Credit main image: Graeme Matthews
FINALLY! ON SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST, Geneva’s so-called ‘XXL beach’ in Eaux-Vives – a vast new bathing and relaxation area – opens in the heart of the city.
The area includes 400 metres of beach, two hectares of lawn next to a natural area, sixty trees and public changing rooms and toilets.
DELAYED OPENING
The beach partially opened in summer of 2019 and then closed down in September again for completion of some of the facilities. It was scheduled to open fully earlier this summer, but the re-opening was slowed down because the work was delayed due to Covid.
XXL BEACH AND NATURAL SPACE
The new version of the beach is much bigger: It offers a vast relaxation area, consisting of well-kept lawns rounded off with a small area of sand and pebbles which was inaccessible in 2019. In total, there are 400 metres of beach area and two hectares of parkland.
NATURAL SPACE
The natural area is home to numerous lake-dwelling species such as red-crested pochards, swans and coots which take advantage of an ideal habitat to raise their young. To protect this sensitive environment, the planning department of Geneva would like to remind visitors that it is prohibited to enter, bathe or let dogs swim within this area.
RESTAURANT AND BAR
Due to the delay in work related to COVID-19, the opening of the Eaux-Vives Beach restaurant and bar is postponed to 2021.
