The fate of Geneva changed dramatically in the XV century, under the influence of Martin Luther. In 1536 the Republic was proclaimed and adopted by the reform: Calvin came to town in order to create a "Protestant Rome". In the XVIII century, Geneva became the banking center, the capital of science and the press, an industrial city, which has the rare craft: the art of watchmaking, enamels, and cotton prints. Thanks to Voltaire Geneva multiplied his fame of the city of refuge. At the same time, the activities of Rousseau in favor of tolerance and the cult of nature provoked passionate debate. In 1815, Geneva, joined the Swiss Confederation, has received the status Swiss canton.

These days, cultural and artistic life, "the smallest of the big capitals" is full of events. Concerts, performances and a variety of interesting exhibits alternate throughout the year. Thirty museums in Geneva, among which the Museum of Art and History – (Musee d'art et dliistoire) – and its subsidiaries (Museum of Watchmaking Museum of History of Science, House of Tavel, Ariana Museum, Rath ….), as well as the Museum of Ethnography, Museum of Natural Sciences, Institute of Voltaire Museum, Museum of Modern Art (Nurse), the International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Botanical Park, the Museum of vehicles, the Museum de Pent (not to mention the numerous private galleries) is stored prestigious collections in Switzerland, testifying to the creative spirit and cultural richness of the city. Lovers of history and architecture of old town invites you to inspect the excavations of the Council. Geneva offers a wealth of diverse views. The calendar festivals and cultural celebrations plays and ballets are alternated with concerts of classical and contemporary music, and even movies outdoors on the waterfront.

Every summer in the courtyard of City Hall concerts are performed classical music, while in the parks and lakeside sounds of jazz and fanfare. Fairs and salons in Geneva – change each other all year round, it's – Salon cars Salon of inventions and new techniques, International Exhibition of books and printing, Salon watchmaking … Bol d'Or (Bol d'Or-Gold Cup), a big regatta, which is already half a century, held annually here in June, gathering more than 600 crew members. In early August, Geneva illuminates the musical fireworks on the occasion of the traditional Geneva Holidays, which attract thousands of visitors to Switzerland from all over the world. And this great event in December is the feast of "Escalade" with its grand parade in costumes of the XVII century the streets of the old city. So the anniversary of the Battle between the residents of Geneva and Savoyyarami held on the night of December 11, 1602.