pont des Bergues
CH-1204 Genève
Map

This little green island is in the middle of the Rhône, right in the centre of town. It was once known as 'île des barques' (island of the small boats), and it joins the Bergues bridge via a footbridge. It was turned into a public park in 1833. Based on the model of the 'île des Peupliers' in lake Ermenonville (one of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's favourites), lovers of philosophy planted Italian poplar trees and weeping willows.

Everything on the island commemorates the memory of Rousseau, the 'citoyen de Genève'. In 1835 the statue of Rousseau was inaugurated by Joseph Pradier. In 1912 a small temple surrounded by periwinkles (Rousseau's favourite flower) was built in order to mark the bicentenary of his death. Today the island is home to a charming café-restaurant with terrace, open from 10am until midnight during the summer season.

'L'île de Jean-Jacques' is also a veritable bird kingdom: hundreds of swans, ducks and other aquatic birds find food and shelter here in winter in the specially constructed caged enclosures around the island. Children and adults alike love to come and see the birds here.