Place Neuve is the formal public square at the edge of the Vieille Ville, enclosed by three of Geneva's most important cultural institutions: the Grand Théâtre (the opera house), the Conservatoire de Musique, and the Musée Rath. The equestrian statue of General Henri Dufour — the first commander of the Swiss federal army and co-founder of the Red Cross — stands at the centre.
The square itself is less a place to linger than a meeting point and gateway: north takes you through the Parc des Bastions to the university; south leads into the rue du Rhône shopping district. The surrounding buildings are imposing neoclassical constructions of the mid-19th century. On the south side, the high retaining wall of the old town provides a theatrical backdrop. The Farmers' Market runs here on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the best in the city for regional produce.