Difference between revisions of "Lake Geneva" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''Lake Geneva''' or Lake Léman ([[French language|French]] '''Lac Léman''', ''le Léman'', or '''Lac de Genève''') is the second largest freshwater [[lake]] in [[Central Europe]] (after [[Lake Balaton]]). 60% of it comes under the jurisdiction of [[Switzerland]] (cantons of [[Vaud]], [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]], and [[Valais]]), and 40% under [[France]] ([[Haute-Savoie]]).
+
'''Lake Geneva''' or Lake Léman ([[French language|French]] '''Lac Léman''', ''le Léman'', or '''Lac de Genève''') is the second largest freshwater [[lake]] in [[Central Europe]] (after [[Lake Balaton]]). The southern shore of the lake is in France, taking in the mighty Savoy Alps as well as Mont-Blanc a little further south. The northern, Swiss, shore forms the economic and cultural focus of Suisse Romande, centered around Lausanne.  Sixty percent of the lake comes under the jurisdiction of [[Switzerland]] (cantons of [[Vaud]], [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]], and [[Valais]]), and forty percent under [[France]] ([[Haute-Savoie]]).
  
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The crescent-shaped lake, formed by a withdrawing glacier, narrows around [[Yvoire]] on the southern shore, the lake can thus be divided into the ''"Grand Lac"'' (Large Lake) to the east and the ''"Petit Lac"'' (Small Lake) to the west.
+
Lake Geneva is famous for its deep blue and remarkably transparent waters; numerous resorts and villas are built along the lakeshore. The northern (Swiss) shore is bounded by sloping vineyards and orchards. The lake is subject to seiches, tidal fluctuations that can suddenly raise or lower the level of  the lake. A region of great scenic beauty, Lake Geneva has been the favorite theme of many writers (notably Rousseau and Byron).
  
 
[[Image:Genfersee bei montreux 2004 pischdi.JPG|thumb|200px|left|View from [[Montreux]]]]
 
[[Image:Genfersee bei montreux 2004 pischdi.JPG|thumb|200px|left|View from [[Montreux]]]]
  
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It lies on the course of the [[Rhône River]]. The river has its source at the [[Rhone Glacier]] near the [[Grimsel Pass]] to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of [[Valais]], entering the lake between [[Villeneuve, Vaud|Villeneuve]] and [[St-Gingolph|St. Gingolph]], before flowing slowly towards its egress at [[Geneva]]. Other tributaries are [[La Dranse]], [[L'Aubonne]], [[La Morges]], [[Venoge]], and [[Veveyse]].
+
==Geography==
  
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By the 1960s, the lake had ceased being a transport artery for commercial and construction materials. In the late 1960s pollution made it dangerous to swim at some[[ beaches of the lake]]; indeed, tourists taking a ride in the local submarine had near zero visibility (it was eventually sold). By the 1980s intense environmental pollution ([[eutrophication]]) had almost wiped out all the fish. Today, [[pollution levels]] have been dramatically cut back, and it is  perfectly safe to swim in the lake. Today, the main leisure activities are sailing, wind surfing, boating (including water skiing and wakeboarding), rowing, scuba diving and bathing.
+
Lake Geneva lies on the course of the [[Rhône River]]. The river has its source at the [[Rhone Glacier]] near the [[Grimsel Pass]] to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of [[Valais]], entering the lake between [[Villeneuve, Vaud|Villeneuve]] and [[St-Gingolph|St. Gingolph]], before flowing slowly westward towards its egress at [[Geneva]]. Other tributaries are [[La Dranse]], [[L'Aubonne]], [[La Morges]], [[Venoge]], and [[Veveyse]].
  
 +
Formed by a withdrawing glacier, the lake is in the shape of a crescent, narrowing around  [[Yvoire]] on the southern shore, and can be divided into the ''"Grand Lac"'' (Large Lake) to the east and the ''"Petit Lac"'' (Small Lake) to the west.
 +
Approximately 8.7% of the population of Switzerland (650,700) lives in the Lake Geneva region.  The most populated city on the lake is Geneva (185,526), and the second is Lausanne (128,302).
 
The shore between [[Nyon]] and [[Lausanne]] is called ''La Côte'', and between Lausanne and Vevey it is called ''[[Lavaux]]''.  
 
The shore between [[Nyon]] and [[Lausanne]] is called ''La Côte'', and between Lausanne and Vevey it is called ''[[Lavaux]]''.  
  
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[[Image:Joseph Mallord William Turner 013.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[J.M.W. Turner]]: Lake Geneva from [[Montreux]], 1810.]]
 
[[Image:Joseph Mallord William Turner 013.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[J.M.W. Turner]]: Lake Geneva from [[Montreux]], 1810.]]
 
{{wiktionary|Geneva}}
 
{{wiktionary|Geneva}}
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The first recorded name of the lake is ''Lacus Lemannus'' from [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times; it became ''Lacus Lausonius'', ''Lacus Losanetes'' and then the ''Lac de Lausanne'' in the [[Middle Ages]].  Following the rise of Geneva it became ''Lac de Genève'' (also translated into English as ''Lake Geneva''). In the [[18th century]], ''Lac Léman'' was revived in French. It was formerly called ''Lac de Genève'' in Geneva and ''Lac Léman'' elsewhere but the customary name in French is now ''Lac Léman''. Certain maps name the lake the ''Lac d'Ouchy'' (after the port located on the Lausanne lake shore).
+
The first recorded name of the lake is ''Lacus Lemannus'' from [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times; it became ''Lacus Lausonius'', ''Lacus Losanetes'' and then the ''Lac de Lausanne'' in the [[Middle Ages]].  Following the rise of Geneva it became ''Lac de Genève'' (also translated into English as ''Lake Geneva''). In the [[eighteenth century]], ''Lac Léman'' was revived in French. It was formerly called ''Lac de Genève'' in Geneva and ''Lac Léman'' elsewhere but the customary name in French is now ''Lac Léman''. Certain maps name the lake the ''Lac d'Ouchy'' (after the port located on the Lausanne lake shore).
  
 
In English, the name ''Lake Geneva'' is predominant.
 
In English, the name ''Lake Geneva'' is predominant.
  
−
A note on pronunciation (in [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]) —
+
A note on pronunciation (in International Phonetic Alphabet) —
 
: [[English language|English]]: ''Lake Geneva'' {{IPA|/leɪk dʒə'ni:və/}}
 
: [[English language|English]]: ''Lake Geneva'' {{IPA|/leɪk dʒə'ni:və/}}
 
: [[French language|French]]: ''Lac Léman'' {{IPA|/lak le'mɑ̃/}} or ''Lac de Genève'' {{IPA|/lak də ʒe'nɛv/}}
 
: [[French language|French]]: ''Lac Léman'' {{IPA|/lak le'mɑ̃/}} or ''Lac de Genève'' {{IPA|/lak də ʒe'nɛv/}}
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: [[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Lago Lemano'', ''Lago di Ginevra'' {{IPA|/'lago di dʒi'nevra/}}.
 
: [[Italian language|Italian]]: ''Lago Lemano'', ''Lago di Ginevra'' {{IPA|/'lago di dʒi'nevra/}}.
  
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==Miscellaneous==
+
Sonnet to Lake Leman
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* Empress [[Elisabeth of Bavaria|Elisabeth of Austria]] was fatally stabbed in the heart while waiting for a ferry.  
+
ROUSSEAU — Voltaire — our Gibbon — De Staël –
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* [[Mary Shelly|Mary]] and [[Percy Shelley]] and [[Lord Byron]] holidayed by the lake and wrote ghost stories; one of which was the basis for the novel [[Frankenstein]].
+
Leman! these names are worthy of thy shore,
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* Pop singer [[Phil Collins]] also lives overlooking the lake near his children.
+
Thy shore of names like these! wert thou no more,
−
* Ashes of the British rock star [[Freddie Mercury]] are believed by many to be dispersed into the lake.
+
Their memory thy remembrance would recall:
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* The song [[Smoke on the Water]] by [[Deep Purple]] was written about when a casino on the shore of Lake Geneva burned down just prior to their recordings there. The fire was caused by someone firing a flare gun inside during a show of [[Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention]], with Deep Purple inside, watching the show. According to some recounts of the story surrounding the song, all of Deep Purple's equipment was destroyed in the fire as well.
+
To them thy banks were lovely as to all,
 +
But they have made them lovelier, for the lore
 +
Of mighty minds doth hallow in the core
 +
Of human hearts the ruin of a wall
 +
Where dwelt the wise and wondrous; but by thee
 +
How much more, Lake of Beauty! do we feel,
 +
In sweetly gliding o'er thy crystal sea,
 +
The wild glow of that not ungentle zeal,
 +
Which of the heirs of immortality
 +
Is proud, and makes the breath of glory real!
 +
George Gordon, Lord Byron
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
=== The Romans
 +
Early Celtic tribes who lived in the region around Lake Geneva left no written records. The written history of Lake Geneva began with the Roman occupation of Switzerland in 58 B.C.E., when Julius Caesar defeated the Celtic Helvetians and forced them to return to their homes in Switzerland instead of settling in Southern France. The Romans occupied the area known today as Switzerland up to Rhine River, and set up their military headquarters in Avenches (Aventicum), which today is only a small village. The Romans founded the two major cities of the Lake Geneva region, Geneva and Lausanne.  When Christianity spread through the Roman Empire,, Geneva became the seat of a bishop.
 +
=== The Burgundians ===
 +
Around 400 C.E., several Germanic tribes breached the Roman fortifications and conquered the western part of the Roman empire. The Francs settled in what is now northern France, and the Burgundians settled in western Switzerland and Burgundy (southeastern France). Both tribes originally spoke ancient German, but learned Latin because they were eager to assimilate Roman culture, eventually developing the French language. 
 +
=== The Dukes of Savoy ===
 +
About 800 C.E., the French Emperor Charles the Great unified France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland and set up an administration based on dukes and counts. The counts of Kyburg (a castle near Winterhur, eastern Switzerland) were able to gain control over a vast territory reaching from Lake of Constance (northeastern Switzerland) to Lake Geneva. The last count of Kyburg died without heirs, sparking a disagreement between Count Rudolf Habsburg (later to become King of Germany) and Count Peter I of Savoy.  In 1266, Savoy conquered the Vaud region north of Lake Geneva.  Because of the rising importance of the Savoy and their strategic control  of the alpine trade routes, the German Emperor granted the title of Duke to the counts of Savoy.
 +
The city of Geneva was a constant object of disputes among the bishop of Geneva, the counts of Geneva and the counts of Savoy. The right of sovereignty  over Geneva was  granted to the bishop in 1124 and again in 1219, but the political situation there was always unstable. In 1263, the citizens of Geneva allied with Count Peter II. of Savoy, because they believed that the counts of Savoy could best guarantee the protection of commerce and of the roads leading to Geneva.  In 1285 Count Amadée V of Savoy became protector of the city of Geneva. In 1355, the dukes of Savoy took control of  Faucigny and Gex under and in 1358 the count of Geneva became a vassal of the Duke of Savoy. The citizens of Geneva now feared the strength of Savoy and became supporters of the bishop of Geneva. In 1387 bishop Adhemar Favre again confirmed the traditional sovereignty of the bishop over the city.
 +
In 1519, Duke Charles III. of Savoy occupied Geneva with his troops to forestall a pact negotiated by a group of its citizens, the so-called "Eydguenots," with the city of Fribourg. but. Another pact in 1526, between the citizens of Geneva and Fribourg and Berne, provoked an attack by Duke Charles III. of Savoy in 1530. Geneva was besieged by 10,000 soldiers, and Berne, Fribourg, Solothurn, Bienne, Neuchâtel and Payerne came to its assistance The citizens of Geneva then rejected the sovereignty of both the Dukes of Savoy and the bishop of Geneva, and formed a general council, an ordinary council and four syndics to take charge of the affairs of the city.  Charles III of Savoy refused to renounce his sovereignty over Geneva, and in 1534 he attempted to isolate the city by blocking all its supply routes.  In 1536, while Charles III of Savoy and his troops were in northern Italy dealing with political instability there, Berne conquered the county of Vaud in 1536. The other Swiss confederates feared that Berne had  become too strong, and came to an agreement with Savoy.  The treaties of Lausanne (1564) and Thonon (1569) restored the sovereignty of the Dukes of Savoy over Ternier, Thonon, the Country of Gex and Evian and the valley of Abondance, in the regions south/west of Lake Geneva. 
 +
===The Reformation and Calvinism===
 +
French jurist John Calvin (1509 - 1564) was banished from Paris because of its open partisanship for the Reformation in 1533. When Calvin traveled through Geneva in 1536 he had no intention to stay, but Farel convinced him to do so. In 1532, the citizens of Geneva resisted an attempt by the Lutheran William Farel to establish a Protestant reformation.  In 1533 he returned to Geneva under te protection of Berne, which threatened to withdraw its support of the Dukes of Savoy if  they rejected the Reformation. The bishop of Geneva, who sympathized with the dukes of Savoy, was banished. In 1536, after being expelled from Paris, the French jurist John Calvin passed through Geneva  and was persuaded by Farel to stay and assist him. Together with Farel, Calvin attempted to institute a number of changes to the city's governance and religious life.  They drew up a catechism and a confession of faith, which they insisted all citizens must affirm.  The city council refused to adopt Calvin and Farel's creed, and in January 1538 denied them the power to [[excommunicate]], a power they saw as critical to their work.  The pair responded with a blanket denial of the [[Lord's Supper]] to all Genevans at [[Easter]] services.  For this the city council expelled them from the city.  Farel died in  Neuchâtel; in 1541, after a number of his supporters won election to the Geneva city council, Calvin was called back to Geneva and continued his work in the church there.
 +
In 1602, Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy once more made an effort to conquer the city of Geneva. According to an ancient ballad, Cé qu'è lainô, Savoy troops attempted to use black ladders to climb the walls of the city of Geneva during the night, but were repulsed thanks to two courageous women, Mère Royaume (Mother Kingdom) and Dame Piaget (Lady Piaget) who discovered the attackers. Every year in December the Genevans celebrate their triumph over the Dukes of Savoy.
 +
===Revolution and the Swiss Confederation===
 +
In 1798, during a revolution supported by France, Vaudois freedom fighters gained control of the lakeside estates of Berne and the agricultural heartlands.  Napoleon formally created a new canton from the territory, and in 1803 it joined the Swiss Confederation. The area retains its French heritage and shows marked cultural differences and political attitudes from German-speaking eastern Switzerland.
 +
Today Geneva, once a haven for free-thinkers from all over Europe, is known as an international diplomatic and business center.  Lausanne has a large population of young people and is  known for its culture and energy.
 +
By the 1960s, the Lake Geneva had ceased being a transport artery for commercial and construction materials. In the late 1960s pollution made it dangerous to swim at some beaches of the lake; tourists taking a ride in the local submarine had near zero visibility. By the 1980s intense environmental pollution ([[eutrophication]]) had almost wiped out all the fish. Today, [[pollution levels]] have been dramatically cut back, and it is  safe to swim in the lake. Today, the main leisure activities are sailing, wind surfing, boating (including water skiing and wakeboarding), rowing, scuba diving and bathing.
 +
 
 +
==Tourism==
 +
Tourism is a major source of income. Mont Blanc, western Europe's highest mountain (4807m), can be seen  from the city center of Geneva, and Montreux and neighboring Vevey have breathtaking views across the water to the French Alps. Travelers can enjoy scenic train rides around the shores, or take advantage of the lake’s excellent boat service.
 +
The Lake Geneva Region has nearly one hundred castles, eighteen of which are open to the public. Grandson, on the banks of Lake Neuchâtel, is one of Switzerland’s largest fortifications. Another legendary castle the Château de Chillon, on an island in the lake near Montreux.  Built by the Dukes of Savoy in the thirteenth century to control control the passage to the Grand St. Bernard pass, the castle is in a  remarkable state f preservation.  Lord Byron, inspired by a historical episode involving the imprisonment of Bonivard in the 16th century, wrote the famous poem "The Prisoner of Chillon:"
 +
Lake Leman lies by Chillon’s walls:
 +
A thousand feet in depth below
 +
Its massy waters meet and flow...
 +
There are seven pillars of Gothic mould,
 +
In Chillon’s dungeons deep and old,
 +
There are seven columns massy and grey,
 +
Dim with a dull imprison’d ray,
 +
A sunbeam which hath lost its way…
 +
Lord Byron, The Prisoner of Chillon
 +
The Lake Geneva Region is also home to eighty museums on biology, archaeology, history, key figures, fine art, industry, handicrafts, art deco, transport , the Olymipcs, and the history of the castles. Roman ruins, amphitheatres, castles, churches, monuments and some 200 archaeological sites commemorate the history of the region.
 +
The scenic beauty of the region, with its soaring mountain views and terraced vineyards, has inspired visitors for centuries.  Musicians Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Clara Haskil, and the painter Gustave Courbet, spent time in residence there.  Writers including Lord Byron, Rousseau, Voltaire, Goethe, Dickens, Tolstoy, and Simenon vacationed in the region and found inspiration for their work.  Mary Shelley wrote the first draft of Frankenstein while staying with her husband, Percy Shelley, and Byron, in a villa on the shores of Lake Geneva. Charlie Chaplin lived there for the last twenty-four years of his life, and actors Audrey Hepburn and David Niven also lived there.  , Charlie Chaplin
 +
 
 +
On June 2, 2007, the Lavaux region received the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under the category of a cultural landscape, in recognition of the beauty of its vineyards, terraces and villages facing the Alps and Lake Geneva.  The area is often referred to as the “Three Suns” for the elements of its scenic landscapes, the sky, the lake and the walls.  http://www.lake-geneva-region.ch/otv/docs/EN/lavaux-unesco/Lavaux_28.06.07_ENG.pdf 
  
 
==Cities and places==
 
==Cities and places==
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*[http://www.hydrodaten.admin.ch/e/2027.htm Waterlevels Lake Geneva] at [[Saint-Prex]]
 
*[http://www.hydrodaten.admin.ch/e/2027.htm Waterlevels Lake Geneva] at [[Saint-Prex]]
 
*[http://www.hydrodaten.admin.ch/e/2028.htm Waterlevels Lake Geneva] at [[Geneva]]
 
*[http://www.hydrodaten.admin.ch/e/2028.htm Waterlevels Lake Geneva] at [[Geneva]]
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[[Category:Lakes of Switzerland|Geneva]]
 
[[Category:Lakes of Switzerland|Geneva]]
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[[Category:Valais]]
 
[[Category:Valais]]
 
[[Category:Canton of Geneva]]
 
[[Category:Canton of Geneva]]
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[[als:Genfersee]]
 
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[[frp:Lèman]]
 
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[[be-x-old:Жэнэўскае возера]]
 
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[[br:Lenn Geneva]]
 
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[[bg:Женевско езеро]]
 
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[[ca:Lemanus Lacus]]
 
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[[cs:Ženevské jezero]]
 
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[[da:Genevesøen]]
 
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[[de:Genfersee]]
 
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[[et:Genfi järv]]
 
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[[el:Λίμνη της Γενεύης]]
 
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[[es:Lago Lemán]]
 
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[[eo:Lemano]]
 
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[[fr:Lac Léman]]
 
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[[gl:Lago Léman]]
 
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[[io:Léman]]
 
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[[it:Lago di Ginevra]]
 
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[[he:אגם ז'נבה]]
 
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[[la:Lemanus Lacus]]
 
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[[lv:Ženēvas ezers]]
 
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[[lb:Genferséi]]
 
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[[lt:Ženevos ežeras]]
 
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[[hu:Genfi-tó]]
 
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[[nl:Meer van Genève]]
 
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[[ja:レマン湖]]
 
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[[no:Genfersjøen]]
 
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[[nn:Genfersjøen]]
 
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[[pl:Jezioro Genewskie]]
 
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[[pt:Lago Léman]]
 
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[[ro:Lacul Geneva]]
 
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[[ru:Женевское озеро]]
 
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[[sr:Женевско језеро]]
 
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[[fi:Genevenjärvi]]
 
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[[sv:Genèvesjön]]
 
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[[tr:Cenevre Gölü]]
 
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[[uk:Женевське озеро]]
 
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[[zh:日內瓦湖]]
 
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{{credit|139719192}}
 
{{credit|139719192}}

Revision as of 14:53, 7 July 2007

For other uses, see Lake Geneva (disambiguation).
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva - Satellite image
Satellite image
Coordinates 46°26′N 6°33′ECoordinates: 46°26′N 6°33′E
Primary sources Rhône, Venoge, Dranse, Aubonne
Primary outflows Rhône
Catchment area 7,975 km² (3,079 mi²)
Basin countries Switzerland
France
Max length 73 km (45 mi)
Max width 14 km (8.7 mi)
Surface area 582 km² (225 mi²)
Average depth 154.4 m
Max depth 310 m
Water volume 89 km³
Residence time (of lake water) 11.4 years
Surface elevation 372 m
Islands Ile de la Harpe, Ile de Peilz (islets)
Settlements see list

Lake Geneva or Lake Léman (French Lac Léman, le Léman, or Lac de Genève) is the second largest freshwater lake in Central Europe (after Lake Balaton). The southern shore of the lake is in France, taking in the mighty Savoy Alps as well as Mont-Blanc a little further south. The northern, Swiss, shore forms the economic and cultural focus of Suisse Romande, centered around Lausanne. Sixty percent of the lake comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland (cantons of Vaud, Geneva, and Valais), and forty percent under France (Haute-Savoie).

Lake Geneva is famous for its deep blue and remarkably transparent waters; numerous resorts and villas are built along the lakeshore. The northern (Swiss) shore is bounded by sloping vineyards and orchards. The lake is subject to seiches, tidal fluctuations that can suddenly raise or lower the level of the lake. A region of great scenic beauty, Lake Geneva has been the favorite theme of many writers (notably Rousseau and Byron).

View from Montreux

Geography

Lake Geneva lies on the course of the Rhône River. The river has its source at the Rhone Glacier near the Grimsel Pass to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of Valais, entering the lake between Villeneuve and St. Gingolph, before flowing slowly westward towards its egress at Geneva. Other tributaries are La Dranse, L'Aubonne, La Morges, Venoge, and Veveyse.

Formed by a withdrawing glacier, the lake is in the shape of a crescent, narrowing around Yvoire on the southern shore, and can be divided into the "Grand Lac" (Large Lake) to the east and the "Petit Lac" (Small Lake) to the west. Approximately 8.7% of the population of Switzerland (650,700) lives in the Lake Geneva region. The most populated city on the lake is Geneva (185,526), and the second is Lausanne (128,302). The shore between Nyon and Lausanne is called La Côte, and between Lausanne and Vevey it is called Lavaux.

Name

J.M.W. Turner: Lake Geneva from Montreux, 1810.

The first recorded name of the lake is Lacus Lemannus from Roman times; it became Lacus Lausonius, Lacus Losanetes and then the Lac de Lausanne in the Middle Ages. Following the rise of Geneva it became Lac de Genève (also translated into English as Lake Geneva). In the eighteenth century, Lac Léman was revived in French. It was formerly called Lac de Genève in Geneva and Lac Léman elsewhere but the customary name in French is now Lac Léman. Certain maps name the lake the Lac d'Ouchy (after the port located on the Lausanne lake shore).

In English, the name Lake Geneva is predominant.

A note on pronunciation (in International Phonetic Alphabet) —

English: Lake Geneva /leɪk dʒə'ni:və/
French: Lac Léman /lak le'mɑ̃/ or Lac de Genève /lak də ʒe'nɛv/
German: Genfersee or Genfer See /'gɛnfərˌze:/
Italian: Lago Lemano, Lago di Ginevra /'lago di dʒi'nevra/.

Sonnet to Lake Leman ROUSSEAU — Voltaire — our Gibbon — De Staël – Leman! these names are worthy of thy shore, Thy shore of names like these! wert thou no more, Their memory thy remembrance would recall: To them thy banks were lovely as to all, But they have made them lovelier, for the lore Of mighty minds doth hallow in the core Of human hearts the ruin of a wall Where dwelt the wise and wondrous; but by thee How much more, Lake of Beauty! do we feel, In sweetly gliding o'er thy crystal sea, The wild glow of that not ungentle zeal, Which of the heirs of immortality Is proud, and makes the breath of glory real! George Gordon, Lord Byron

History

=== The Romans Early Celtic tribes who lived in the region around Lake Geneva left no written records. The written history of Lake Geneva began with the Roman occupation of Switzerland in 58 B.C.E., when Julius Caesar defeated the Celtic Helvetians and forced them to return to their homes in Switzerland instead of settling in Southern France. The Romans occupied the area known today as Switzerland up to Rhine River, and set up their military headquarters in Avenches (Aventicum), which today is only a small village. The Romans founded the two major cities of the Lake Geneva region, Geneva and Lausanne. When Christianity spread through the Roman Empire,, Geneva became the seat of a bishop.

The Burgundians

Around 400 C.E., several Germanic tribes breached the Roman fortifications and conquered the western part of the Roman empire. The Francs settled in what is now northern France, and the Burgundians settled in western Switzerland and Burgundy (southeastern France). Both tribes originally spoke ancient German, but learned Latin because they were eager to assimilate Roman culture, eventually developing the French language.

The Dukes of Savoy

About 800 C.E., the French Emperor Charles the Great unified France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland and set up an administration based on dukes and counts. The counts of Kyburg (a castle near Winterhur, eastern Switzerland) were able to gain control over a vast territory reaching from Lake of Constance (northeastern Switzerland) to Lake Geneva. The last count of Kyburg died without heirs, sparking a disagreement between Count Rudolf Habsburg (later to become King of Germany) and Count Peter I of Savoy. In 1266, Savoy conquered the Vaud region north of Lake Geneva. Because of the rising importance of the Savoy and their strategic control of the alpine trade routes, the German Emperor granted the title of Duke to the counts of Savoy. The city of Geneva was a constant object of disputes among the bishop of Geneva, the counts of Geneva and the counts of Savoy. The right of sovereignty over Geneva was granted to the bishop in 1124 and again in 1219, but the political situation there was always unstable. In 1263, the citizens of Geneva allied with Count Peter II. of Savoy, because they believed that the counts of Savoy could best guarantee the protection of commerce and of the roads leading to Geneva. In 1285 Count Amadée V of Savoy became protector of the city of Geneva. In 1355, the dukes of Savoy took control of Faucigny and Gex under and in 1358 the count of Geneva became a vassal of the Duke of Savoy. The citizens of Geneva now feared the strength of Savoy and became supporters of the bishop of Geneva. In 1387 bishop Adhemar Favre again confirmed the traditional sovereignty of the bishop over the city. In 1519, Duke Charles III. of Savoy occupied Geneva with his troops to forestall a pact negotiated by a group of its citizens, the so-called "Eydguenots," with the city of Fribourg. but. Another pact in 1526, between the citizens of Geneva and Fribourg and Berne, provoked an attack by Duke Charles III. of Savoy in 1530. Geneva was besieged by 10,000 soldiers, and Berne, Fribourg, Solothurn, Bienne, Neuchâtel and Payerne came to its assistance The citizens of Geneva then rejected the sovereignty of both the Dukes of Savoy and the bishop of Geneva, and formed a general council, an ordinary council and four syndics to take charge of the affairs of the city. Charles III of Savoy refused to renounce his sovereignty over Geneva, and in 1534 he attempted to isolate the city by blocking all its supply routes. In 1536, while Charles III of Savoy and his troops were in northern Italy dealing with political instability there, Berne conquered the county of Vaud in 1536. The other Swiss confederates feared that Berne had become too strong, and came to an agreement with Savoy. The treaties of Lausanne (1564) and Thonon (1569) restored the sovereignty of the Dukes of Savoy over Ternier, Thonon, the Country of Gex and Evian and the valley of Abondance, in the regions south/west of Lake Geneva.

The Reformation and Calvinism

French jurist John Calvin (1509 - 1564) was banished from Paris because of its open partisanship for the Reformation in 1533. When Calvin traveled through Geneva in 1536 he had no intention to stay, but Farel convinced him to do so. In 1532, the citizens of Geneva resisted an attempt by the Lutheran William Farel to establish a Protestant reformation. In 1533 he returned to Geneva under te protection of Berne, which threatened to withdraw its support of the Dukes of Savoy if they rejected the Reformation. The bishop of Geneva, who sympathized with the dukes of Savoy, was banished. In 1536, after being expelled from Paris, the French jurist John Calvin passed through Geneva and was persuaded by Farel to stay and assist him. Together with Farel, Calvin attempted to institute a number of changes to the city's governance and religious life. They drew up a catechism and a confession of faith, which they insisted all citizens must affirm. The city council refused to adopt Calvin and Farel's creed, and in January 1538 denied them the power to excommunicate, a power they saw as critical to their work. The pair responded with a blanket denial of the Lord's Supper to all Genevans at Easter services. For this the city council expelled them from the city. Farel died in Neuchâtel; in 1541, after a number of his supporters won election to the Geneva city council, Calvin was called back to Geneva and continued his work in the church there. In 1602, Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy once more made an effort to conquer the city of Geneva. According to an ancient ballad, Cé qu'è lainô, Savoy troops attempted to use black ladders to climb the walls of the city of Geneva during the night, but were repulsed thanks to two courageous women, Mère Royaume (Mother Kingdom) and Dame Piaget (Lady Piaget) who discovered the attackers. Every year in December the Genevans celebrate their triumph over the Dukes of Savoy.

Revolution and the Swiss Confederation

In 1798, during a revolution supported by France, Vaudois freedom fighters gained control of the lakeside estates of Berne and the agricultural heartlands. Napoleon formally created a new canton from the territory, and in 1803 it joined the Swiss Confederation. The area retains its French heritage and shows marked cultural differences and political attitudes from German-speaking eastern Switzerland. Today Geneva, once a haven for free-thinkers from all over Europe, is known as an international diplomatic and business center. Lausanne has a large population of young people and is known for its culture and energy. By the 1960s, the Lake Geneva had ceased being a transport artery for commercial and construction materials. In the late 1960s pollution made it dangerous to swim at some beaches of the lake; tourists taking a ride in the local submarine had near zero visibility. By the 1980s intense environmental pollution (eutrophication) had almost wiped out all the fish. Today, pollution levels have been dramatically cut back, and it is safe to swim in the lake. Today, the main leisure activities are sailing, wind surfing, boating (including water skiing and wakeboarding), rowing, scuba diving and bathing.

Tourism

Tourism is a major source of income. Mont Blanc, western Europe's highest mountain (4807m), can be seen from the city center of Geneva, and Montreux and neighboring Vevey have breathtaking views across the water to the French Alps. Travelers can enjoy scenic train rides around the shores, or take advantage of the lake’s excellent boat service. The Lake Geneva Region has nearly one hundred castles, eighteen of which are open to the public. Grandson, on the banks of Lake Neuchâtel, is one of Switzerland’s largest fortifications. Another legendary castle the Château de Chillon, on an island in the lake near Montreux. Built by the Dukes of Savoy in the thirteenth century to control control the passage to the Grand St. Bernard pass, the castle is in a remarkable state f preservation. Lord Byron, inspired by a historical episode involving the imprisonment of Bonivard in the 16th century, wrote the famous poem "The Prisoner of Chillon:" Lake Leman lies by Chillon’s walls: A thousand feet in depth below Its massy waters meet and flow... There are seven pillars of Gothic mould, In Chillon’s dungeons deep and old, There are seven columns massy and grey, Dim with a dull imprison’d ray, A sunbeam which hath lost its way… Lord Byron, The Prisoner of Chillon The Lake Geneva Region is also home to eighty museums on biology, archaeology, history, key figures, fine art, industry, handicrafts, art deco, transport , the Olymipcs, and the history of the castles. Roman ruins, amphitheatres, castles, churches, monuments and some 200 archaeological sites commemorate the history of the region. The scenic beauty of the region, with its soaring mountain views and terraced vineyards, has inspired visitors for centuries. Musicians Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Clara Haskil, and the painter Gustave Courbet, spent time in residence there. Writers including Lord Byron, Rousseau, Voltaire, Goethe, Dickens, Tolstoy, and Simenon vacationed in the region and found inspiration for their work. Mary Shelley wrote the first draft of Frankenstein while staying with her husband, Percy Shelley, and Byron, in a villa on the shores of Lake Geneva. Charlie Chaplin lived there for the last twenty-four years of his life, and actors Audrey Hepburn and David Niven also lived there. , Charlie Chaplin

On June 2, 2007, the Lavaux region received the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under the category of a cultural landscape, in recognition of the beauty of its vineyards, terraces and villages facing the Alps and Lake Geneva. The area is often referred to as the “Three Suns” for the elements of its scenic landscapes, the sky, the lake and the walls. http://www.lake-geneva-region.ch/otv/docs/EN/lavaux-unesco/Lavaux_28.06.07_ENG.pdf

Cities and places

CGN paddle steamer Montreux leaving Évian-les-Bains in July 2002.
List of cities and places on Lake Geneva
Starting from the entry of Rhône River on the east end, with the southern shore to the left.
Southern shore Northern shore
Grand Lac
  • Le Bouveret, Valais
  • St-Gingolph
    in Valais and Haute-Savoie
  • Bret, Haute-Savoie
  • Locum
  • Meillerie
  • Lugrin
  • Évian-les-Bains
  • Amphion-les-Bains
  • Thonon-les-Bains
  • Anthy-sur-Léman
  • Séchex
  • Sciez
  • Excenevex
  • Yvoire
  • Villeneuve, Vaud
  • Château Chillion
  • Territet
  • Montreux
  • Clarens
  • La Tour-de-Peilz
  • Vevey
  • Corseaux
  • St-Saphorin
  • Rivaz
  • Cully
  • Lutry
  • Paudex
  • Pully
  • Lausanne
    with Ouchy and Vidy
  • St-Sulpice
  • Morges
  • Tolochenaz
  • St-Prex
  • Buchillon
  • Allaman
  • Perroy
  • Rolle
  • Bursinel
  • Dully
  • Gland
  • Promenthoux
Petit Lac
  • Nernier, Haute-Savoie
  • Messery
  • Chens-sur-Léman
  • Tougues, Haute-Savoie
  • Hermance, Geneva
  • Chevrens
  • Anières
  • Corsier
  • Collonge-Bellerive
  • Vésenaz
  • Cologny
  • Prangins
  • Nyon, Vaud
  • Crans-près-Céligny, Vaud
  • Céligny, Geneva
  • Coppet, Vaud
  • Tannay, Vaud
  • Mies, Vaud
  • Versoix, Geneva
  • Bellevue
  • Genthod
  • Chambésy

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