CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,
C/O COL GKS REDDY,
Geneva Old Town
Geneva's Old Town is one of the largest in Europe and catalogues the town's 2,000 years of history in its many art galleries, antique shops, museums, fountains and other sights.
Geneva’s Old Town (Vieille Ville) contains some of the city’s foremost attractions, including the Barbier-Mueller Museum, the Cathédrale St-Pierre and the Maison Tavel. It is also the site of the International Museum of the Reformation, which underlines Geneva’s importance in the great religious upheavals of the 16th century, particularly through the work of French theologian John Calvin, who lived and preached here.
But this historically significant district offers much more than just indoor pursuits; exploring the area on foot is a pleasure, with a number of the narrow, winding streets closed to traffic and numerous cafes offering refueling stops along the way. The beautiful Place du Bourg-de-Four is the traditional center of the Old Town and a great place to enjoy an early evening drink.
One of the Entry Points to the Old Town through the Fort Wall
A Street in Old Town leading to "Place du Bourg de Four
Another view of the Street leading to Place du Bourg de Four
Place du Bourg- de Four
Place du Bourg-de-four is actually the oldest square in Old Town! It used to be a Roman Forum (probably that explains the weird name of the square) and a typical market square in medieval times. It is still a commercial center but also a popular meeting spot not only for tourists that start/end their tour through Old Town here or just enjoying an ice cream but I saw many locals too. The square was also a shelter for exiled protestants back in 16th century.
Place du Bourg de Four, the The Oldest Square in Old Town
A Restaurant at Place du Bourg de Four, where people get together
for a cup of Tea or evening Drink
Old Town Police Station located at Place du Bourg de Four. I was pleasantly
surprised to see the Four Storey Building with a Personal Office for every
Constable, large variety of Investigative Aids and spacious cells for the detainees
The Street leading from Place du Bourg de CFour to St Pierre Cathedral
St Pierre Cathedral
The St. Pierre Cathedral is a cathedral in Geneva, Switzerland, today belonging to the Swiss Reformed Church. It was begun under Arducius de Faucigny, the prince-bishop of the Diocese of Geneva, in the 12th century, and includes an eclectic mix of styles. It is best known as the adopted home church of John Calvin, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. Inside the church is a wooden chair used by Calvin.
The area beneath the Cathedral has recently been excavated extensively, revealing a rich history of the site dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. From the 8th to 10th centuries it was one of three cathedrals to coexist on the site. The present building has grown from a cathedral devoted to ecclesiastical use and an early Christian funerary cult; the other two structures, subsumed in the 12th century by the growth of the surviving building, were apparently for different uses, one for public sacraments and the other for church teachings.
The German painter Konrad Witz painted an altarpiece, the so-called St. Peter Altarpiece, for the Cathedral in 1444, now in the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva, which contains his most famous composition, the Miraculous Draught of Fishes.
Currently, every summer a German Protestant minister is present, making it possible to hold bilingual services and meetings of both German and French Protestant worshippers.
St Pierre Cathedral as seen from the Courtyard
The Courtyard of St Pierre Cathedral, on arriving from Place du Bourg de Four
The Front Entrance of St Pierre Cathedral
The side Arch of the front Entrance and the Courtyard
Oldest House in Geneva
Maison Tavel, meaning Tavel House, is the oldest house in Geneva, build in 12th century by the Maison's family. In 1334 the house burned and after that, the house was reconstructed. In 1963 the house was bought by the city of Geneva and they remade it into the museum of history of Geneva.
Maison Tavel - The Oldest House in Geneva
Another view of Maison Tavel
The Main Entry Gate to Old Town through Fort Wall from Place Neuve side
A view of the Fort Wall near the Main Entry Gate, from where we exited the Town
Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia
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