Though this train station is an impressive building of its own, not to mention a major thoroughfare for countless travelers every day, it may be better known for the neighborhood that has grown around it. Bahnhofstrasse is now synonymous with the high-class shopping center in this cosmopolitan city and has a lot of traffic moving through the station. As you move through Hauptbahnhof, take a minute to stop and look around. The architecture is brilliant here. A great place to orient yourself with the city, there are many tourist-information desks and kiosks that offer tours to the wandering visitors.
A venerated cathedral made memorable by its imposing twin towers, Grossmünster is among the best-known landmarks in Zurich. Construction on the Romanesque-style structure began in the early 12th Century and continued for roughly 110 years. Legend reckons that the church was built as a monastery on the graves of Zurich's patron saints Felix and Regula and today proudly stands guard over the city and its spectacular landscape. Other significant architectural features apart from the towers include magnificent bronze doors, an 11th-century crypt, and grotesque-ornamented capitals that top the medieval columns of the grand south portal. Besides its architectural glory, the Grossmünster is also revered for its historical significance as the site where religious leader Huldrych Zwingli launched the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland during the 16th Century. The cathedral has since witnessed a handful of modifications, such as the stained-glass windows added in 1932 by Augusto Giacometti.
The Predigerkirche in Zurich is a beautiful protestant church with spectacular architecture. It is was built somewhere in the 13th Century and was run by Dominican monks but was turned into a protestant church after the Zwingli Reformation. Besides the wooden church pews, the side aisle has a library and a seating area with chairs for lunch that is served every Sunday. Almost every evening the church is a venue for Christian concerts.
Once an all-women abbey for those of aristocratic lineage, the Fraumünster Church commands dignity and a place of pride in Zurich. Perhaps one of the most striking features of this church is the troupe of magnificent, diversely colored stained glass windows crafted by renowned artists Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti. Another such recognizable gem of the church is its soaring tower, which was built in 1732, standing today in stark contrast to the twin towers of the nearby Grossmünster. This Gothic-Romanesque church also features an ornate nave, a Romanesque chancel, and exquisite frescoes which are but an escape into the church's storied past. Topped by a gleaming teal cap, this church proudly graces the heart of Zurich's old town.
Augmented by the steely waters of the Limmat River, this church is a stirring escape into history. A stone's throw from Lindenhof Hill in the old town of Zurich, this is one of the four major churches in the city. Although the current holy site was not declared sacred until 1706, an early church structure was believed to have been built by the 8th or 9th Century. The most iconic feature of St. Peterskirche is its clock tower, which plays host to the largest clock face in the country, its minute hand alone measuring 5.7 meters (18.8 feet). With a facade as legendary and imposing as this, it is no surprise that St. Peter Church lords over pristine, fawn-roofed houses which dot the charming landscape of Old Town. However, the interiors of the church are just as beautiful, its stuccoed white ceiling and carved wooden balconies illuminated by a line of chandeliers that swing overhead. While an ornate Romanesque choir stall and Baroque naves add to its magnificence, it is the now faded murals that are a true testimony to the church's long-standing history and religious repute.
Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich, which has been dubbed one of the most expensive shopping avenues in the world, can easily compete with its counterparts in New York, Hong Kong, Paris, and London. Blue-and-white trams whisk shoppers along this mile-long and mainly car-free stretch between the main train station and the lake. Bahnhofstrasse is where the affluent shop for designer clothing and gold watches. However, it also finds a fair share of the general populace, all in awe of the shopping extravaganza. A little park separates Bahnhofstrasse from the elegant department stores Jelmoli and Globus, all of which are worth a visit. Numerous restaurants and cafes feature outdoor seating, ideal for observing fellow shoppers.
Muri Abbey is a prominent Benedictine monastery commemorating Saint Martin of Tours. Serving as a burial ground for the House of Habsburg, the abbey was established by Radbot, Count of Habsburg, in 1027 and an abbey church was allocated in 1064. Muri Abbey was majorly destructed during the 14th Century, and Emperor Leopold I restored the monastery, the church and the historic mausoleum in the 18th Century. The site attracts thousands of visitors who come to view this grand religious institution.
Overlooking the River Zugersee, St. Andreas Castle is an ancient existing since 400 CE. The site has been used during the Roman Era for ceremonies and for Christian services in the 8th Century. The castle is under the private ownership and is open to public twice a year. The castle has also been marked as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
Dating back to 1150, the Ittingen Charterhouse functioned as a monastery and is today an education and seminar center. Until 1977, when it was under the possession of the Fehr family and operated as a monastery. Today, it houses an art museum of Thurgau, a worship center, an educational center and a restaurant.
The Wyden castle is one of the oldest surviving historic structures in Ossingen (Zurich canton). It is a registered site of national significance. The castle today is a private residence.
Zurich's vibrant and diverse history comes alive Augustinergasse, a historic street which winds through the charming Old Town. Touted as one of Zurich's most colorful streets, Augustinergasse is where lovingly carved, wooden windows embellish picture-perfect buildings gleaming in corals, emeralds and pastels. In the Middle Ages, it was home to a number of local artists, though the street was largely occupied by wealthy factory owners by the 17th Century. Notable landmarks along Augustinergasse include Augustinerkirche, one of the most significant churches in medieval Zurich, and Munzplatz, which served not only as a church but also as a workshop and mint coinage. Perhaps the most striking attribute of these edifices is the strategically crafted oriel windows, which go beyond just being a pretty ornamentation. Through these bay windows, residents could view forthcoming guests, hence buying themselves time to decline them with grace, if they so wished. These buildings which date to as far back as the 14th Century, are presently storefronts brimming with cultural relics, books, souvenirs, clothing and the likes.
Haus zum Rechberg is considered to be an impressive building in Hirschengraben, Zurich. The eye-catching palatial construction was undertaken by David Morf in 1759 for the sovereign. After several splendid renovations, The Rechberg house is opened to the public and visitors marvel at the fabulous architecture and the beautiful Baroque styled gardens.