La Tour de l’Ile - Headquarters
On the outside history, inside the future.
The Tour-de-l'lle, last vestige of the Château de L'Ile situated between the two arms of the Rhone, is the oldest remnant of Geneva's medieval past. This former fortress was a veritable entry gate into the city. Today, it houses the offices of Banque Safdié.
Built between 1215 and 1219 by Bishop Aymon de Grandson in order to command the bridge crossing, the Château was besieged and taken in 1287 by the Count of Savoie. Partially destroyed in 1670 by the fires which burned down the Rhone bridges, rebuilt from 1680 and finally protected as an historical monument by referendum in 1897, The Tour-de-l'Ile has always been intimately linked to the history of this international financial center.
From 1858 to 1886, the Tower featured three clock dials showing the different local times then in force in Paris, Geneva and the Federal capital, Bern. At that time, Paris was 15 minutes 16 seconds behind Geneva, while Bern was 5 minutes, 6 seconds ahead. In this way, in 1860, the intrepid traveler arriving from Lyon and intending to go on to Lausanne had to take account of three different time zones, which inevitably resulted in a certain amount of confusion. As proof, there is the story of the young Bernese groom-to-be who, traveling to Geneva to meet his future in-laws, missed his connection by this 5 minute time difference, and had his engagement broken off.
Banque Safdié has occupied the Tower since 1975. Special care has been taken in the arrangement and furnishing of these prestigious premises, in the fullest respect for their historical associations.
