St. Pierre Cathedral & Old Town
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre / Vieille-Ville
The centre of the Reformation, where Calvin once preached. Visitors can climb the north tower for lake views, and an archaeological site lies underground, surrounded by the old town's flagstone lanes.
Saint-Pierre Cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Its façade blends Romanesque and Gothic styles with an 18th-century neoclassical portico added later. During the 16th-century Reformation it became a Protestant church. Its interior decorations were removed, leaving it austere, and the chair Calvin once sat in is still preserved. For a fee you can climb the north and south towers (over 150 steps) for views over the old town's rooftops, Lake Geneva and the Jet d'Eau. On clear days you can see the Alps. The archaeological site beneath the cathedral reveals layers of remains, from Celtic burials dating before the Common Era to Roman and early Christian structures, and is well worth a visit. Next door, the International Museum of the Reformation tells the history of Protestantism. The surrounding old town is centred on Place du Bourg-de-Four (the oldest square in the city, lined with cafés), the Town Hall (where the first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864), Rousseau's birthplace and the Maison Tavel museum.
Opening hours
Approx. Mon–Sat 09:30–17:30 (until 18:30 in summer), Sun from 12:00; check official website
Nearby sights
- Old Town & Place du Bourg-de-Four
- Maison Tavel
- Reformation Wall
- Musée d'Art et d'Histoire
- Flower Clock & Jardin Anglais
- Brunswick Monument
- Jet d'Eau
- Patek Philippe Museum