One of the most ancient and unmolested European cities, Zurich, Switzerland, can delight travelers with its charming mix of old and new world architecture, breath-taking scenery, and abundance of cultural amenities. Small enough to walk in a few hours but intricate enough to supply enthusiasts with months of discoveries, Zurich captivates visitors with nearly unparalleled imagery and historic charm.
Landmarks
With many major landmarks and buildings of significance, Zurich gives sightseers, art lovers, and history buffs a lot to take in. The Fraumünster, completed in 853 AD by King Ludwig the German, compels admiration on many levels and its stained-glass windows were artfully crafted by Agusto Giacometti and Marc Chagall. Additionally, St. Peter Kirche is Zurich’s oldest parish church, housing religious relics dating back as far as the ninth century, and its enormous clock is the largest for any church in Europe.
Among Zurich’s most exceptional structural icons is the Rathaus, or town hall, an ornate multi-storied Renaissance construction with a Baroque entrance. The Landesmuseum presents Swiss cultural history from its beginnings to the present and give an insight into Swiss identity and the rich tapestry of the country’s history and culture. Finally, Zurich’s gorgeous opera house, with more than 270 performances per season, was the first opera house in all of Europe that had electric lighting and is considered one of the best venues in the world for opera. Indulge the artistic senses by catching a performance at the end of a day after taking in the city.
The Old City
Neiderdorf is the old city, encompassing an amazing collection of restaurants and pubs with a real international flair in addition to the traditional Swiss sense of style and living. There are also a myriad of commercial shops, from designer clothes to stylishly funky modern urban wear, innovative gadgetry, plenty of souvenir shops and, of course, jewelry and watches. After a few hours of walking the narrow, winding cobblestone streets on either side of the Limmat River, step into the Thermalbad Spa or Fitnesspark Hamam Munstergasse Spa and relax tranquilly with a variety of spa treatments and packages, the simplest being access to all the invigorating water and steam facilities that the center has to offer. Reservations are required for the Fitnesspark, but they can often be made on the spot for the same day.
Zurich from the Top: The Majestic Rigi
Though the country is very small and offers adventurers a multitude of outdoor activities and experiences in any direction from Zurich, one of the closest locations to get the full Swiss Alp experience is the Rigi. Known as the “Queen of the Mountains,” the Rigi is about an hour by car from the city or travelers can take the train from Zürich Hauptbahnhof to Arth-Goldau via Biberbrugg with splendid views along the lake of Zürich.
The expression, “runs like a Swiss clock,” is based on the reliability and punctuality of the Swiss system, so the train will leave exactly when the ticket claims it will. In Arth-Goldau, a two-minute walk to the Arth-Rigi Bahn takes passengers up to the Rigi Kulm, the highest peak of the mountain. A variety of well-maintained walking trails and hikes await adventurers thorough the flowered vertical plains leading up to the top of the 1,797 meter-high mountain where spectators are rewarded with awesome views, impressively-sized bovines, pristine glacier lakes and some of the sweetest air the planet has to offer.
Visitors to Zurich will marvel at the efficiency, charm and aestheticism of the city. Though it is firmly rooted in Swiss style and tradition, the influence of neighboring France and Italy, in addition to the high number of other international residents and cultures that find their way into the city, gives Zurich and its visitors a little something extra.
