Jet d'Eau
Jet d'Eau is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Geneva audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~30 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Geneva Geneva guide
About Jet d'Eau
Geneva's iconic 140-metre water jet shooting into the sky above Lake Geneva at 200 km/h, one of the most recognisable landmarks in Switzerland.
The Jet d'Eau is Geneva's most famous landmark and one of the most recognisable sights in all of Switzerland. The enormous water jet shoots 140 metres into the air above Lake Geneva, with 500 litres of water per second propelled at 200 kilometres per hour. On a sunny day, the mist created by the jet produces a permanent rainbow, a meteorological spectacle that has made the Jet d'Eau one of the most photographed subjects in Switzerland. The jet has its origins in a purely practical matter: in 1886, the city's hydraulic power network had excess water pressure on Sundays when industrial demand fell. A safety valve was installed to release pressure by shooting water into the air. The original valve was located on the Rhône at Coulouvrenière; in 1891 it was moved to its current location in the lake, where the jet reached about 90 metres. Its current spectacular height of 140 metres dates from 1951, when a new dedicated lake-fed pumping station was installed. The Jet d'Eau operates daily from March to October, and is illuminated at night by floodlights that turn it into one of the most beautiful nocturnal spectacles in Europe. It can be seen from 50 kilometres away on clear days.
Did you know? The Jet d'Eau was originally a hydraulic pressure-relief valve installed in 1886, Genevans loved it so much they moved it to the lake and made it iconic.
How long should you spend at Jet d'Eau?
Plan about ~30 min at Jet d'Eau. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Jet d'Eau worth visiting?
Jet d'Eau is one of the 22 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Geneva, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Geneva
Hear the story of Jet d'Eau
Preview the Geneva tour free in the Gingerguide app.