The 12-metre three-legged chair at Place des Nations, opposite the United Nations
The Broken Chair is a monumental wooden sculpture located across the street from the Palace of Nations (United Nations European Headquarters) in Geneva, Switzerland. This iconic 12-metre-tall three-legged chair — a giant wooden chair, sometimes called the big chair of Geneva or the chair with the broken leg — was designed by Swiss artist Daniel Berset and constructed by carpenter Louis Genève. It symbolizes opposition to landmines and cluster bombs.
The Broken Chair was originally commissioned by Handicap International in 1997 to urge all nations to sign the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines. It was initially planned to remain in front of the Palace of Nations for only three months, but due to its profound impact and strong public support, it was kept permanently.
The massive chair, made of 5.5 tons of wood, features a broken leg that represents the devastating injuries caused by landmines and cluster munitions. At the same time, its three solid legs and towering backrest symbolize the resilience and dignity of the victims, as well as humanity's hope for peace.
Known under many names — the three-legged chair, the giant chair, the big chair of Geneva, the chair with the broken leg — this 12-metre-tall wooden sculpture stands on Place des Nations, directly opposite the main entrance of the Palace of Nations (United Nations Office at Geneva). It was created in 1997 as a symbol of opposition to anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions.
explore the famous three-legged chair in GenevaThe chair's fourth leg is shattered, representing the limb lost by a victim of a landmine or cluster munition — a seat that can no longer be occupied. The three remaining legs and the tall backrest hold the chair upright and dignified. As sculptor Daniel Berset put it, despite its broken fourth leg, the chair remains standing and keeps its dignity.
The sculpture deliberately faces the Palace of Nations, a few metres away from the diplomats working inside. Its message: sign and honour the treaties banning anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, support the victims and clear contaminated land. Since 2016, Handicap International has extended the chair's message to all explosive weapons used in populated areas.
Commissioned in 1997 by Handicap International (now Humanity & Inclusion) at the initiative of Paul Vermeulen, co-founder of Handicap International Switzerland, the chair was designed by Swiss artist Daniel Berset, built by carpenter Louis Genève and engineered by Thomas Büchi. It was intended to stay for only three months — just long enough to push governments to sign the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines in December 1997.
Public support kept the chair on Place des Nations. When the square was redesigned in 2005 the sculpture was taken away, but it returned to its original spot on 26 February 2007 after a campaign led by Handicap International. In 2008 it supported the Oslo Convention banning cluster munitions. Restored in 2016 and again in July 2024, it was repaired between 24 March and 4 April 2025 after being damaged by an act of vandalism in December 2024.
The chair was built in about a month in the workshop of carpenter Louis Genève, then transported to Place des Nations and assembled on site with a crane in time for its inauguration on 18 August 1997. Its 5.5 tonnes of Douglas fir were engineered by Thomas Büchi to withstand the open-air square — weather and wind included. From concept to unveiling, the entire project ran in less than a year.
Explore Geneva's International District
Arrive at Place des Nations
Admire and photograph the Broken Chair sculpture
Watch the fountain display on the square
Visit the UN European Headquarters (booking required)
Walk to the nearby International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum
The Broken Chair anchors Geneva's International District — here are the key landmarks within a short walk.
When visiting the Broken Chair, visitors can easily explore surrounding historical landmarks and points of interest, including the Palais des Nations (United Nations Office at Geneva) and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum.
The headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, directly opposite the Broken Chair across Place des Nations. Guided tours of the assembly halls and grounds are available with advance booking.
A short walk from the square, this museum tells the humanitarian story behind the Red Cross movement — a natural pairing with the Broken Chair's message of peace and dignity.
Official Name
Broken Chair
Attraction Type
Tourist Attraction
Google Rating
4.5 (9,512)
Accessibility
Partial
Plus Code
64FQ+4G Geneva, Switzerland
Address
1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Open 24 hours a day
Spring: Pleasant weather, perfect for walking along Lake Geneva
Summer: Sunny days, fountains are on, excellent for photography
Autumn: Beautiful autumn scenery in Geneva
Winter: Can be combined with visits to nearby museums
When the fountains are on, they make a perfect photographic composition with the UN building and the Broken Chair.
A travel-strategy overview based on Geneva's 30-year climate normals (1991–2020): weather, Lake Geneva and the outdoors, and how busy it gets.
Current conditions and a 7-day outlook to help you plan a visit to the Broken Chair.
Free admission
Hourly rates apply at the nearby underground parking (Parking des Nations)
Guided Tours
Guided tours of the UN Palace of Nations require advance booking on their official website
Take Tram 15 and get off at the 'Nations' stop. It is about a 1-minute walk from there.
Take Bus 5 or 28 and get off at the 'Nations' stop. The ride takes around 15-20 minutes.
Take Tram 15 (direction: Nations) from outside the station and get off at the terminus 'Nations'. The journey takes about 10-15 minutes.
Geneva's public transport (TPG) is highly convenient. Tourists staying in Geneva hotels receive a free 'Geneva Transport Card' for unlimited rides on local transport. You can reach Place des Nations via Tram 15, or Buses 5, 8, 11, 22, 28 and F.
If you are around the Right Bank of Lake Geneva or the International District, walking is a great option. The Broken Chair is prominently visible at the Place des Nations.
There is an underground parking facility nearby (Parking des Nations). Since it is located in the international organization district, street parking can be limited, so public transport is highly recommended.
A taxi or rideshare (Uber, Bolt) from Geneva Airport takes about 15–25 minutes and costs roughly CHF 35–55; from Cornavin station about 10–15 minutes and CHF 20–35. Taxi ranks sit outside the airport and station terminals, and app-based rides can drop you off right by Place des Nations.
The Broken Chair is an outdoor monument on Place des Nations, the public square in front of the Palace of Nations (United Nations Office at Geneva). It is free to visit 24 hours a day, which makes it one of the easiest Geneva landmarks to see — whether you have an hour or a full day.
The sculpture stands at Place des Nations, 1202 Genève, directly opposite the main entrance of the Palace of Nations. The square is pedestrian-friendly and the monument is visible as soon as you arrive at the Nations stop.
Tram 15 and buses 8, 28 and F stop at 'Nations', the terminus right in front of the square — about a 1-minute walk. Buses 5, 11 and 22 also serve the International District. Visitors staying overnight in Geneva receive the free Geneva Transport Card for unlimited rides.
Mornings offer the best light on the chair and the Palace of Nations, with fewer visitors; evenings are quieter and the monument is lit after dusk. For a classic shot, stand at the edge of the square in front of the main UN gate so the chair fills the frame with the Palace of Nations behind it.
The Broken Chair anchors a half-day route through Geneva's International District: book a guided tour of the Palace of Nations, visit the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, stroll through Ariana Park, or walk down to the lake and the Jardin Anglais.
Pick a route that matches your group and your pace.
Start at the Broken Chair for a quick, free photo stop, let the kids run on the open square, then walk to Ariana Park's green space and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum (hands-on, family-friendly exhibits).
Arrive at sunrise for soft light on the chair and the Palace of Nations, return at blue hour for the lit monument, and capture Lake Geneva and the Jet d'Eau from the lakeside promenade.
Tram 15 drops you steps from the square (step-free); benches and flat paving make a gentle loop around the monument, with cafés nearby for a rest.
Broken Chair → Place des Nations fountains → a guided tour of the Palace of Nations → a coffee on the square.
Add the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, a lakeside walk to the Jardin Anglais and the Jet d'Eau, and a stroll through the Old Town.
Everything around the monument — facilities, parking, food, accommodation, shops and refuelling. To stay neutral and independent, we recommend types of services, not specific businesses.
Public toilets are available at Place des Nations, near the tram terminus, and further facilities sit across the International District and along the lake promenade. Accessible cubicles and baby-changing stations are provided in the larger public buildings nearby. The monument itself is an open-air sculpture and has no facilities inside.
A large public underground car park beneath the square offers hourly paid parking, including disabled bays and electric-vehicle charging. Surface street parking in the International District is limited and metered, so public transport is usually the easier choice.
Cafés, brasseries, restaurants and self-service eateries are within a short walk of the square, from a quick snack to a sit-down meal. For a relaxed bite, the surrounding parks are a good picnic choice. Geneva is generally pricey, so supermarket delis and lunch specials are good value.
Hotels of the International District and serviced apartments are nearby, and central Geneva hotels are a short tram ride away. Overnight guests receive the free Geneva Transport Card, covering buses, trams and trains in the canton for their stay.
There is no shopping on the square itself. Supermarkets, grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience shops are a short tram or bus ride away in the city centre and near the main station (Cornavin).
Petrol stations sit along the main roads into the city. Electric-vehicle (EV) charging points are available at several public car parks across Geneva, including in the International District; charging networks and their apps help locate the nearest available connector.
A few thoughtful ways to enjoy the monument and respect what it stands for.
The Broken Chair is a memorial against landmines and cluster munitions. Please don't climb on it or sit on the broken leg — treat it as you would any war memorial.
Photos are welcome, but be mindful of people who come to reflect. During peaceful gatherings, keep aisles clear and lower your voice.
The square is a shared public space. Use the bins provided, and take any picnic waste with you to keep it clean for everyone.
Spend a moment with the history of the Ottawa and Oslo treaties — understanding why the chair is broken turns a photo stop into something meaningful.
The square is step-free and wheelchair friendly. Keep accessible routes unobstructed so everyone can approach the monument.
The Beauty of Broken Chair
The 12-metre Broken Chair, a giant wooden three-legged chair on Place des Nations in Geneva
Place des Nations square with the Broken Chair and the Palace of Nations in the background
Close-up of the broken leg of the giant chair, a symbol against landmines in Geneva
Looking up at the monumental broken chair sculpture from the square
The fountain and the three-legged chair on Place des Nations, Geneva
Broken Chair in Geneva's International District, opposite the United Nations office
Massive Douglas fir wood structure of the Broken Chair monument
The Broken Chair as a symbol of peace and dignity in Geneva
Reviews can be viewed via Google Maps.
A very powerful sculpture! Learning about its anti-landmine message makes it even more meaningful.
A must-see landmark in Geneva. It's right in front of the UN, and the fountains in the square are beautiful too.
Massive and spectacular. Standing underneath it gives you a strong visual impact.
A very educational piece of public art. Very easy to get to, the tram stops right there.
A symbol of peace and dignity. You must come and see it when in Geneva.
Incredible wooden structure, and the message it conveys is very powerful. 100% recommended.
Beautiful monument!! You'll definitely pass by it before taking the UN tour.
Not just a photo spot, but an appeal for world peace. The atmosphere around it is great.
No. The Broken Chair is located on a public square (Place des Nations) in Geneva and is free to visit 24/7.
Yes, the square is illuminated at night and offers a more peaceful atmosphere. However, daytime provides better lighting for photography.
You can take tram 15, or buses 5, 8, 11, 22, 28 to the 'Nations' stop. It's a 1-minute walk from there. Tourists staying in Geneva hotels can use the free Geneva Transport Card.
Yes, the underground 'Parking des Nations' is located right next to the square and charges hourly rates. However, public transport is recommended as street parking is limited in the International District.
The broken leg represents the devastating injuries caused by landmines and cluster munitions, while the three solid legs and backrest symbolize the resilience and dignity of victims and the call for peace.
Visiting the sculpture and taking photos at the square usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. We recommend combining it with a tour of the UN European Headquarters opposite the square or the nearby Red Cross Museum for a half-day trip.
Yes. Public toilets are available at Place des Nations, near the tram terminus, and further public facilities exist across the International District and along the lake promenade.
Yes. Cafés, brasseries, restaurants and self-service eateries are within a short walk of the square, and supermarkets and grocery stores are a short tram ride away in the city centre.
It is a memorial against anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. The single broken leg stands for the limb lost by a victim, while the three remaining legs and tall backrest represent the resilience and dignity of survivors — a quiet reminder aimed at the United Nations directly opposite the square.
It was deliberately designed with a broken fourth leg. The missing leg symbolises the devastating injuries caused by landmines and cluster munitions; the three solid legs and backrest show that, despite its injury, the chair — like the survivors it honours — remains standing and dignified.
Both. It is a 12-metre monumental wooden sculpture, but it also functions as a permanent public monument and memorial on Place des Nations, opposite the UN. It was commissioned by Handicap International in 1997 and kept in place by public demand.
This guide is compiled from the official and authoritative sources below. Facts were last verified on August 31, 2026.