When Charles Emmanuel came to the throne of the House of Savoy in 1580, he longed to make Geneva, which then was not a member of the Swiss Confederation, his capital north of the Alps and to crush Protestantism. The attempt to conquer the city at night failed due to the fierce resistance of Geneva citizens. Today the events, which are believed to have significantly changed the religious map of Europe, are celebrated every year at the Fête de l'Escalade. (TSR/swissinfo.ch)