Island tower

You’re now standing on the Island of Geneva—Island with a capital “I,” because funnily enough, it doesn’t have an official name, so locals simply call it “the Island.” Right in front of you is the Island Tower, the only surviving remnant of the fortress that once stood here in the 13th century to defend the city. Back then, it controlled access between the two banks of the Rhône River and served as the residence of the episcopal viscounts. Thanks to its strategic location on the water, the island played a key role in turning Geneva into one of Europe’s major trade routes during the 14th and 15th centuries. Today, only the tower remains, but it stands proudly as part of the city’s historic heritage, right in the heart of the island.