Cosmopolitan, brimming with history and a cultural centre open to multiple forms of artistic expression... With its distinctive 140m high fountain known by its French name Jet d’Eau, Geneva offers an idyllic setting, transformed as if for the first time by the early summer light, a promise of pleasant seasonal strolls along the legendary lake shores
As the sunny season approaches, Cartier invites you to discover this ephemeral residence a garden home teeming with summer flowers, above which a literary salon and cabinet of curiosities offer magnificent street views while reading or book or listening to a talk.
Elegance and culture, an artful mix of historical references and contemporary daring, a profusion of light and colours, a musical atmosphere, all compose this anthem to a certain savoir vivre. An invitation addressed to multi-faceted, ultra-active 21st century women and particularly those who grace Geneva.
Step through the door of this timeless garden and meet the contemporary artists who have taken up their Cartier d’été in Geneva. The on-trend Experimental Cocktail Club team makes its first visit to the shores of Lake Geneva, reinventing cool refreshments and offering a preview of must-have cocktails for summer 2019. Miyoko Yasumoto brings a fresh interpretation of floral art. Her compositions, displays and flower arrangements reflect the mood of the moment, reveal the complexity of secret emotions, and serve as messengers. According to her "Flowers are the mirror of the heart".
Perched above the garden, a more intimate space reveals a salon pervaded by a warm atmosphere and a cabinet of curiosities. It would appear that the owner has stepped out and guests can enjoy guessing her tastes, her travels, and her dreams by looking through her collections, her jewellery, her objects and her books. Take a seat in a designer chair, lose yourself listening to a playlist reminiscent of women and summer, from Billie Holliday to Angèle, depending on the time of day.
Driven by curiosity, you may also choose to listen to Frédéric Beigbeder’s podcast recorded in the same salon evoking women… and Geneva. In it, the novelist and literary critic reads a few carefully selected pieces, including the romantic portrait of Julie in La nouvelle Héloïse by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the reflections of Ariane, the candid, fanciful heroine of Albert Cohen’s masterpiece, “Belle du Seigneur”.
“I hope that by browsing through the portraits of these many Genevan muses over time, we will finally unravel the mystery of this enchanting creature with her discreet seduction: the dangerous Genevan woman who meanders around the Jet d’Eau with her timid sensuality, her taste for unostentatious luxury and the air of rebellious mischief of a well-bred young woman ready to be naughty. Enough to break the hearts of many travellers when they take up their summer quarters, their Cartier d’été...” said Frédéric Beigbeder.
But these summer quarters are of course also all about Cartier, so as you wander through them, you’ll find the iconic Love, Trinity, Panther and Tank collections dotted around this intimate setting. Maybe a chance to swap the cord of your Trinity bracelet for something more in tune with the colours of the season?
Cartier d’été, an essential date for your Geneva diary :
Opening hours
From 31 May to 8 June
- Monday to Friday: 10am-7pm
- Saturday: 10am-6pm
From 14 June to 29 June
Fridays and Saturdays only
- Fridays: 10am-7pm
- Saturdays: 10am-6pm
Address
Rue Robert-Céard 12, Genève
