Geneva - Palais des Nations 
Northeast of Geneva's Place des Nations, in a large area of parkland sloping down towards the lake, stands the Palais des Nations, a monumental complex of buildings clad in light-colored marble.
This area, which now enjoys extraterritorial status with full judicial, fiscal and postal rights, was formerly part of the Parc de L'Ariana, which was bequeathed to Geneva by P. G. Revilliod in 1890. In 1929 the town handed over the area, 200,000 sq.
This area, which now enjoys extraterritorial status with full judicial, fiscal and postal rights, was formerly part of the Parc de L'Ariana, which was bequeathed to Geneva by P. G. Revilliod in 1890. In 1929 the town handed over the area, 200,000 sq.
|
Must-see attractions nearby:
|
m/239,200 sq. yd in extent, to the League of Nations, which had held an architectural competition in 1927-28 for the design of new headquarters.
The most modern and progressive designs were those put forward by Le Corbusier and P. Jeanneret and by H. Meyer and K. Wittwer, but these were rejected and the choice fell instead on the rather ponderous designs submitted by an international group of architects - C. Broggi (Italy), F. Flegenheimer (Switzerland), C. Lefèvre and H. P. Nénot (France) and J. Vago (Hungary). The buildings were erected between 1929 and 1937, and the League of Nations (hitherto housed in the Palais Wilson) was able in 1936 to transfer its headquarters to the new Palais des Nations, which was formally inaugurated in 1938 under the presidency of the Aga Khan. In 1940 the League of Nations ceased to operate, since after the exclusion of the Soviet Union it was no longer an effective international instrument, and it was dissolved in 1946 to give place to the United Nations Organization (UNO/ONU), founded at San Francisco on October 24, 1945. The United Nations Organization (at present with 159 members) has its main headquarters in New York but has established its European headquarters in the Palais des Nations. Conducted tours of the Library.
The extensive complex of buildings (25,000 sq. m/29,900 sq. yd), the second largest in Europe (after the Palace of Versailles), consists of three main sections. In the middle is the main range of buildings, with a wing at each end enclosing a terrace courtyard facing the lake; in this section are the Assembly Hall, Council Chamber, conference rooms and library. To the south is the Secretariat building, and to the north a higher block of offices completed in 1972, with a front wing (conference rooms) topped by two large polygonal domes.
The Palais des Nations has a total of some 30 conference rooms and 1,100 office rooms, its own printing office with 36 polycopiers and six offset machines, a restaurant, a snack bar and a number of refreshment bars. The interior is comfortable and equipped with the most modern technical services. The large assembly halls have simultaneous interpretation facilities, enabling speeches to be translated into and out of the five official languages of the United Nations (English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese). The lavish decoration of the various halls and rooms was donated by different countries.
The most modern and progressive designs were those put forward by Le Corbusier and P. Jeanneret and by H. Meyer and K. Wittwer, but these were rejected and the choice fell instead on the rather ponderous designs submitted by an international group of architects - C. Broggi (Italy), F. Flegenheimer (Switzerland), C. Lefèvre and H. P. Nénot (France) and J. Vago (Hungary). The buildings were erected between 1929 and 1937, and the League of Nations (hitherto housed in the Palais Wilson) was able in 1936 to transfer its headquarters to the new Palais des Nations, which was formally inaugurated in 1938 under the presidency of the Aga Khan. In 1940 the League of Nations ceased to operate, since after the exclusion of the Soviet Union it was no longer an effective international instrument, and it was dissolved in 1946 to give place to the United Nations Organization (UNO/ONU), founded at San Francisco on October 24, 1945. The United Nations Organization (at present with 159 members) has its main headquarters in New York but has established its European headquarters in the Palais des Nations. Conducted tours of the Library.
The extensive complex of buildings (25,000 sq. m/29,900 sq. yd), the second largest in Europe (after the Palace of Versailles), consists of three main sections. In the middle is the main range of buildings, with a wing at each end enclosing a terrace courtyard facing the lake; in this section are the Assembly Hall, Council Chamber, conference rooms and library. To the south is the Secretariat building, and to the north a higher block of offices completed in 1972, with a front wing (conference rooms) topped by two large polygonal domes.
The Palais des Nations has a total of some 30 conference rooms and 1,100 office rooms, its own printing office with 36 polycopiers and six offset machines, a restaurant, a snack bar and a number of refreshment bars. The interior is comfortable and equipped with the most modern technical services. The large assembly halls have simultaneous interpretation facilities, enabling speeches to be translated into and out of the five official languages of the United Nations (English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese). The lavish decoration of the various halls and rooms was donated by different countries.
Hours
January 1 to May 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 |
May 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 |
November 1 to December 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 | 17:15 |
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Related Attractions
Palais des Nations - Assembly Hall
The Assembly Hall (Salle des Assemblées, a square chamber with seating for over 2,000, the largest in the Palais des Nations, used for meetings of the United Nations and its associated organizations. The curtains, of raw silk, were a gift from India. It is preceded by the Salle des Pas Perdus (Lobby), with a view of the Alps from the east side. The floor is of Finnish granite, and the walls are faced with Swedish marble. The two heavily gilded bronze doors at the ends, brought back from Italy by Napoleon, were presented to the League of Nations by Clemenceau.
Palais des Nations - Council Chamber
The Council Chamber (Salle des Conseils) of the Palais des Nations has seating for 500. The wall and ceiling painting (by J. M. Sert, 1934-36) was a gift from Spain. Carried out in sepia on a gold ground, it depicts four related themes - technical, social and medical progress and, as a hope for the future, the abolition of war. In the middle (opposite the window side) is "Victors and Vanquished", and on the ceiling "Solidarity of the Five Continents". In this chamber was held the 1955 Four-Power Conference on the reunification of Germany (Eisenhower, Bulganin, Eden, Faure). In the ante-chamber are three bas-reliefs by Eric Gill inspired by Michaelangelo.
Palais des Nations - Cour d'Honneur
Between the wings of the main range of Palais des Nations buildings in Geneva is the Cour d'Honneur, a spacious terrace which merges into the park, with a magnificent view of the lake and the Alps. In the middle is a bronze armillary sphere with gilded signs of the Zodiac, by the American sculptor Paul Manship, presented by the Woodrow Wilson Foundation in 1939.
Palais des Nations - Library (Stamp Museum)
The library of the Palais des Nations, donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr, was founded in 1920, and now possesses some 750,000 volumes and numerous manuscripts and letters from outstanding international figures. The stamp museum displays rare and interesting United Nations issues.
Palais des Nations - Space Memorial
On a marble terrace near the Library wing of the Palais des Nations in Geneva is a Space Memorial symbolizing the conquest of space. The 26 m/85ft high sculpture (architect Alexannder N. Kolchin, sculptor Jurij G. Neroda) was presented by the Soviet Union in 1971.
Palais des Nations - rooms of interest
Rooms of interest in the Palais des Nations:
Room III: birch and pearwood paneling; "Ship on a Calm Sea", a picture by the Genevese painter Barraud. Room V: decoration by an English artist, W. Allom; architectural motifs on the doors. Room VI: decoration presented by Switzerland (frescoes by K. Hügin; events from Swiss history on the insides of the doors). Room VII: decoration by Porteneuve. Room VIII: clad with wood inlay by a Dane, Petersen. Room IX: Paneled with beautifully grained stinkwood from South Africa. Room X: presented by Latvia (black intarsia oak floor). Room XI: by Mutters (Holland), with leather wall covering. Room XII: presented by Italy (used for showing films). Room XIV: by M. Simon.
Room III: birch and pearwood paneling; "Ship on a Calm Sea", a picture by the Genevese painter Barraud. Room V: decoration by an English artist, W. Allom; architectural motifs on the doors. Room VI: decoration presented by Switzerland (frescoes by K. Hügin; events from Swiss history on the insides of the doors). Room VII: decoration by Porteneuve. Room VIII: clad with wood inlay by a Dane, Petersen. Room IX: Paneled with beautifully grained stinkwood from South Africa. Room X: presented by Latvia (black intarsia oak floor). Room XI: by Mutters (Holland), with leather wall covering. Room XII: presented by Italy (used for showing films). Room XIV: by M. Simon.
