Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
While waiting for a bus to Nantua, I stopped at Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, a city west of Geneva, for about an hour in early morning. I walked around, visited a park along the Rhône then went back to the train station.
sightseeing
Ruins of Château de Chaumont
The Château de Chaumont is a former castle located in the village of Chaumont in Haute-Savoie, below Le Vuache. It was built starting in the 12th century and was razed by the French in the 17th century. These days, only a few fragments of walls remain, but the hill it was built on is now a park that offers a great view on the plain below and the surrounding mountains. In very clear days, it is even possible to see the Mont Blanc.
La Roche-sur-Foron
La Roche-sur-Foron is a town in Haute-Savoie, located between Annecy and Annemasse. It used to be the capital of the County of Geneva in earlier medieval times, until it was moved to Annecy. I went there on a day trip at the beginning of Spring: I walked around the medieval town and in the nature around it.
Bains des Pâquis
The Bains des Pâquis are a public bath / beach in Geneva first built in 1872 on the north shore of Lake Geneva. It is open all year round, including January 1st when I visited in the early morning.
Petite France in Strasbourg: Barrage Vauban, Ponts Couverts, Old Town
The Petite France is a historic quarter of Strasbourg. It is located at the western end of the Grande Île, which contains the historical centre of the city. Just upstream of Petite France, the River Ill flows through the Barrage Vauban, a defensive structure built at the end of the 17th century. Downstream of this, the river splits into the Canal du Faux-Rempart and four channels which flow through the Petite France quarter. These four channels are spanned by the Ponts Couverts, an earlier defensive structure of three bridges and four towers that, despite its name, has not been covered since the 18th century.
Parc de l'Orangerie
Parc de l’Orangerie is a park in Strasbourg. It has a small zoo with a large number of white storks (cigogne), the totem animal of Alsace.
Jardin des Deux Rives / Garten der Zwei Ufer & Weißtannenturm
The Jardin des Deux Rives (Park of the Two Shores), also known as Garten der Zwei Ufer in German, is a park built in 2004 that straddles the France / Germany border along the river Rhine: One part is in Strasbourg, the other in Kehl. The two parts are linked with a pedestrian / bike bridge, the Passerelle des Deux Rives. On the south part of the park in Kehl is the Weißtannenturm (White fir tower), a wooden tower with a good view on the park and the Rhine from the top.
Tower of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg is a large catholic church in Strasbourg and one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It was built between 1176 and 1439 in the gothic style. Next to the main tower, there is an observatory (accessible by stairs only) that gives a good view of Strasbourg.
European Parliament (Strasbourg)
The city of Strasbourg in eastern France is the official seat of the European Parliament. All votes take place in the hemicycle inside the Louise Weiss building, located in the Quartier Européen (European Quarter) of the city. It is possible to visit it as part of a ~1h guided tour.
Summer walk in Geneva
Last summer, I went on a day trip to Geneva. Starting at La Jonction, I visited some highlights of the city and walked near the lake.