The Jet d’Eau de Genève sends a 140-metre column of water above the harbour from the Eaux-Vives jetty. You can watch it from the quays, walk up close along the jetty or discover it from a boat on the lake.
Fountains & water jets
Main highlights
- A 140 m column towering over the harbour and visible from many points across the city
- The Eaux-Vives jetty lets you get within a few metres of the jet, at the risk of getting splashed
- Night-time lighting illuminates the water column and gives the jet a different look in the evening
Overview
The Jet d’Eau was born in 1886 out of technical necessity. At the time, the Coulouvrenière hydraulic plant released excess pressure from its pipes through a 30-metre jet. The people of Geneva took to it immediately and decided to keep it and make it bigger.
In 1951, the current jet moved to its permanent location in the Geneva harbour. Two pumps housed in the station on the Eaux-Vives jetty propel 500 litres of water per second at 200 km/h. In calm weather the column reaches 140 metres, with a pressure of 16 atmospheres and a power output of 1,000 kilowatts.
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What to see and do
From the quays, particularly the Quai du Mont-Blanc and the Jardin Anglais, you get a full view of the column’s height and its plume. The Jardin Anglais is also home to the Flower Clock, another symbol of the city.
The Eaux-Vives jetty leads to within a few metres of the jet. Up close, you can hear the water crashing back into the lake and sense its power. Depending on the wind direction, the spray soaks passers-by. Information panels near the jetty explain the jet’s technical workings and history.
Several companies offer boat tours on the lake. From the water, you can see the jet in its entirety, with the Geneva shoreline and the mountains in the background. In the evening, floodlights illuminate the water column.
Practical information
Access : the viewing points are freely accessible. Trams and buses serve the Jardin Anglais and the Quai du Mont-Blanc, and bus 2 serves the Eaux-Vives jetty.
Operation : the jet shuts off automatically in strong winds or freezing temperatures.
On site : restaurants and cafés line the quays, with terraces facing the jet.
Visiting tips
Come on a sunny day, in late morning or early afternoon : the light creates rainbows in the spray. Before heading onto the jetty, check the wind direction and dress accordingly.
A walk around the harbour offers several viewpoints of the jet. This place is part of the selection Geneva, between lakes, mountains and cosmopolitanism.
Nearby
- The Bains des Pâquis, on the shores of Lake Geneva, welcome swimmers and fondue lovers in summer and winter alike.
- Parc and Villa La Grange is a 25-hectare lakeside estate known for its rose garden.
- The Archaeological Site of St. Pierre Cathedral reveals remains of churches dating back to the late 4th century.
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