Zurich Sights / Attractions

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Polybahn

Tram 3, 4, 6, 7 10 or Bus 31, 46 to << Central >>
Zürich has long placed great importance on ferrying its citizens around with the minimum of fuss. Indeed, when faced with a need for college students to easily ascend to the University of Zürich and the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zurich), the city's fathers granted a concession to build the Zürichbergbahn in 1886.

Colloquially known as the "Polybahn", the funicular's lower terminus can be found adjacent to the busy Central interchange. Comprising of two small cable cars, each counterbalances the other, with the vehicles passing one another mid-way between the lower and upper stations.

Taking approximately 3 minutes to reach the terminus for Rämistrasse and the University of Zürich/ETH Zürich, the Polybahn or "Student Express" (as its also now known) carries more than 1.5 million passengers annually, while its owners (UBS) have a reciprocal fare arrangement with VBZ - the city's public transportation body - to allow users of day and multi-day passes (as well as those with Swiss Passes and Zurich cards) to ride the Polybahn for free. Operating from 6.45am-7.15pm on weekdays and 7.30am-2pm on Saturdays, the funicular is closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

Quaibrücke

Tram 2, 5, 8, 9 and 11 to << Bürkliplatz >>
As the point where Lake Zürich flows into the river Limmat, the Quaibrücke (bridge) lies adjacent to Bürkliplatz which serves as a landing stage for lake steamers during the summer. The bridge, which dates back to 1882, connects to Bellevueplatz on the opposite bank and offers excellent vistas (across the lake) of the Glarus Alps on bright, sunny days. Looking back towards the Old Town, you can also take in stunning views (especially at night) of the city's famous churches, namely the Fraumünster and Grossmünster.

Rathaus

Tram 4, 15 to << Rathaus >>
Zürich's elegantly styled and well-proportioned Rathaus (Town Hall) dates from the late 17th-century and enjoys a prominent location on the Limmatquai. The building, which boasts richly decorated paneled interiors and an intricately styled stucco ceiling (in the banquet hall) still serves as a meeting venue for Canton councils, while on selected days during the week (Tue, Thu and Fri) it's open to the public from 10am to 11:30am.

Rieterpark

Tram 7 to << Museum Rietberg >>
As Zürich's largest and most impressive landscaped garden, Rieterpark lies to the south-west of the city, being situated adjacent to Seestrasse and Belvoir Park. Home to both Villa Wesendonck - a copy of the Roman Villa Albani - and the Park-Villa Rieter, the buildings form two-thirds of the Museum Rietberg, an impressive collection of Buddhist and Hindu art from China, India, Japan and Southeast Asia. Also located within the grounds of the park is the impressive Park Villa-Schönberg which is today used as an arts, conference and music venue.

St Peter's Church (Peterskirche)

St. Peterhofstatt 1, CH-8001 Zürich, Website: www.st-peter-zh.ch, Open: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Directions: Tram 4 or 15 to << Rathaus >> or Tram 2, 8, 9, 11 and 13 to << Paradeplatz >>
Occupying a prominent position on the river Limmat's left bank, Peterskirche stands close to the ruins of a late Roman fortress, just south of Lindenhof.

The church's exterior is the highlight of a visit here, being dominated by an enormous clock face - said to be the largest in Europe. Measuring 9 metres in diameter, with a minute hand of almost 4 metres, both clock and bells are housed within a late Romanesque-Gothic spire (which, in turn, stands atop of the original Romanesque base tower).

The origins of Peterskirche date back to the time of Emperor Ludwig (King Louis the German) who gifted the land to his two daughters, Hildegard and Berta. After founding St. Peter's, Hildegard went on to become the first abbess of the Fraumunster though, following her premature death, younger sister Berta continued her work.

Buried in the choir of the church is Rudolf Brün, the first independent mayor of Zürich (who led the Zürich guilds' revolution of 1336), while Leo Jud, the Swiss reformer and leading spirit in the translation of the Zürich Bible (also being Zwingli's most prominent and faithful associate) served as pastor here in 1523. This date, in particular, is significant as 1523 was the year in which Zwingli's reform doctrines started to be enforced in the Canton of Zürich.

As well as the three-aisle Baroque nave (added in 1705), the ballroom like interior of Peterskirche features oval windows and plaster work by Wessobrunner stucco master Franz Schmutzer, as well as the locally trained Salomon Bürkli. Open to the public from Monday-Saturday (8am-6pm) services are regularly held here, as are reasonably priced classical concerts.