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| Welcome to Zurich |
 Zurich
(in German: Zürich), locatedat the northern end of the Lake of Zurich, is charming and multilateral. Its well-preserved Old Town is to be found on both banks of the River Limmat, which flows out of the lake in a northerly direction. With a population of some 350,000 inhabitants, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. The canton of the same name hosts 1.1 million inhabitants and is thus the country's most densely populated canton. Zurich was founded as a Roman customs post in the year 15 B.C. From the 10th century onwards, it enjoyed the status of a town, and in 1218 was granted the rights of a free city. Rudolf Brun introduced a guild constitution after the downfall of the government in 1336. In 1351 the city joined the Everlasting League of the Confederates. After that, it has grown increasingly in importance, especially under the rule of Mayor Hans Waldmann (15th century). 1519 saw the beginning of the Reformation under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli. During the 19th century, Alfred Escher transformed Zurich into a trade and business center (machine and textile industry, banks, insurance companies, tourism), not in the least because of the founding of the Zurich Stock Exchange in 1877. This gave the city a fourth rank on the world's list and made it into what it still is: Switzerland's most important business centre and the world's gold trading center. |
| Remarkable features |
| The Old Town consists of narrow streets, which can be easily explored by foot. Along the riverside, you can find baroque guild-houses, and a myriad of small boutiques, antique shops, bars and cafes on the left bank of the Limmat. The main shopping area is concentrated nearby the train station. Stroll down the famous 'Bahnhofstrasse' – one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Europe – towards 'Paradeplatz' and the lake. Here you will find all sorts of elegant boutiques, department stores and specialist shops with a rich selection of high quality goods. When you feel like it, take a tour on the river, so you can lay eyes on the nice skyline of Zurich. |
| Churches & Museums |
| Besides being a business center and a shopping paradise, Zurich is known for 'culture': Old Churches, art galleries with the finest collections, amongst them Chagall, Miro and Picasso, and museums for all sorts of tastes. The 'Grossmünster' church is believed to be of Carolingian origin. With its unique dual towers, it is the city's most famous landmark. The oldest parts date from the late 11-12th century. One can also see the remains of Romanesque cloister with late 12th century sculptures. The earlier canonic educational establishment was replaced by the first school for girls (Wegmann) in 1853; today it houses the theological faculty of the University. The 'Fraumünster' – this Gothic church was the former church of the noblewomen of Zurich and a gift from Louis the German (853 A.D.). The foundations date from the 9-11th century. It is particularly well-known for its stained glass windows by Marc Chagall (1970). The St. Peter's church is the oldest church in Zurich. It has the largest clock face in Europe added in 1534 (8.7m in diameter). Beautiful interior, looks more like a ballroom than a church. In the Old Town center you can also find an overdosis of museums. Some, such as the 'Kunsthaus', exhibit excellent collections of paintings. One of the most important art museums in Europe, the Zurich 'Kunsthaus' is devoted mainly to the 19th and 20th centuries, although the range of paintings and sculpture reaches back to antiquity. The museum was founded in Victorian times and was overhauled in 1976. Today it is one of the most modern and sophisticated museums in the world, both in its lighting and its display of art. Its favorite exhibits include Rodin's Gate of Hell, near the entrance, and the Giacometti wing, showing the development of this Swiss-born artist. The collection of modern art includes works by all the greats – Bonnard, Braque, Chagall, Lipschitz, Marini, Mondrian, Picasso, Rouault. Two old masters, Rubens and Rembrandt, are also represented. To brighten a rainy day, come see the pictures by Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Utrillo. Make sure when you have paid a visit to the Kunsthaus, Peterskirche and Fraumünster, that you continue your walk to the Lindenhof. At this site aside the Limmat, you can see the 'cradle' of Zurich. It shows remnants of an old Roman fortress as well as a customs post. From this point, you can command a fine view of the Old Town. |
| Getting there |
| Zurich is located in the very heart of Europe and is easily accessible by all types of transport. The international Zurich-Kloten Airport is situated just 11 km from the city center and can be reached by train in 10 minutes. As a key transportation hub, it is served by over 150 airlines from all over the world. The main railway station enjoys a central location in the city. There are hourly connections not only to the other large Swiss towns, but also to all major cities in Europe. Town: Bern Basel Geneva Zurich |
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