Our campsite on the shores of lake GeneveJet d'eau (Water Fountain)
In 1886, a company located at the end of the lake used to pump and distribute water under pressure to provide the craftsmen’s machines in former times. At night-fall the need was decreasing and in order to diminish the pressure inside the canalizations, a litlle hole existed at the extremity of this pumping factory installed at La Coulouvrenière resulting in a water fountain of a few meters.
In 1891, the City of Geneva decided to install the Jet d’eau (Water Fountain) where it is today, on the Rade, together with electric lighting. But it is only since 1930 that it was permanently lit.
Today, the height of the jet is an incredible 140m, with 500 litres of water forced out of the nozzle every second at about 200kph. Each drop takes sixteen seconds to complete the round-trip from nozzle to lake and, on windy days, the plume can rapidly drench the surroundings (they tend to turn it off if the wind picks up). It’s worth risking a dousing by walking out onto the jetty to appreciate the force and noise of the thing close up.
The reformation wall
Farel, Calvin, Beze and Knox
The church where Calvin preached
