Photographs and thoughts on photography and camera collecting
This sign is outside the Hotel Auberge Communale on the Rue Ancienne (Old Road). The central shield bears the Carouge coat of arms, which seems to be a a lion reclining under a tree on a green field against a red/orange background. I’m sure there is very precise heraldic terminology to describe this, but I don’t know what it is. I don’t know what the significance of the three castles on top is either.
Taken with my Son-in-Law’s Nikon, D80 and Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-f6.3 lens.
Statue commemorating the centennial of the union of Carouge with Geneva, by James Vibert. The reverse lists the communes separated from Savoy and attached to the canton of Geneva, and bears the inscription:
“Reunited with the Republic of Geneva, becoming a Swiss Canton. Erected by these communities to commemorate the centennial of 1816. June 7, 1925“. (translation from the original French).
According to Avada, James Vibert:
James Vibert was the son of Jean-Pierre Vibert, a prominent figure in Carouge administration. Jean Pierre Vibert was advisor municipal and administrative in Carouge, distinguished in the history of the city as one of the fiercest opponents of the project of the annexation of Carouge in Geneva.
James was born on 15 August 1872 in Carouge, Switzerland and died on 2 May 1942 and was a renowned Swiss sculptor. He is known as one of the precursors of the Symbolism movement in Switzerland. His brother Pierre-Eugene was also a famous artist for whom I have created a separate page
After his first studies of sculpture at the fine arts of Geneva, he left for Paris where he is admitted as a student to the great sculptor Auguste Rodin. He participated in many exhibitions in France and Switzerland, and back in Carouge, he was appointed Professor at the fine arts (1903). Preferably sculpting marble, he leaves monuments as famous as “Les Trois Suisses” of the Federal Palace in Berne (1914), “The Communes Réunies” of the place of the Rondeau, commemorating the meeting of Carouge in Geneva, or even ‘Human effort’, monument symbolizing work, placed in front of the old building of the ILO. He was nominated professor of the École des Beaux Arts at Geneva.
In the background one of the numerous cafe/restaurants in Carouge: “Au Boccalino”.
When we were living in Geneva, Carouge was (perhaps along with the Geneva Old Town) one of my favorite places. It has a completely different feel to the rest of Geneva as explained on the Geneva.info site:
Right over river l’Arve lays the town of Carouge, a Mediterranean style hamlet modelled after Nice. This former trading town is now commonly referred to as the “Greenwich Village of Geneva” for its many boutiques and studios where artisans and craftsmen of every ilk can be observed plying their trade. The bohemian vibe carries on into the night with a plethora of cafes, jazz bars and nightclubs.
District of Carouge, which used to be a separated town (alternatively French and Sardinian) until 1816, is now a city district of Geneva, known mainly for its old town – “Le Vieux Carouge”, with it’s specific old French-Italian architecture.
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Carouge is beautiful like Italy, many locals would introduce Carouge to You as a “small Italy”. It is one of those areas which immediately stands out from all the rest, absolutely incomparable to the rest of the city. In fact, Carouge’s unique architecture is an expression of its Sardinian heritage, a pattern of magnificent historical streets with warm and cosy cafes, bistros and antique shops.
For those interested in history (as I am) the ‘Living in Geneva Site‘ offers an informative five part series:
Above a tram passes through the old part of Carouge.
I was sitting around in our daughter’s house, probably waiting to go somewhere when I noticed some quite spectacular Irises in the garden. I’ve always liked these flowers so I picked up the camera and went outside. It had just rained and there were water droplets on the petals.
Another Iris.
Closeup.
Allium
Some kind of poppy???
I think that what first caught my eye was the tracks crossing the wheat field and leading in the direction of the old house. I liked the deep, almost emerald green of the not yet ripe wheat and the earth tones of the building. In the background the bluish sky with the mountains in the distance. These are the Jura mountains and they’re on the other side of Lake Geneva, which lies somewhere between them and where I’m standing.