Without the building of the old arsenal, like without an important puzzle piece, the overall picture of Geneva does not come together. Time has slightly transformed its facade, but the interior space has changed dramatically over the centuries.
Originally, in the XIV century, it was a large city granary adapted for storing grain. When peaceful times during the Reformation came to an end, the building was converted into an arsenal and barracks. From those times to the present day, five Genoese cannons of the XVII-XVIII centuries have remained as a legacy; they were removed from the city walls to adorn the approaches to the arsenal.
After you take a photo next to the ancient cannons, pay attention to the wall behind them. The mosaics depict three important events: Julius Caesar's entry into Geneva, the reception of Huguenot refugees, and the first medieval city fair.
Later, the arsenal building housed a police station for some time, and now it is home to a museum displaying relics of the Swiss state and the city's main archive.
But fairs are still held here even today. We highly recommend visiting one of them. On such days, a special vegetable soup is even prepared by the walls of the arsenal, and it is sold in special bowls as a keepsake. We have not yet come across a more original souvenir :)
