Place du Bourg-de-Four

History of Place du Bourg-de-Four

Origin of the name:
1) Allobroges term given long long time ago to this square built outside of Old Town walls, as Borg de Feur means "Village Outside".
2) The name might come from Latin words Forum des Burgondes, meaning Forum of Burgundians, east Germanic tribe living here in 5th century.

The most historical notes reads this square was the place of cattle market.

Two castles adjonted the square, which don't stand here anymore. The castle of count of Geneva was destroyed in 1320, but it's main gate was standing here until 1840. It's imprint can be senn at the wall against which it used to stand - somewhere at Place du Bourg-de-Four 14.

Other castle, that of Coudrée, was standing at the place of today's Lutheran Church and was demolished in the 18th century.

At Christmas time the Place is romantically decorated by christmas light decorations and highlighted by rows of lamps. It looks astonishingly brilliant.

Restaurats

Café de Bourg-de-Four

A tiny, medieval style decorated restaurant with typical Swiss food. The wooden tables and chairs are surrounded by walls decorated with paintings of Old Geneva buildings. Great location in the Old Town; welcoming, friendly and caring service, sometimes hard to find in Geneva. Enjoy the national Swiss dish Rösti, a blend of potatoes and your choice of eggs, ham, cheese or sausage. It’s worth a trip to come not only for a Rösti, but also for a great steak tartare and tasty Swiss wines.
This fashionable dining place fills fast so it's advisable to book your table in advance.
Contact:
Place de Bourg-de-Four 13, 1204, Geneva, Switzerland
+41 22 311 90 76 ~ www.cafedubourgdefour.ch
Open: Sunday – Friday: 8:30 am – Midnight
Saturday: 11:30 am - Midnight

Curiosity:

Passage des Degrés-de-Poules
At norhtern side of Bourg-de-Four Square, opposite the police station You can spot a very long and almost narrow passage staircase of 67 stairs, called little stairs, going all the way up to the St. Peter's Cathedral. This passage is named Passage des Degrés-de-Poules, which could be translated as Passageway of chick-degrees, so we rather don't translate it.