A City of Diverse History

One-third of the city of Zurich is made up of lush verdant spaces. In this city abounding in parks and forests, the nearest recreation area, barbecue site or hiking path is never very far away. Beautiful natural surroundings far removed from the bustling city can be found on Zurich's very own mountain, the Uetliberg. The summit of this car-free mountain is swiftly reached by train or aerial cableway and rewards visitors with a fantastic panorama of the city of Zurich, the lake and the snow-covered Alps on the horizon. Lush forests, such as the Sihlwald, provide plenty of fresh air and space to enjoy leisurely walks or more energetic sporting activities. Here, in one of Switzerland's largest mixed deciduous forests north of the Alps, there are countless trails for walking, hiking, cycling, mountain biking or horse riding. Meanwhile, in the adjoining wildlife park, visitors can observe various native animals, from foxes to marmots, in environments very similar to the natural habitats. Many more animal species can be found at the 68-acre (27 hectare) large Zurich Zoo, whose Masoala Rainforest treats visitors to a Madagascan tropical climate all year round. Animals are also the main attraction at Knie’s Children's Zoo in Rapperswil; some can be stroked and petted, while others – such as elephants and camels – can even be ridden on. Meanwhile, the Atzmännig mountain is absolute heaven for action seekers. With its summer toboggan run, slides, rope park, trampolines, hiking paths and much more besides, the leisure park guarantees people of all ages an exciting day out. Fresh mountain and lake air can also be enjoyed at the popular excursion regions of Amden, Sattel-Hochstuckli and Braunwald.

Urban Freshness in the City of Water
Water is omnipresent in this city by the lake. Top-quality, pleasant-tasting drinking water flows from the city's water taps, as well as from the approximately 1,200 public fountains. Lake Zurich, around which the city is built, and the River Limmat, which winds its way past Old Town buildings and through rapidly growing urban quarters, lend Zurich a refreshing Mediterranean ambiance. Bathing in the lake or the river is a particularly popular pastime; measured in terms of the population, no other city in Europe has such a high concentration of bathing facilities as Zurich. After dusk, a number of riverside and lakeside bathing areas are transformed into bars, offering refreshing drinks and entertainment until the early hours of the morning. Those who prefer to be on rather than by or in the water can best enjoy the luxuriant nature along the shoreline by boat. Besides the regular boat services, special theme cruises, such as the Party Cruise, Sunset Cruise or Fondue Cruise, provide plenty of variation. Boats provide access to the abundant nature along the southern part of Lake Zurich. The tiny, idyllic island of Ufenau is a nature reserve and offers tranquility, fresh air and a restaurant a view. Another pearl in Lake Zurich is the island of Lützelau, which can be comfortably reached from nearby Rapperswil by water taxi and besides a restaurant is home to a campsite. Incidentally, the lake is also surrounded by countless hiking paths; the Lake Zurich Trail takes keen walkers all the way round the lake basin in ten legs. And anyone who wants to explore the numerous lakes in the region can get to the Greifensee, Pfäffikersee or Sihlsee in no time at all.

Zurich is a vibrant hub of culture and business. Over the centuries, the region has developed from a small Roman customs post into a world-renowned tourist destination.

Ancient Times

Already 7000 years ago the first settlers made the shores of Lake Zurich, where the waters exit, their place of home. Traces of these settlements can be detected from Bauschänzli to Wollishofen.

57/58 BC the Romans came to Zurich and founded the Turicum customs station, where travelers and goods were dispatched before crossing into the province of Raetia.

The ancient name Turicum and evidence that there was a customs station is only because of the grave inscription for Urbicus, son of the local customs superintendent, made in 1747 and found on the Lindenhof. In the 4th century a castle was built on the Lindenhof, which remained until the Early Middle Ages, around which the settlement of Zurich expanded.

In 1218, after the death of the last of the Zähringers, Zürich’s ruling family, Zürich became a free city. Although it was under the emperor’s rule, Zürich was allowed to govern itself.

Late Middle Ages

In 1336, Rudolf Brun and the tradesmen of the city stormed the Town Hall. From this time on, the council no longer consisted only of aristocrats; half of it was made up of tradesmen, who organized themselves into guilds.

In 1351, 60 years after the founding of the Helvetic Confederation, Zürich was the sixth canton to join.

Reformation

In the 16th century, as moral decline reached its peak and the council could not bring the population to its senses, Ulrich Zwingli became the priest of Grossmünster Church. He started the Reformation, which spread from Zürich to all of German-speaking Switzerland.

In the time following the Reformation, many religious refugees came to Zürich. Thanks to them, Zürich developed into a center of the textile industry.

Modern Age

In 1648, the Peace Treaty of Westphalia granted the Confederation independence from the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.

During the age of industrialization in the late 18th and 19th centuries, Zürich changed from a city of tradesmen to a capital of machine-driven industry. After World War II, 70% of the workforce was already active in the service sector. Restaurants, bars, galleries and shops took up residence in former factory halls. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the former industrial districts have become the trendy districts in Zürich.

In past years, Zürich has repeatedly been chosen as the city with the highest quality of life in the world..

Enjoy the hiking and nature paradise in and around Zurich: in parks and gardens, on Zurich's very own Uetliberg "mountain", during a boat ride on Lake Zurich or a walk along the river.

Uetliberg – Zurich's Very Own Mountain
Uetliberg is Zurich's very own "mountain", from where you have beautiful views of the city and lake – and perhaps even a glimpse of the Alps. At 2,850 feet above sea level, Uetliberg towers over the rooftops of Zürich. The mountain affords an impressive panoramic view of the city, the lake and the Alps. The Uetliberg is particularly popular in November, as its summit is often above the blanket of fog that can cover the city at this time of year. In the winter, the hiking trails to the summit are converted into sledding runs. In summer, there’s plenty to discover on well-marked hiking routes, a mountain bike route, and on the Planet Trail. This two-hour walk from Uetliberg to Felsenegg (Adliswil) takes you on a fascinating tour through a model of our solar system.

Lake Zurich – Nature and Recreation by the Water
Lake Zurich was once above all a transport route. Today, it is a popular excursion point for swimming, boating or having a picnic on the lake's banks. Forested hills surround Lake Zurich on both sides. Flowing water has fissured the moraine and deposited sand and gravel on the lakeside banks. The farther you look from Zurich to the southeast, the more rural the banks become. Lake Zurich only freezes completely very rarely; the last time this happened was in the winter 1963. You can get from one bank to the other with the ferry between Meilen and Horgen, or across a dam at the narrowest point between Rapperswil and Hurden. There is also a wooden footbridge along the dam for pedestrians. Thanks to its good water quality, Lake Zurich supplies the surrounding region with the majority of its drinking water flowing from taps and fountains.