News from Switzerland

Hayek's Bright Idea

Nicolas Hayek

Switzerland's favorite innovator and creator of the Swatch watch and the Smart car, Nicolas Hayek, has a brand new mission these days. He wants to leverage Switzerland's considerable knowledge in renewable energy to enhance the country's position as the world leader in this field. Hayek's Swatch Group is joining forces with Group E, one of Switzerland's largest power companies, the Swiss Institutes of Technology, and other interested parties to develop and produce clean renewable energy systems for both residential and transport purposes.

Swatch Group is no stranger to renewable energy based transportation projects. The company has developed hybrid and solar-powered cars and is supporting Swiss aviator Bertrand Piccard's Solarimpulse plane which aims to be the first to fly around the world using only solar power. American movie star and environmentalist George Clooney will bring an added boost of energy as a Board Member for Hayek's new company. Clooney already serves as a spokesman for Swatch's Omega brand.

"Swiss Roots" brings U.S. Football Superstar
Ben Roethlisberger
to Emmental, Switzerland, and
the Swiss Federal Charter to Philadelphia

Swiss colors

Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, will travel to Switzerland in May, 2006, tracing the roots of his ancestors who lived in the Bernese Emmental. Additionally, the Swiss Federal Charter, known as the "Schweizer Bundesbrief," will be shown in the U.S. for the first time ever at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. These and other events such as a Swiss immigration exhibition at New York's Ellis Island Museum are part of "Swiss Roots," which aims to bring America and Switzerland closer together.

Like Renée Zellweger, Bob Lutz, Johann August Sutter, and Louis Chevrolet, there are more than one million Americans of Swiss origin and many more with a keen interest in Switzerland. Since the early 18th century, thousands of Swiss citizens have immigrated to the U.S. - motivated by curiosity, hopes for a better future, or economic hardship in Switzerland. There are more than 5,000 U.S. cities with Swiss names and countless Americans intrigued by the culture, diversity, and beauty of Switzerland. Moreover, there are many Swiss who are fascinated with American tradition and the American way of life.

"The vision of 'Swiss Roots' is to motivate all Americans who feel an affinity with Switzerland to connect with our country and to network with the Swiss people," says Ambassador Raymond Loretan, Co-Chairman of "Swiss Roots" and Consul General of Switzerland in New York. This vision is in particular realized by the "Swiss Roots" website, www.swissroots.org, which offers users the opportunity to explore their Swiss roots and ancestry in just a few mouse clicks."

The "Swiss Roots" website - to be launched end of March 2006 - will include features such as a genealogical search engine and community site, interesting and surprising information on Switzerland, profiles of famous Swiss immigrants, and a "Swiss Roots" events calendar. Visitors will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people in both countries. Americans who feel inspired to visit the land of their forefathers can use the website's resources to book their trips.

Various events will be organized to promote "Swiss Roots," including Roethlisberger's visit to his ancestors' home town in Bernese Emmental and the exhibit of the Swiss Federal Charter, the "Schweizer Bundesbrief" of 1291, in Philadelphia's Constitution Center. The presentation of the "Bundesbrief," the first time it has ever been displayed outside of Switzerland, takes place within the framework of the "Sister Republics" exhibition, showing the close historic links between the U.S. and Swiss constitutions.

Other Swiss Roots events include a vintage Swiss Postal Bus road show through the U.S. states with the highest concentration of Swiss immigrants - California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin - and the exhibit "Small Numbers Big Impact," presented on New York's Ellis Island and chronicling the immigration of Swiss nationals to the U.S. This exhibit is planned to be opened by Federal Councilor Pascal Couchepin, Member of the Swiss Government, at the occasion of the Swiss National Day Celebration on July 29, 2006.

"Swiss Roots" will also participate in "Tell-Spiele" in New Glarus, Wisconsin, Basel Carnival Days in Los Angeles, a Swiss "Sänger Fest" in Toledo, Ohio, and the "Green County Cheese Days" in Monroe, Wisconsin. Furthermore, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia will present a cultural program in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities that highlights contemporary Switzerland, including the contributions of Swiss-Americans in music, film, architecture and visual arts. The cultural program starts with an exhibition on Ticinese architecture at Virginia Tech's Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, followed by "Reprocessing Reality," a contemporary art show taking place at PS1, the Queens affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

About "Swiss Roots"

"Swiss Roots" brings the United States and Switzerland closer together through activities that foster dialogue, understanding, and both online and offline exchanges. The program's centerpiece, www.swissroots.org, is a state-of-the-art website that serves as a gateway for the one million Americans of Swiss descent to discover their ancestral roots and those with Swiss affinity to discover and communicate with people in Switzerland. The "Swiss Roots" website will be launched officially on March 29 at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C

Additional "Swiss Roots" events will showcase nationwide the best in Swiss innovation, culture, history, education, and business. The project is organized by the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York and official Swiss representatives in the U.S., in cooperation with numerous local Swiss associations. "Swiss Roots" is supported by Switzerland promotional agencies such as Presence Switzerland, Switzerland Tourism and Pro Helvetia. Swiss Roots is also supported by private sector companies such as Swiss Helvetia Fund, Swiss International Airlines and Swiss Post.

Spend a Weekend in Switzerland

Package starts at $459 including air, hotel and breakfast

SwissMade Tours is offering an exceptional weekend package to Switzerland for people who want to getaway for a long weekend to Europe. The five day/three night package includes round trip airfare to Geneva, Zurich ($20 extra) or Lucerne ($65 extra), three nights accommodations at a three-star, centrally located hotel, daily breakfast and all local taxes and service charges beginning at $459 per person, double occupancy.

This is a wonderful price to Switzerland, the last time I was in Zurich my breakfast was $45 for one day! It was also easy on my visits to Geneva, one year, and Zurich the next, to make excursions to other areas and portions of France by a short train ride. The trip package allows for a longer stay.

Travelers must depart the US on Thursdays from Nov. 1-Dec. 9, 2004 and from Jan. 13-March 17, 2005 and book the package by Oct. 31, 2004. Additional room nights are available beginning at just $59. This nonrefundable package does not include air taxes and surcharges.

    The cost of the SwissMade Tours package varies depending on the US departure city:
  • $459 from New York
  • $509 from Boston and Philadelphia
  • $559 from Atlanta and Washington, DC
  • $584 from Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit and Miami
  • $609 from Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver and Houston
  • $634 from Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle

For more details about this bargain Swiss weekend package, call SwissMade Tours at 1-800-995-7997 or visit its web site at www.swissmadetours.com.

Visiting Geneva

Compiled and Edited by Mary Gallagher


Lake Geneva is the biggest lake in Western Europe with an area of 582.4 km2 of which 234 km2 are in France. One could float two cantons of Geneva on the surface of its Lake! The Rhone, which rises in the Alps in the canton of Valais, crosses it from end to end and leaves it in Geneva. Almost anywhere in the city the lake is visible and it seems eerie when the fountain is off. Even during my winter visit, I stayed just a block from the harbour entrance crossing here to reach the Old City section, always conscious of the lake.

The lake in figures: 
- altitude : 1225.7 feet 
- volume : 89 billion cubic liters
- max.  depth: 1016 feet
- max. length: 45.37 miles
- max width: 8.57 miles
- 103.8 miles of shoreline of which 33 miles is in France and 70.7 miles in Switzerland. 

While the western part of Lake Geneva or the "Little Lake" provides a real pleasure ground for the people of Geneva, the "Geneva Rade" is just its harbour whose entrance is marked by its famous fountain. 

The Fountain, the symbol of Geneva

As New York has its Statue of Liberty and Paris its Eiffel Tower, so Geneva can boast of its famous fountain whose origin had nothing "touristy" about it. 

Every night during the 19th century – including Sundays and bank holidays – a safety valve released water, shooting it skywards at very high pressure, whenever the craftsmen turned off the taps in their workshops connected to the Coulouvrenière waterworks. The idea of transforming this column of water into a tourist curiosity was indeed revolutionary. And that is how "this liquid monument," in 1891, became a tourist attraction and thereafter the emblem of Geneva. 

It was originally installed downstream of the Rhone, but since 1951 it has towered over the Geneva harbour with its 140 m. To project 500 l of water per second takes two groups of motor-pumps developing 1'000 KW, to accelerate the water up to 200 k.p.h. Since March 2003, the Fountain functions all year round. Our visitors are always so disappointed when the Fountain is not on for them but do bear in mind that it is almost always the fault … of the numerous winds that blow across Lake Geneva, especially the Bise or the Joran which, if they exceed 8 k.p.h means the Fountain has to be turned off. 

The Cruises 

The CGN, whose first boat came into service in 1904, now has 16 big vessels with a total passenger capacity of 14'000. 

Starting in Spring, the CGN regularly plies between Swiss towns or between Swiss and French towns and also runs theme cruises ("salsa" cruises, etc.). You can also rent one of these boats for a reception, a seminar or an incentive trip. 

The CGN is proud to possess the biggest fleet of paddle boats in Europe (8 boats of which 4 steam-powered) whose history and decor, will take you back to the grandeur of the "Belle Époque." It is up to you to choose from among a whole range of cruises to explore the delightful lake shoreline and the many stopovers that welcome you. 
Information: CGN, tel. +41 21 613 62 10
www.cgn.ch

For those of you who unfortunately have little free time during your stay in Geneva, the Swissboat company has various excursions to offer (from 20 minutes to 2 hours) that will take you to discover the castles and stately homes, the marvellous landscapes and unforgettable panoramas of Geneva and the surrounding mountains. 

And to combine business and pleasure, anyone can experience the "lake taxi," commonly called "mouette genevoise" (or "Geneva Gull"). These are small crafts that provide a regular service between the right and left banks of the Lake. 
Information: Swissboat , tel. +41 22 732 47 47 
www.swissboat.com


The Beaches 

Geneva, the bathing resort – Now, there's a strange thought. Of the six beaches along the Geneva shoreline, two deserve particular mention. 

* Geneva Beach 

The present Geneva Beach was created in 1932. It was once called "The Lake and Sunshine Baths" and was built on reclaimed land and soon becoming very popular. Many amenities were added to the two hectare, tree-lined park such as an Olympic pool and 10 m diving board, water fun for young and old, a 9 m high slide and numerous sports activities without forgetting the places to relax - the giant chess board, restaurants, boutiques, etc. A real holiday paradise on the edge of town that is much appreciated by locals and tourists alike.
Information: tel. +41 22 736 24 82 – www.geneve-plage.ch


* The Pâquis Baths 

A central feature of Geneva life, a magic place right in the harbour, just 15 minutes on foot from the town centre on the right bank of the Lake facing the Fountain. 
The present Baths date from 1932 and cover 6500 m2. Success was immediate. A referendum in 1988 saved the baths from demolition. Since 1993 they have been better equipped, more comfortable and offer a range of entertainments. They are open all year round thanks to the installation, in winter, of a magnificent sauna, massage and Turkish bath not forgetting the champagne fondue served every evening until end of April. 
Information : tel. +41 22 732 29 74 – www.bains-des-paquis.ch


The Niton Stones 
Reference altitude level in Switzerland 

These are two rocks nicknamed Neiton and Neptune, deposited there millions of years ago during the ice age and left there as the ice cap withdrew. The larger of these stones was chosen by the famous General Dufour to serve as base point (altitude 373.6 metres above sea level) for the land survey of Switzerland and the preparation, in 1864, of his famous 1:100'000 map. 

The Lake and Geneva Cuisine 

The perfect marriage of lake fish and Geneva wines
As everywhere else, local cooking is strongly bound up with local history and the environment. The lake-dwelling tribes already took advantage of the wide variety of fish in the lake such as the char (Salvelinus alpinus), the lake trout or fario, the monkfish or dace and especially the most well-known of them all, the perch. These fish have pride of place on the menus of gourmet restaurant (ten Geneva establishments were awarded one or two stars in the prestigious Michelin Guide 2002), especially the char, a fish with delicate flesh. See my review of the fine restaurant La Perle du Lac under Food Talk.

Let us not forget the inns on the lakefront or in the Geneva countryside. Talk of good food and you talk of good wine and Geneva can be proud of its vineyards that go back two thousand years. At the very gates of the city, close to 1'500 ha produce 13.5 million litres of wine a year and, since 1988, they bear the Appellation of Controlled Origin (AOC). The gently rising hillocks, the proximity of the Lake and the benefits of a microclimate all contribute to the adaptation of many vines. The Chasselas is the king of the whites and the Gamay that of the reds but a whole range of other vines (Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, etc.) can only enhance the variety of flavours of the lake fish. 


Sparkling Geneva! 

A Geneva invention thanks to Mr. Schweppes 

At the end of the 18th century, in a small pharmacy in the Rue de la Croix-d'Or, Mr. Gosse, the owner and two partners including a certain Mr. Schweppes invented the sparkling alcohol-free drink. For 10 years, they experimented in order to perfect a "healthy beverage" made from ordinary drinking water, certain mineral substances and lots of carbonic acid. 


The Fountains 
Mr. Abeille, the true promoter of the Geneva fountains 

Geneva owes a good part of its charm to the fountains whether adorned with obelisks or pillars, or decorated with lion heads or swans, nymphs or sea-children.

The history of the fountains is bound up with that of the water supply. The first inhabitants worshipped the sources as divinities then the Romans constructed an aqueduct that came from Voirons massif (now in France) and provided Geneva with 6000 litres of water per minute. Once that was destroyed, it was not until the 19th century that such a flow was seen again! 

The first known medieval fountains date back to the 13th century. There are only two of them but they are located in the new districts on the lakeside (Place Longemalle and Place Molard) that encouraged the development of the whole lakeside. Until these first fountains, there were only cisterns or wells to supply the population with water. It was not until 1708 that Geneva endowed itself with a real supply system when it adopted the project of a certain Joseph Abeille, the constructor of the first hydraulic machine, at the Pont de l'Ile. 


The Rhone 
On foot or by boat, some surprising landscapes! 

You can set out and explore it by land, crossing the verdant agricultural and wine-growing country that spreads down both banks of the river, stroll around one of the beautiful little villages (Loëx, Russin, Peney, etc.) or follow the innumerable trails that overlook the river (itineraries available from Geneva Tourism) . But in order best to appreciate the beauty of the banks of Rhone, it is worth taking a boat. A picturesque return cruise of more than two and a half hours will take you up to the Verbois dam. You will be able to admire the high cliffs, the varied landscapes and the clear view of the Alps and the Jura but especially the extraordinary wealth of flora and fauna. As hunting is forbidden throughout the canton of Geneva, the Rhone and its banks constitute a peaceful refuge for over 70 different species of animal (cormorants, seagulls, beavers, etc.). 
Information: Swissboat. Tel. +41 22 732 47 47 – www.swissboat.com


The Seujet Dam 

Until the 19th century, the communities settled around the Lake of Geneva did not always sleep peacefully because the level of the Lake was so unpredictable. It was not until 1883 that any real work was undertaken to regulate the level of the lake. Only much later, in 1985, was the Seujet Dam built. This is a remarkable work both from an aesthetic and technical point of view as well as the way it blends into its surroundings. Most of this structure, which covers a surface area of 7800 m2, is below the water level and it comprises a dam, a hydroelectric plant and a sluice. The fish have not been forgotten either and they have their own "lock," a sort of huge stairway comprising 21 basins.

GENEVA TOURISM www.geneva-tourism.ch 

 


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