Parc des Franchises

Parc des Franchises in Geneva is a large public park in the Châtelaine district, between the Charmilles and Vieusseux neighbourhoods. It occupies the grounds of a former horticultural school and, after a rebuild completed in 2026, pairs play and sports areas with one of the biggest wetland biotopes in the canton.

What is the park's story?

Edmond-Louis Vaucher founded Switzerland's first horticultural school here in 1887, and it became a public institution in 1891. The state later bought and extended the site. In 1974 the school moved to Presinge (Lullier). When residents pushed back against plans for a road and housing on the green space, the canton turned it into a public park.

What changed recently?

Locals nicknamed the neglected site the "sleeping beauty", and in 2014 they began reviving it with temporary projects: a biotope (2014), a kiosk in a shipping container (2015), community vegetable gardens (2016) and beach-volleyball courts (2018). A redevelopment plan was adopted in 2020, works ran from 2024 to 2026, and the renewed park was inaugurated on 27 June 2026. The canton put up CHF 8 million and the City of Geneva CHF 2.5 million. Paving was removed, 220 trees were planted and rainwater from the site now feeds the wetlands.

What can you see and do?

• Ponds crossed by a wooden footbridge, forming the wetland biotope
• A conifer collection and a rose garden
• A themed playground with a giant slide and a cave, plus a summer paddling pool
• Four beach-volleyball courts, a pumptrack, an outdoor fitness area and skate and scooter equipment
• A kiosk and public toilets
• A fenced dog run on rue des Franchises

What are the rules?

The park is open every day, around the clock. Bikes are allowed only in the marked shared zone with pedestrians. Dogs must be on a leash and are kept off the lawns, apart from the dog run. The park is wheelchair accessible, though the toilets are only partly so.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No. The park is public and open 24 hours a day.

Is it good for families? Yes. There is a playground with a slide, a paddling pool, a kiosk and toilets, and the pond footbridge makes an easy stroll.

Where exactly is it? In the north of the City of Geneva, in the Châtelaine area between Charmilles and Vieusseux, extending towards Vernier. Do not confuse it with Parc Hentsch in Charmilles, built on the site of the old football stadium.

Can I bring my dog? Yes, on a leash. Lawns are off limits to dogs, but there is a separate fenced run.