The Escalade Festival is an annual event celebrating the liberation of Geneva from Savoy occupation, and with a history going back more than 400 years, it's one of the most important events in the city. In 1602, the Duke of Savoy was intent on seizing Geneva, so he had his army surround the city, During the night of December, the Savoy soldiers climbed ladders in an atttem to scale the massive wall of the city, but they were unable to succeed in the face of stroung resistance from the city's inhaleitants. From that day on, the peopleof Geneva marked the anniversary of this event with a festival that takes its name from the French word 'to climb'. Today, people gather in the city centre wearing costumes and parade around accompanied bt drumming. There's also a masked ball and various competitions. This year's festival takes place between December and concludes with a huge bonfire in front of St. Peter's Cathedral
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