Our next stop through our journey in Geneva was the Parc des Bastions, in the middle of the old city. Parc des Bastions is a 16 acre oasis with green lawns and big trees.
As we came in, it was easy to observe that the park is a popular destination - Genevans lying down on the grass reading books, or just relaxing, some having a picnic here, others browsing the internet on their smartphones, whilst sitting on one of many benches.
The gates of Parc des Bastions...
The park has beautiful trees...
The pièce de résistance of Parc des Bastions is the Reformation Wall..
The wall was built in 1909 to commemorate and honour individuals, events and documents of the Protestant reformation - reformation of the church...
The wall also commemorated the 400th anniversary of the reformer, John Calvin's birth and the 350th anniversary of the University of Geneva's establishment...
During the reformation, Geneva was the centre of Calvinism and Protestantism. Most of the individuals depicted on the Wall were Calvinists. The centre of the monument features four 5 metre-tall statues of Calvinism's main proponents: John Calvin, Theodore Beza, William Farel and John Knox...
On the central statues' pedestal, a Christogram in Greek is engraved: ΙΗΣ...
To the left of the central statues are 3 m-tall statues of other reformers: William the Silent, Gaspard de Coligny and Frederick William of Brandenburg...
Along the wall, on either side of the central statues, the motto of both the Reformation and Geneva is engraved: Post Tenebras Lux (Latin for After darkness, light)...
To the right are the statues of: Roger Williams, Oliver Cromwell and Stephen Bocskay...
Had it not been for the reformists, the Western world would have resembled the chaotic Middle East of today...
A building of the University of Geneva...
And we move deeper into the old town...
Narrow cobbled alleys are a reminder of the dark middle ages...
At Bourg-de-Four Square, the town square...
A fountain in the middle of Bourg-de-Four Square...
Palais de Justice...
Heading to the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre Genève...
Commemoration Du Pacte D'assistance Mutuelle Zurich-Berne-Geneve (1584-1984) - On the way we see a monument commemorating a mutual assistance pact between the three cantons, leading to the confederation...
Taverne De La Madeleine...
The Taverne had its origins in the First World War. Women from reputed families operated a small canteen called the Coin du Feu. They offered soup at a cheap rates for the poor and needy The soup was so good that not only people in need who came to eat in their canteen, but also relatively well-off people of good society, Also what led to its popularity was that there was no obligation to drink alcohol...
An anti-alcoholism group proposed to the ladies of the Coin du Feu that they open Geneva's first alcohol-free restaurant. And so in 1920 the Taverne De La Madeleine opened its doors to Genevans...
We spot an interesting spout...
An interesting church...
And finally we reach Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, which was closed for the day...
Buildings around Cathédrale Saint-Pierre...
We'll have to visit Geneva again to see Cathédrale Saint-Pierre...
Ooooh! One of my favourite cares - the Volkswagen Beetle...
Heading to Lake Geneva...
The bistros are having a busy evening...
And finally we reach the shores of Lake Geneva to catch a boat to the other side...
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