WHAT IS THE REFORMATION ? The Reformation was a 16th-century revolu- to take o with the arrival of John Calvin, in A second wave of refugees arrived in the tion within Christianity, of which Geneva was July 1536. 17th century, after the Revocation of the Edict one of the main centres. It saw individuals During the 1540s, Geneva became a safe of Nantes (1685). Geneva once again became as free and responsible for their beliefs. haven for Protestants from across Europe a safe haven for Protestants from France. People turned to the Bible for guidance rather eeing persecution. These men and women They boosted the industries that Geneva than to church authorities. The Reformation found in Geneva a home where they could became famous for in the 18th century: was a crucial stage between the Renaissance freely live their faith. watchmaking, banking and the manufacture and the modern era. The inux of refugees began in the of a type of printed or painted fabric called This walking tour will take you to 10 places mid- 16th century and rose sharply following “indienne”. They also consolidated the city’s of symbolic importance for the Reformation the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in stature as a centre for art and science. in Geneva, a period that left a deep mark on the 1572, an attempt to rid France of Protestants city’s architecture, economy and spirituality. by order of the king. The mainly French, but Following the adoption of the Reformation, The Reformation began in Germany in also Italian, English and even Spanish, refu- the intellectual and spiritual inuence of 1517 with Martin Luther. Reformed ideas gees brought their skills and know-how to the “Protestant Rome”, as Geneva was then reached Geneva as early as 1525. It was an- Geneva. As pastors, teachers, lawyers, doc- called, grew substantially. other 10 years before Geneva ocially adopted tors, printers, watchmakers, goldsmiths or the new faith, between 1535 and 1536, merchant bankers, they contributed greatly thanks to the eorts of a French preacher, to the city’s economic growth. Guillaume Farel. The movement really began Where to eat , Café Papon, Les Armures Feeling hungry? , Les Antiquaires and Le Radar de Poche oer delicious local dishes to delight the most discerning of palates. for a sweet Or drop by Chocolatier Rohr snack – their “Petit Calvin” chocolates are sure to melt your heart! International Museum of the Reformation Place names 4 rue du Cloître (cour Saint-Pierre) CH-1204 Geneva – mir.ch/en Rue du Marché International Museum of the Reformation Rue Bémont T + 41 (0) 22 310 24 31 Rue de la Cité E [email protected] Rue de la Croix-d’Or St. Pierre Cathedral Rues Basses Opening Hours Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Monday Calvin Auditory Closed 24, 25 and 31 December, and Rue de Rive 1 January Lutheran church Open on Easter Monday, Pentecost Monday and Jeune Fédéral (Monday following the third Collège Calvin Sunday of September) Rue de la Tertasse Place du Bourg de Four Musée international Place de la Réforme de Neuve mir_ge Rue Verdaine Cour St-Pierre Hôtel-de-Ville Museum Admission 13 / 8 / 6 CHF Rue de la Croix-Rouge – Free with Geneva Pass ! Rue de l’Hôtel-de-Ville Mathurin-Cordier Reformation Wall Passage Credits : Rue G.-Farel MIR, Nicole Boissonnas & Olivier Fatio Lightmotif, C&V Blatt Temple de la Fusterie Place du Bourg-de-Four Rue des Chaudronniers Rue Théodore-de-Bèze Rues Basses & Place du Molard Parc des Bastions INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE REFORMATION International Saint-Pierre Auditoire Calvin Lutheran Church Collège Calvin Museum of the Cathedral Built in the 15th century in the Gothic style, Built between 1762 and 1766, this building Protestants believed that the faithful Reformation Built between 1150 and 1250, St Pierre this small auditorium with a simple façade was a gift from the city of Geneva to the should be able to read the Bible in order to The MIR (International Museum of the Cathedral has been restored and rebuilt stands right next to St Pierre Cathedral. German-speaking Lutheran community. form their own opinion. Education was Reformation) is situated on Cour Saint-Pierre, several times over the centuries, often fol- In the mid-16th century, English, Scottish, Although they share the same faith, Prot- therefore a central priority. As a result, in the magni¢cent Maison Mallet, a mansion lowing damage by ¢re. Dutch and Italian Protestants gathered here estants, Lutherans and Calvinists dier Protestant Genevans had a much higher built in the 18th century on the former site of After the Reformation was adopted in to worship in their native tongue. The re- slightly on points of doctrine and in the literacy rate than their Catholic neighbours. the Cathedral cloister. the mid-16th century, the cathedral was former John Knox preached at the Auditoire way they worship. To allow Luther- When the people of Geneva adopted The design of the mansion had to ac- stripped of all its interior decorations and after he came to Geneva as a refugee. It was ans to worship according to the Reformation, on 21 May 1536, they also commodate the Mallets’ large family, while ornaments, and the painted decor was here, too, that he and a group of fellow-coun- their custom, the Republic decided to build a school, which all chil- satisfying a desire on the part of the city whitewashed. Only the stained-glass win- trymen decided to translate the Bible into of Geneva in 1760 gave dren would be required to attend. The plan fathers to beautify the Cour St-Pierre, as well dows survived. English. Completed between 1556 and 1559, them permission to build eventuated only in 1559, however, with the as complying with local regulations. A tall It was here that John Calvin their famous translation is known as the a church – on the condition founding of the Collège and Académie order indeed! Completed in 1723 according preached to hundreds of pa- “Geneva Bible”. that it not be identi¢able (the ancestor of the University of Geneva). to plans drawn up by the Parisian architect rishioners twice on Sun- The Auditoire is still a Protestant place of as such from the outside! The original building is still in use today as Jean-François Blondel, the mansion caused days and once on weekdays worship today. The building was therefore a high school, appropriately named Collège a stir among those in favour of every other week. designed to look like a traditional Calvin. strictly enforcing Geneva’s three-storey dwelling rather than a Prot- In the 16th century, the Collège welcomed sumptuary laws, rules de- estant church. The sanctuary occupies the boys from the age of 7. The curriculum was signed to restrict and reg- building’s ground and ¢rst oors. essentially literary: subjects included Latin ulate luxury spending. Today, the Lutheran Church serves a – and later Greek – grammar, logic and rhet- large and diverse community of believers oric, followed by the classical authors and with services in English, German, Swedish, Calvin’s catechism. With ten hours P TI Danish, Norwegian and Finnish. of lessons a day, six days a week, P O pupils did not have it easy! T P P TI The stunning 360° views of the city TI P P O and lake from the top of the towers O TIP TIP T T P P are well worth the long climb – 157 O O T T steps in all! The Archaeological Site The Museum of the Reformation brings under the Cathedral contains The quickest way to the next stop is to life the history and legacy of this major treasures dating back to Roman through a quirky little passageway Walk to the next stop through the The famous Argentinian author Jorge movement within Christianity through a times. Admission is free with the called Passage des Degrés-de-Poules, charming Passage Mathurin-Cordier, Luis Borges attended Collège Calvin. unique collection of objects, paintings, GENEVA PASS or Espace St-Pierre so named probably because its steep named after a famous theologian, Today, the high school has more than books and manuscripts. combined ticket. steps resemble those of a henhouse! teacher, humanist and Reformer. 800 students. Place du Bourg- Hôtel-de-Ville Reformation Wall Temple de Rues Basses and de-Four The Hôtel-de-Ville, or City Hall, has been the Built between 1909 and 1917, this monument la Fusterie Place du Molard Welcome to Geneva’s oldest square! political heart of the city for over 500 years. occupies a highly symbolic spot at the foot Temple de la Fusterie was the ¢rst new place In the past, the lower part of the city was a The Place du Bourg-de-Four is the Its construction spanned almost three of the former city walls, directly below the of worship established after the Reforma- hub of commercial activity, with a bustling true heart of the Old Town, the point centuries and it underwent many changes Hôtel de Ville and facing the University of tion. Built between 1713 and 1715, it was port and several covered and outdoors mar- where all roads to Geneva meet. As such, before reaching its present state. Geneva. originally called “Temple Neuf”, or “New kets. The ¢rst markets were organised as it became an important marketplace In 1526, a new political institution was The ten statues that make up the wall Church” . early as the mid-13th century, from the 11th century onwards. founded: the Conseil des Deux-Cents, the stand under the motto of Geneva, Post Before then, Protest- and their importance boost- Notice how some of the houses ancestor of today’s Grand Tenebras Lux (Light After Darkness).