La fête de l’Escalade

La fête de l’Escalade

(image © Claude-Alain Frachet)

Come and discover Geneva as it was during a weekend in 1602 and you will travel back in time.

On that year, during the night of December 11-12, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, sought to seize Geneva, which had embraced the Reformed faith since 1536. He marched his army under cover of dakness to take the city by surprise. He had planned to make Geneva the capital of his territories north of the Alps and to fight against Calvinism with the support of Pope Clement VIII, despite a peace treaty that had been sworn and re-sworn.

Shortly after midnight, the Savoyard army, more than two thousand strong well-equipped men , were stationed at Plainpalais. A large group detached itself, reaching the foot of the city wall, they erected their ladders, and began to ascend seemingly undetected.

Geneva was sleeping peacefully. The invasion of the city had begun. It was abruptly interrupted by a patrol from the Mint post, which surprised the attackers. In the ensuing melee, a sentry fired his arquebus. The alarm was raised! The tocsin rang out from the cathedral, soon followed by the bells of all the city’s churches.

Awakened from their sleep, the residents seized their weapons! The citizens of Geneva swiftly mounted a defense. The conflict was intense, marked by many acts of bravery throughout the skirmish. Cannons roared, causing the retreating Savoyards to flee in desperation.
By morning, the Genevans had lost eighteen men. They went to the churches to thank the Lord, “Cé qu’è lainô,” who had saved them.

Unmissable traditions: Don’t miss the chance to break the famous chocolate cauldron filled with marzipan vegetables with family or friends, while reciting the ritual phrase: “Thus perished the enemies of the Republic!”

image © Arn Chocolatier (which we heartfully recommend)

Le Cé qu’è lainô” is the official anthem of the Republic and Canton of Geneva.