The city of Geneva is dotted with various exotic tourist attractions each offering a unique face of nature. Among all these attractions, the Rousseau Island stands out due to its serenity offering a perfect romantic location. The island stands at the meeting point of the River Rhone and Lake Geneva. This small island was named after Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher and there is a statue of him on the island. The island is located near the right bank of Geneva’s shore and is connected to the des Bergues bridge and overlooks the Mont-Blanc bridge. It offers a 18th century style pavilion and an opportunity to dine at the little restaurant amidst the beauty of nature. The island is a heaven for those who are interested in sunning or relaxing.
Apart from the fascinating views of the city and lake which can be seen from the island, Rousseau Island also has a bird sanctuary, beautiful plants, trees and gardens.
However, looking at this beautiful island, one can never relate to this fact that it had a troubled past. But this is a truth. Surrounded by walls at the end of the 16th century, it served as a bastion to protect the city. In 1628 it became a shipyard and was known as the Island of the Boats. With the construction of the Bergues Bridge in 1832, which linked to the island by a footbridge, it was renamed after Genevan philosopher, Jean- Jacques Rousseau. It has since been transformed into a public garden, with a statue of this great man sculpted by the Genevan Pierre Pradier.
