My Tour Guide Journey –  Part 9: “First French Customers” 

This summer has been an important milestone in my journey as a Geneva professional tour guide. Over the past several months, I have been preparing and practicing the one-hour walking tour that I created as the final project for my Culture and Tourism course at the University of Geneva. Since the final exam will be conducted in French, I spent countless hours refining both the content and my presentation skills.

While I have already led several Geneva walking tours for family and friends, most have been in English.   But recently, an unexpected opportunity arose. A friend asked if I would conduct a guided tour in French for a group of visitors from Paris who were coming to Geneva for the first time. I immediately accepted and was excited to put my preparation into practice, especially in French.

The group consisted of six adults and three young children. Before the tour began, the parents asked if we could follow a route that included places where the children could take breaks and play. One of the most important skills of a professional guide is adapting to the needs of clients, so I happily redesigned the itinerary.

Instead of beginning in the Jardin Anglais as I normally do on my Geneva guided tours, I started in Parc des Bastions. The large open spaces allowed the children to run around while I introduced the adults to the history of the Reformation Wall. I also promised the children a special surprise at the end of the tour, which immediately captured their attention.

Our next stop was La Treille, where there is a playground and perfect place to provide another break for the children while the parents enjoyed the historical commentary. We then visited the Old Armory, where the cannons proved to be a favorite attraction and the children had the opportunity to climb on them. After passing through the Old Town and St. Pierre Cathedral, we descended through the picturesque Passage des Degrés-de-Poules to Place du Bourg-de-Four and spoke about the centuries and millenniums of history there.  Finally, the big highlight for the children came at Place de la Madeleine, where the promised surprise awaited: ice cream and a carousel ride. While they enjoyed themselves, I introduced their parents to the square’s points of interest, including the Water Ring fountain by Swiss artist Gérard Ducimetière, the Temple de la Madeleine, and Geneva’s historic civil defense shelter.

From there, we continued to the lakefront via Place Longemalle to admire the Flower Clock and the Jet d’Eau. The tour ended on a beautiful summer afternoon with smiles from both the parents and the children.

Most importantly, conducting the entire tour in French was a success. It confirmed that all the effort I had invested in my studies and preparation had paid off and gave me the confidence I needed for my upcoming oral examination. It was also an important step toward offering Geneva guided tours in French and Geneva private guided tours to a wider international audience.

Looking back, this first experience as a French-speaking professional tour guide in Geneva was one of the most rewarding moments of my tour guide journey.

My first Tour de Ville in French