Geneva's Rival City

Geneva's Rival City

For most of its history, convivial Carouge (from quadruvium, the Latin word for crossroads), to the south of Geneva, was a mere hamlet on the road to place Neuve. Things began to evolve in 1754, when the King of Sardinia (aka the Duke of Savoy) took control. The town grew so fast that the royal planners in Turin drew up five development plans between 1772 and 1783.

To this day their harmonious architecture, plazas, and courtyard gardens give the town a Mediterranean feel. Carouge failed to become a commercial rival to Geneva, but the artists and craftspeople established there, from fashion designers to glassblowers, give it a creative buzz. Rue St-Joseph and rue Ancienne are particularly vital, and the town is accessible by tram. Prior to its annexation by the canton in 1816, Carouge also developed a reputation as Geneva's pleasure dome. It still has one of the more dynamic nightspots around, Le Chat Noir.