Spirit of the city: Zürich

What to see

St. Peter Church

St. Peter Church (Kirche St. Peter) was built on the site where a Temple of Jupiter once stood, among the ruins an Ancient Roman castle. While the first church on the site was built in the 8^th or 9^th century, it was replaced by a building constructed circa 1000 A.D., then by a Romanesque structure in 1230. The nave was then rebuilt in 1460 in the Gothic style. In the 13^th century, a clock was added to the church’s tower, and while it has been replaced and added to over history, today St. Peter Church boasts the largest clock face in Europe. The diameter of the clock face in about 8.7 meters, with one on each of the four sides of the clock tower.

Lindenhof Park

Lindenhof Park (Lindenhofplatz) in the center of Zürich takes its name from the linden trees which fill it, and it’s something of an oasis of greenery in the middle of the city. Since the 4^th century, this park has been used for a range of different purposes, but today it’s a favorite of both residents and visitors alike. Whatever the time of day, you’ll be likely to see people enjoying a leisurely stroll through this picturesque park. As you explore, you’ll find people playing open-air chess, and you’ll get the chance to take some fantastic photographs of the scenery, particularly if you’re lucky enough to catch the leaves changing colors as fall approaches.

Swiss National Museum

The Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) is set in a historical building constructed towards the end of the 19^th century, and should be high on your list of places to visit while in Zürich. The museum boasts an impressive range of collections, including archeology, numismatics, ceramics, porcelain, textiles, jewelry and oil paintings. Time really does fly while you’re in the Swiss National Museum, so be sure you set aside enough to really appreciate all it has to offer.

Kunsthaus Zürich

Kunsthaus Zürich first opened in 1910, and has been expanded over the years, though the building we see today is the design of renowned British architect David Chipperfield. The collections of the gallery fall under various sections and span a range of eras. From the works of Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti, to the paintings of Kandinsky, Chagall and Klee, Kunsthaus Zürich is full of exceptional pieces of art. In fact, there are even pieces from the Dutch Golden Age and the Italian Baroque era, which means you’ll get to see some of Europe’s finest paintings too. It’s a real treat to see local and European art spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day in this gallery, so be sure you take the opportunity to appreciate it in all its splendor.

Zürich James Joyce Foundation

The Zürich James Joyce Foundation (Zürcher James Joyce Stiftung) began when Jury’s Antique Bar, a pub in Joyce’s hometown of Dublin and mentioned in his fiction, auctioned off its Victorian decorations in the early 1970s. The interior was purchased by and brought to Zürich, where the James Joyce Pub was opened in 1978. Fitting, considering the writer spent a significant portion of his life in the city, and Zürich even features in some of his work. The pub then served as the location for the 7^th International James Joyce Symposium, further cementing the location’s connection with the author. When it seemed like the collection might be broken up and sold off, the efforts of Dr. Robert Holzach saw the formation of the foundation in 1985. The Zürich James Joyce Foundation is now dedicated to keeping the memory of the great writer alive, and if you’ve an interest in literature, it’s a great place to visit while in the city.

Grossmünster

According to legend, the horse belonging to Charlemagne, the founder of the Holy Roman Empire, fell to its knees on the site of the tombs of Felix and Regula, Zürich’s patron saints. The ground was dug up where the horses fell and the tombs of the saints were revealed, and Charlemagne founded a church on the site. While the Catholics built a monastery here in 1100, during the Reform, Martin Luther’s right-hand man Huldrych Zwingli converted into a Protestant church. While the interior of the church is fairly understated, the stained-glass windows are truly spectacular. The church is an unmistakable part of the city’s skyline, as you can see its two towers from all over Zürich.

Fraumünster

Fraumünster is one of the oldest buildings in the city and reflects the Roman architectural style. The church was built in 853 on the orders of German King Louis, who commissioned the church for his daughter Hildegard. From then until the 13^th century, it was used as an abbey for aristocratic German women. It’s for this reason that it was named Fraumünster, literally “Women’s Minster”. In fact, it was the king’s daughter Hildegard who was the abbey’s first head nun. After repairs in 1250, Fraumünster was turned into a Catholic church, only then to be converted into a Protestant one in the 16^th century. The church’s most striking features include the bell tower with its blue roof and Swiss clock, stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall, and its huge organ.

Bahnhofstrasse

Over the past years,Bahnhofstrasse has been identified as Europe’s most expensive shopping boulevard, and the 3^rd most expensive in the world. No surprise then that you’ll find the world’s most exclusive brands on this street. It’s pedestrianized, so you can explore it on foot, or use the tram which runs along its length. Once you finished taking a look around the stores, take a break at one of the several restaurants and cafés surrounding Paradeplatz, one of Zürich’s most famous squares.

What to eat

Fondue

In 1930, the Swiss Cheese Union promoted fondue as the national dish. The word comes from the French “fondre”, which literally means “soft”, and it’s a taste which has spread across the Alps and the rest of the world. It’s a dish made different varieties of cheese which are melted in a traditional fondue pot, which you then dunk chunks of bread into using a long fork. Its name has been adopted by other dishes which use this style of presentation, with chocolate fondue perhaps being the next best-known variety. However, it’s cheese fondue that the Swiss are famous for, so be sure to try this deliciously satisfying meal when you get the chance.

Muesli

The word muesli comes from the Swiss German word “mües”, which roughly translates as “crushed”, given that its main ingredient is rolled oats. It was introduced in 1900 by the Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital, where healthy eating was an integral part of his treatment. Since then, it’s become one of Switzerland’s most well-known foods. While there are plain varieties of muesli, more often you’ll find that a variety of dried and fresh fruits are added, and is just as good served with yoghurt as it is with milk.