpin. This delightful spot was created at the beginning of the 20th century on the outskirts of Geneva in the municipality of Meirin. Approximately 3,600 species of plants grow in Jardin Alpin. There’s also a mansion, famous for its impressive collection of modern art. In summer, Jardin Alpin is the place where different Geneva festivals and concerts are held.
Geneva’s parks are very different, but attractive in their own way. It’s like a breath of fresh air in hot weather, which allows you getting relaxation. So, in case you have an exhausting business trip, or just want to escape bustling city life, just rent a car in Geneva and set off to any of the amazing local parks!
