Blowing bubbles while looking at Lake Geneva
Located on the left bank of Lake Geneva, the
Bain bleu
has been the meeting place for Genevans looking for relaxation since 2015, both summer and winter.
This large contemporary rectangle decorated with moucharabiehs barely lets you guess that it is a 3000 m2 wellness center including swimming pools, a hammam, a thermal circuit, relaxation areas, two cafes and a huge terrace .
Inside, the light is subdued and the different spaces invite you to let go in soft darkness.
The route leads to the panoramic terrace where outdoor baths overlook the lake, with the Jura mountains in the background.
In winter, when the lake is covered in snow, it is nice to splash around in the hot, bubbling water while sipping a glass of champagne.
From €35 entry.
To discover
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Immerse yourself in a chocolate factory
Immerse yourself in a chocolate factory.
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Geneva chocolate is among the best in Switzerland.
The Swiss city brings together renowned family and artisan houses such as La
Bonbonnière
created more than a century ago.
Located in the city center, this chocolate factory opened workshops in 2022 to learn how to make personalized chocolate bars, truffles, rocks and also sculptures.
For a few hours, we feel like a master chocolatier, discovering the secrets of conching, a process that allows us to obtain a smooth and creamy texture, and of tempering which gives the chocolate its satiny appearance and crunch.
We proudly leave with homemade treats.
From 50€/person.
Stroll through old Carouge in the middle of winter
Stroll through old Carouge in the middle of winter.
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Located on the left bank of the Arve, this small town, which can be reached by tram from Rue du Rhône, was built at the end of the 18th century to compete with the city of Calvin.
At that time, Carouge was just a small hamlet that came under the control of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia.
Piedmontese architects built one-story houses with workshops on the ground floor and gardens, aligned with each other.
Inhabited by tanners and watchmakers, Carouge was from its origins a city of artisans.
Strolling through its streets lined with graceful low houses converging towards the market square, you have the feeling of being in Italy.
We discover galleries and workshops, some occupied by true artists, such as
Jean Kazès
, a nonagenarian watchmaker, who has been designing extraordinary clocks for decades or gourmet addresses like that of the
chocolatier Pascoët
, a fan of dark chocolate.
€22 for a pouch of roasted pistachios coated with cocoa.
Cycling through the vineyards of Satigny
Cycle through the vineyards of Satigny.
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The largest wine-growing commune in Switzerland, Satigny, on the right bank of the Rhône, extends over a gentle slope of nearly 450 hectares of vines, devoted to the cultivation of chardonnay, pinot noir and even garanoir.
By electric bike, you quickly leave the cycle paths of the town of Meyrin, a few kilometers north of Geneva, to climb bucolic hillsides where undergrowth, fields and vineyards form an enchanting landscape dominated by Mont Salève and the Jura.
Small villages punctuate the route such as that of Peissy where Les Perrières is located, a bicentennial estate spread over 100 hectares.
You can taste the traditional Chasselas, which accompanies the Geneva fondue, but also interesting Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, nourished by the rich and clayey terroir of Peissy.
After a nice tasting, we zigzag back down through the wine trails to catch the tram, heading to Geneva.
From €232 for up to 18 people for a 4-hour ride including bike rental, guide, visit to the cellars and tastings on
welo.swiss
.
Embrace Geneva from Mont Salève
Embrace Geneva from Mont Salève.
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Located in Haute-Savoie, very close to the Swiss border, the
Salève cable car
is an avant-garde achievement, which attracted illustrious visitors during its inauguration in 1932, including Joseph Kessel, dazzled by the technical prowess of the equipment. .
Completely rehabilitated in 2023, the cable car and its two stations offer environmentally friendly access to the mountain.
A raw concrete mass standing out against the foothills of the Salève, the arrival station, in the shape of a nave perched on an immense bridge, has retained all its Art Deco specificity.
From the terrace, the view of Lake Geneva on one side, the Alps and Mont Blanc on the other, is breathtaking.
A small interactive museum and a 20 m high climbing wall have been added, pending the panoramic restaurant.
Open in winter, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
€13 one way.
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