Parc Moynier

Parc Moynier is a public park in Geneva, Switzerland, set on the right bank of Lake Geneva in the Sécheron district, north of the city centre. It sits between Parc Mon Repos and Parc La Perle du Lac, and the three together form a continuous green belt along the shore. The park is free and open at all hours.

What will you see at Parc Moynier?

The grounds slope gently toward the lake. Wide lawns are crossed by paths lined with mature trees, and the magnolias are the highlight when they bloom in spring. From the upper part you get views over the water and, on clear days, the outline of the Alps.

The main building is Villa Moynier, a mid-19th-century neoclassical house dating from about 1846 and designed by architect Samuel Darier. It now hosts the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. It is not a museum, so you cannot tour the interior, but the facade and the garden in front are open to look at. At the top of the park once stood the Auberge de Sécheron, an inn that hosted well-known travellers in the 18th and 19th centuries. The city's green spaces department now occupies the site.

Where does the name come from?

The park is named after Gustave Moynier, a Geneva lawyer and one of the five co-founders of the Red Cross. He was the son-in-law of banker Barthélemy Paccard, who bought the estate in the mid-1840s and had the villa built. Moynier led the International Committee of the Red Cross for decades, and the house was tied to the organisation's early work.

In 1926 the League of Nations bought the estate. Three years later Geneva agreed to let the Palais des Nations be built in Parc de l'Ariana, and in return the city gained use of the Moynier and La Perle du Lac parks. Both have been open to the public since 1929. That history helps explain why this part of town is now home to so many international organisations.

How do you get to Parc Moynier?

The park lies near Quai Wilson, roughly 2 km from Geneva Cornavin station. Walking along the lakefront takes about 25 minutes. The easiest option is public transport to a stop around Sécheron or Perle du Lac, and the Genève-Sécheron rail station is close by. Cyclists can follow the lakeside route.

When is the best time to visit?

April and early May are best, when the magnolias flower. Summer afternoons are pleasant for sitting on the lawns with the lake in view. In autumn the park is quiet and the foliage turns warm colours. Early mornings and late afternoons are usually the calmest.

What else is nearby?

Parc Moynier fits naturally into a walk along Geneva's lakeside parks. Parc Mon Repos with its old villa and Parc La Perle du Lac are next door, and the Palais des Nations, the UN's Geneva seat, stands in Parc de l'Ariana a short way off. Cafes and restaurants line the streets towards the station, and the Botanical Garden is roughly 20 minutes away on foot along the shore.

Frequently asked questions

Is Parc Moynier free to enter? Yes. It is a city park, open around the clock, with no admission fee.

Can you go inside Villa Moynier? The villa is home to the Geneva Academy, an academic institution, and does not operate as a museum. You can see it from outside and from the garden.

Who was Moynier? Gustave Moynier was a Geneva lawyer and co-founder of the Red Cross who lived in the villa; the park carries his name.

When do the magnolias bloom? Usually in spring, from late March into April, depending on the weather that year.

Is it a good spot for a picnic? Yes. The lawns are wide and shaded by trees, and the neighbouring lakeside parks are similar. Bring your own food.