Coming up in Geneva:Motor Show, Inventors Fair, Bocuse d’Or Europe

(Caleb Foster)

The Geneva Auto Show, one of the five biggest motor shows in the world, is the most important event of the year in the Swiss metropolis, however, other highlights comprise an international inventors fair and a major gourmet contest that bring a different crowd to Lake Geneva's banks.

For almost two weeks, Geneva is all about cars. The 60th edition of the Geneva Auto Show should attract over 700,000 visitors to Geneva's Palexpo. A special touristic package offers promotional prices on hotel nights, transport and special excursions to car fans who want to go beyond Palexpo and see what the city has to offer.

After carmakers, international inventors will flock to the francophone city to take part in the 38th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva. Between April 21 and 25, the most important exhibition exclusively devoted to inventions in the world will present 1000 innovative objects by 700 exhibitors from 45 countries. Visitors will be able to have a glimpse at inventors' creativity taking of the form of items such as last year's Grand Prix called ROBOSCAN, a vehicle capable of scanning large lorries and trailers with no human intervention. (http://www.inventions-geneva.ch).

Like the previous two exhibitions the Geneva International Art Fair, now called Art By Genève, also takes place in Palexpo. Between April 28 and May 2, the fair open to the public, is designed for collectors and art professionals and aspires to encourage meetings and international exchanges in Geneva. (http://www.artbygeneve.ch)

To conclude with something tasty, the most prestigious cooking contest in the world will see its European finals in Geneva between June 6 and 8. Presented as a "Formula one contest for chefs", Bocuse d'Or awards the most promising cooks in Europe and enables them to take part in the international finals in Lyon, France, in January 2011. Although not open to the public, visitors will be able to get a taste of the competition during the Gourmet Expo, taking place at the same time. (http://www.gourmet-expo.com)