Today it is hard to imagine that Geneva and Helvetia were once separate. Now they stand peacefully on a pedestal and embrace each other around the waist, while holding a shield and a sword in their hands.
The monument, installed in 1869, reminds city residents of the event of September 12, 1814, when the independent canton of Geneva joined Switzerland. Sculptor Robert Dorer, who was tasked with immortalizing this event, chose female figures and placed two bronze women on the pedestal in such a way that their gazes were directed north toward Switzerland. The figures are the same height and stand in almost identical poses, which emphasizes the equality of the two administrative units.
Take note: in the XVII century, the fashion for the allegory of the Swiss Confederation changed - it began to be depicted as a young woman, whereas earlier the image of a bull had been popular.
The beautiful monument is located in the center of a flower made of разноцветного granite paving stones. You can admire the monument while strolling along the embankment; the bronze Geneva and Helvetia gaze at the lake's surface not far from Mont Blanc Bridge.
