Parc des Bastions with Reformation Wall, park and monument in Geneva, Switzerland

Parc des Bastions is a public park in Geneva built on the remains of the city's 16th-century bastions. Its central feature is the Reformation Wall, a 1909 monument with four 5-metre statues of Guillaume Farel, Jean Calvin, Théodore de Bèze and John Knox, flanked by reliefs and inscriptions. The park has lawns, tree-lined paths and large chess boards.

The fortifications were built in the 16th century to defend the city, and the park was created on their remains. The Reformation Wall was added later to commemorate the movement's impact on Geneva's development.

The Reformation Wall displays statues of leaders from the Protestant movement, showing how important this period was to Geneva's identity. You can see how the city has honored these figures through public monuments in the park.

The park is straightforward to explore on foot with no special requirements to see the main features. You can visit on any day, though sunny weather makes the grounds more enjoyable and the monuments easier to photograph.

The Wall's four giant statues are not carved from one block: each figure was sculpted separately and set against the stone. Look for the small reliefs and inscriptions along the base, including the dates 1536 and 1564, marking Geneva's adoption of the Reformation and Calvin's death.