Coupe de Noël

One of the less inviting ways to celebrate the Christmas season, every year a bunch of (fool)hardy swimmers takes to Lake Geneva to swim the 125m stretch between the Jardin Anglais on the city’s left bank and the Quai General Guisan on the right. Now in its 77th edition, the event attracts some 1,500 participants who set off in age and category groups throughout the day in water that can hover as low as five degrees. The rest of the city chooses to watch from the shore instead, happily tucking into mulled wine and hot food as they survey the progress of the swimmers. For kids, Father Christmas makes an appearance mid-morning.