Rathaus (Town Hall), Zurich
Zurich鈥檚 power couple: the Town Hall and the City House鈥攖wo buildings, one river, and several centuries of political drama.
The former of the two, the Town Hall, is a stately beauty dating back to the 1690s, sitting atop a historical layer cake. It's built on the bones of a 1397 city council hall, which itself rose from a 13th-century courthouse. Basically, if these walls could talk, they鈥檇 probably be exhausted. Once the seat of the Republic of Zurich until 1798, it is now the proud property of the Canton of Zurich and hosts both the cantonal and city parliaments. Talk about multitasking...
Just across the river (because Zurich doesn鈥檛 believe in overcrowding its government buildings), you鈥檒l find the City House, the edifice in which the executive government gets down to business. It's on the Limmat鈥檚 west side, just south of the Town Hall Bridge. If you time it right, you can watch democracy in action from a second-floor terrace. It鈥檚 like political theater, but with less shouting.
Speaking of the Town Hall Bridge, this isn鈥檛 just any river crossing. It鈥檚 a plaza, a market, a pedestrian hangout, and a time machine all rolled into one. The locals used to call it the 鈥渧egetable bridge,鈥� because medieval farmers once hawked their carrots and cabbages here. Today, you're more likely to find bratwurst and espresso.
This bridge has been around since the Middle Ages, originally made entirely of wood. Expanded in 1375 and again in 1420, it鈥檚 always been extra鈥攚ide enough for buildings to sit on top. By the 1600s, it had grown into its current footprint, and in the 1800s, it ditched the timber look for some serious stone-and-cast-iron swagger.
The bridge and surrounding square still buzz with life鈥攆estivals, markets, street performers, and all the postcard-perfect souvenir shops your heart desires. It鈥檚 pedestrian-only, so, put on your comfy footwear and let history meet you halfway across the Limmat.
The former of the two, the Town Hall, is a stately beauty dating back to the 1690s, sitting atop a historical layer cake. It's built on the bones of a 1397 city council hall, which itself rose from a 13th-century courthouse. Basically, if these walls could talk, they鈥檇 probably be exhausted. Once the seat of the Republic of Zurich until 1798, it is now the proud property of the Canton of Zurich and hosts both the cantonal and city parliaments. Talk about multitasking...
Just across the river (because Zurich doesn鈥檛 believe in overcrowding its government buildings), you鈥檒l find the City House, the edifice in which the executive government gets down to business. It's on the Limmat鈥檚 west side, just south of the Town Hall Bridge. If you time it right, you can watch democracy in action from a second-floor terrace. It鈥檚 like political theater, but with less shouting.
Speaking of the Town Hall Bridge, this isn鈥檛 just any river crossing. It鈥檚 a plaza, a market, a pedestrian hangout, and a time machine all rolled into one. The locals used to call it the 鈥渧egetable bridge,鈥� because medieval farmers once hawked their carrots and cabbages here. Today, you're more likely to find bratwurst and espresso.
This bridge has been around since the Middle Ages, originally made entirely of wood. Expanded in 1375 and again in 1420, it鈥檚 always been extra鈥攚ide enough for buildings to sit on top. By the 1600s, it had grown into its current footprint, and in the 1800s, it ditched the timber look for some serious stone-and-cast-iron swagger.
The bridge and surrounding square still buzz with life鈥攆estivals, markets, street performers, and all the postcard-perfect souvenir shops your heart desires. It鈥檚 pedestrian-only, so, put on your comfy footwear and let history meet you halfway across the Limmat.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zurich. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Rathaus (Town Hall) on Map
Sight Name: Rathaus (Town Hall)
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Zurich, Switzerland
Create Your Own Walk in Zurich
Creating your own self-guided walk in Zurich is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Zurich's Historical Churches Tour
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The Swiss Reformed Church is the largest Protestant denomination, but... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
The Swiss Reformed Church is the largest Protestant denomination, but... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Zurich Introduction Walking Tour
Zurich鈥擲witzerland鈥檚 largest city and possibly the classiest time machine you鈥檒l ever stroll through. Beneath its polished surface of banks, trams, and world-class chocolate lies a city with roots older than most empires. Humans have been hanging out here for over 6,000 years, and in 15 BC the Romans finally gave it a name: Turicum鈥攎eaning 鈥渢he place of Turos鈥�, likely stemming from a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
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Old... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Zurich Souvenir Shopping
Zurich has no shortage of tourists, and when it comes to souvenirs, there are plenty of options available.
A popular saying goes, "When in Zurich, shop on Bahnhofstrasse." True, in terms of souvenir shopping, this thoroughfare is second to none. Another saying is that 鈥淲hen in Switzerland, buy Swiss-made products.鈥�
Alongside many other things, Bahnhofstrasse is home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
A popular saying goes, "When in Zurich, shop on Bahnhofstrasse." True, in terms of souvenir shopping, this thoroughfare is second to none. Another saying is that 鈥淲hen in Switzerland, buy Swiss-made products.鈥�
Alongside many other things, Bahnhofstrasse is home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Zurich Gourmet Tour
Apart from its high-quality watches, Switzerland is famous for its unique delicacies. The secrets of their making have been preserved for centuries and passed on from father to son. In this respect, it is not at all surprising that a global banking and financial center such as Zurich can be also a haven for food enthusiasts seeking gourmet delights. On this self-guided walk, we invite you to... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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Zurich is Switzerland鈥檚 largest city, and although it may feel like a bustling metropolis, the tranquil essence of the Alps flows fervently through the lively cobblestone streets, the buzzing train station, and the frenzied designer boutiques. Most shops in downtown Zurich open at 9 am and close...