REPUBLIQUE
ET CANTON
DE GENEVE

LA TOUR BAUDET, SIÈGE DU GOUVERNEMENT

For 500 years, the Hôtel de ville has been the headquarters of Geneva's political life. The building developed around an original nucleus made up of the central hall and the "Tour Baudet" tower containing the chamber of the "Conseil d'Etat" or Geneva Government which succeeded the former "Petit Conseil". The 16th century marked the construction of the monumental inclined plane, an architectural feature unique of its kind. Later, the chamber of the "Conseil des Deux-Cents", precursor of the "Grand Conseil" or Geneva Parliament was completed and the building gradually took on its present appearance. Up until the 19th century it housed the executive, legislative and judicial bodies of the Republic, and to this day the Government uses the magnificent salons of this centuries-old building to receive heads of State, ministers, ambassadors and other distinguished visitors.

And it was in one of these rooms - the Salle de l'Alabama - that the first Geneva Convention was signed in 1864. The Tour Baudet is still used once per week for meetings of the Geneva Government, whose seven members are responsible for the various departments of the administration. The Hôtel de ville also houses the State Chancellery which, under the control of the Chancellor, is responsible for running the legislative and executive organs of the canton.