L'Escalade commemorates the attempt by Savois troups to invade and take over the city state of Geneva in 1602 by scaling the city walls. The night watchman, having discovered the attempt to scale the walls, raised the alarm and the church bells were sounded - with the result that the Genevois populace fought alongside the City's militia producing a defeat for the 2,000-strong Savois army. As a result, the Duke of Savoy was obliged to accept a lasting peace which was finalised in the Treaty of St Julien on 12th of July 1603.
Each year at the L'Escalade, the victory over the Savois is commerated on the weekend closest to the 12th of December. This picture is from Sundays parade at the Proclamation. Troops, dressed in the medieval style and including this mounted knight, parade through the city and, at 6 points, stops for the Proclamations and to sing 4 stanzas of the "national anthem" Cé qu'è l'ainô which tells the story of the L'Escalade.
Geneva - Cathedral St Pierre - The Cathedral of St Peter in the Old Town of Geneva
Geneva - Jet d'Eau - The Jet d'Eau on Lake Geneva and symbol of Geneva
Switzerland - places not to miss - Sixteen places not to miss around Switzerland
Switzerland - sacred destinations - Nine of the finest churchs, cathedrals and monastries in Switzerland
Saint Maurice - an afternoon the oldest abbey north of the Alps - A travelogue from an afternoon spent in Saint Maurice, home to the oldest Abbey north of the Alps, in Canton Valais, Switzerland
Martigny - Amphitheatres and Erotic Rodin - Travelogue from a trip to Martigny in Canton Valais for the Erotic Rodin Exhibition
Switzerland - festivals not to miss - Fantastic Swiss festivals to visit through the year
Neuchâtel - where to stay - Personal recommendations on where to stay in Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Switzerland - recommended hotels - Recommended hotels in Berne, Fribourg, Lugano, Neuchâtel and Rapperswil
Fribourg - Cathedral of Saint Nicholas - Notes on Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, Fribourg
Geneva Tourism - Official website of Geneva Tourist Board
Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook