Cologny lies at the end of Lake Geneva; from the municipality, you can see Geneva’s Jet d’Eau. Literary history, outdoor art, cultural events and activities by the water give a stay a range of different focuses. Its history stretches from traces of Neolithic settlements to a remarkable episode in 19th-century literature.
Literary history and traces of the past
In the summer of 1816, Villa Diodati was home to Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, John Polidori and other friends. The story behind the creation of Frankenstein began in Cologny on a stormy evening. Pré Byron commemorates the stay of Lord Byron and Mary Shelley. The villa itself is privately owned and cannot be visited. It is also listed as Swiss cultural property of national importance.
The history of printing is also connected with Cologny: from the late 16th to the early 17th century, some Geneva printers used Cologny, or Colonia Allobrogum, as their place of publication to circumvent the French ban on selling their books in France. Further back in time are the Neolithic pile-dwelling settlements of La Belotte, considered the earliest traces of human settlement in Cologny.
The Grand Cologny area is protected for its historical, architectural and landscape qualities. Chemin Le-Fort is one of the historic transport routes of national importance. Together, these two aspects complement the literary and archaeological traces with an architectural and transport-history perspective.
Museum, theatre and outdoor art
The Fondation Martin Bodmer is housed in a modern building designed by Mario Botta. The Fondation’s museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Take bus A from Rive to the “Cologny-Temple” stop to reach the Fondation.
The Centre culturel du Manoir presents cultural events every month. Its programme includes painting and sculpture exhibitions, conferences, musical performances and film screenings, complemented by educational activities. Individual programme items may change; if you are planning to attend a particular event, check the dates before your trip. Théâtre Le Crève-Cœur was founded in 1959. It is an intimate 60-seat theatre in one of the municipality’s oldest houses.
You can also encounter art outdoors: works of art are displayed in the municipality’s parks and along its promenades. At the roundabout on Route de Vandoeuvres, local and international artists present their work in temporary exhibitions. The sculptures there are usually on display for three to four months. If you are visiting to see a particular work, it is best to check in advance what is currently on display.
Bathing area, routes and sport
The Pontons de Cologny provide a bathing area on Lake Geneva. It includes a circular platform made of Swiss oak, measuring 40 metres across. Another option for outdoor activities is the five-kilometre Voie verte Genève–Annemasse, opened in 2018, which runs through Cologny. It offers a route for pedestrians and cyclists; check the route conditions locally.
For more active pursuits, there is the Centre sportif de Cologny. You can play tennis, squash, badminton and billiards there, as well as climb a nine-metre-high climbing wall. The Centre sportif can also be rented by people who do not live in the municipality. The various options range from a stay at the bathing area to a walking or cycling route and sporting activities at the centre.
Practical information
Saint-Paul Church is open daily from 8:00 am to 7:30 pm. As opening arrangements may change, check the times before your visit. Your interests may determine whether Cologny is the right place to stay: literary history, art and culture, swimming or exercise. For a particular event, check the relevant dates; for the Voie verte, local route conditions apply.
Discover more destinations: Presinge, Satigny, Meyrin, CĂ©ligny, Cartigny Ge, Collonge-Bellerive, Vernier, Plan-Les-Ouates
Go to the main travel guide: Geneva.
