The Compagnie de 1602 will bring Geneva’s Old Town to life from 11 to 13 December 2026 to commemorate the Genevans’ victory in 1602. On the programme: entertainment, costumes and parades!
Fête de l’Escalade – 2026 edition: Geneva takes a trip back in time
The Compagnie de 1602 will bring Geneva’s Old Town to life from 11 to 13 December 2026 to commemorate the Genevans’ victory in 1602. On the programme: entertainment, costumes and parades!
A night that shaped Geneva’s history
It all began on the night of 11–12 December 1602. Charles-Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, had long dreamt of seizing Geneva. He saw its conquest as an opportunity to make the lakeside city the capital of his possessions north of the Alps, whilst dealing a decisive blow to Calvinism, with the support of Pope Clement VIII. Regardless of the peace treaties signed and re-signed, the Duke decided to launch a surprise attack.
His army, numbering over two thousand well-equipped men, gathered by night at Plainpalais. A detachment advanced to the foot of the ramparts, set up their ladders and began scaling them in utter silence. Geneva slept, unaware of the approaching danger.
But the attack narrowly failed. A patrol setting out from the Monnaie guard post caught the attackers by surprise whilst they were already scaling the walls. In the confusion, a shot is fired from an arquebus, raising the alarm. The tocsin tolls from the cathedral, soon echoed by all the city’s bells. Startled awake, the people of Geneva seize their weapons and launch a fierce defence. After fierce fighting, the Savoyard troops, driven back, take to their heels.
The toll was heavy despite the victory: eighteen Genevans lost their lives that night. In the morning, the people went to the churches to thank the Lord for sparing the city, an event that has remained etched in the collective memory through the now iconic hymn, the ‘Cé qu’è lainô’.
The Compagnie de 1602, guardian of the memory
It was to perpetuate the memory of this defining event that the Compagnie de 1602 was founded, and has been doing so for 100 years; because this year, the Compagnie de 1602 is celebrating its 100th anniversary!
Every year, over three days, it re-enacts scenes from everyday life in Geneva as it might have been at the dawn of the 17th century. With over 2,000 members, it is now Switzerland’s largest historical society, bringing together citizens of all ages, backgrounds and faiths around a single aim: to bring history to life.
Three days of celebrations in the Old Town
From 11 to 13 December 2026, Geneva’s Old Town will be transformed into a veritable open-air theatre. Residents and visitors alike can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the early 17th century thanks to a number of highlights:
- Historical processions, in which nearly 700 period costumes parade through the cobbled streets, re-enacting scenes from the battle and everyday life of the era.
- Costumed performances taking place throughout the Old Town, featuring soldiers, militiamen and iconic figures of the period.
- Pipes, trumpets, drums and the choir, which set the pace for the days and lend a martial spirit to the festivities.
- Traditional songs performed by the choir, including the famous ‘Cé qu’è lainô’, sung in unison by the crowd.
The event thus blends historical accuracy with a sense of community: people come as much to learn as to take part in a huge collective celebration, in a town which, for the duration of a weekend, remembers the night when it nearly lost everything.
How to get involved
The Compagnie de 1602 thrives on the commitment of its members and is always welcoming new recruits. There are several ways to get involved:
- Become a member of the Compagnie to support the association and play an active part in the preparations and festivities.
- Enrol your children as torchbearers – a fun way to introduce the youngest members of the community to this tradition.
- For musicians, join the bands if you’d like to march to music in the processions.
Anyone interested can also simply support the Company with a donation, or keep up to date with its news throughout the year via its social media posts.
A tradition that is very much alive
More than four centuries after the events took place, the Escalade continues to bring together thousands of Genevans around a founding narrative, combining solemn commemoration with genuine conviviality.
Join us from 11 to 13 December 2026 in the streets of the Old Town to (re)live this chapter of Geneva’s history!
