Carouge
Separated from Geneva proper by the Arve River,
Carouge is the secret gem of Geneva. With bountiful flower boxes and sparkling water fountains, Carouge is known for its charm, calm, its Mediterranean feel, and its many artist and designer inhabitants. Which makes sense when knowing the town's history. Happily a possession of the Italian kingdom of Sardinia until 1792, France cut off Carouge from the rest of the Italian Piedmont and Savoy and set the city up as the administrative head of its Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) region. No longer Italian, but French, the Carougeois rebelled quietly by living in their Sardinian-influenced village. France soon lost Carouge to Switzerland due to Naploeon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Carouge joined Geneva in 1816, through the Treaty of Turin but Carouge still maintains an independent spirit, identifying itself as the smaller, more colorful town next to the rest of Geneva, and at times it can feel like a different country. This can be a problem, and the town of Carouge has even put on recent add campaigns to remind its inhabitants that it is indeed a part of Geneva. But Geneva is glad to have Carouge -- on Saturday mornings the Place du Marché draws all of Geneva with one of the best open-air fruit and vegetable markets in the city. Here you will find produce from the region, as well as magnificent flowers, cheese and fresh pastas. Sit down at one of Carouge's fine restaurants or wine bars, preferably at an outdoor terrace in the sunshine, and you can still feel the Italian vibe despite being in Switzerland, and surrounded by France. This delightful neighborhood is where you will find the locals enjoying themselves.
Nightlife
Théâtre Rodolphe Töpffer
Le Cheval Blanc
Tiki's Pub
Attractions
Eglise Russe
Musée de Carouge
Paganel
Restaurants
Au Vieux Carouge
Le Cheval Blanc
