Zurich Sights / Attractions

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Uetliberg

Offering wonderful panoramic views of the city of Zürich, the entire Lake area and, on a clear day, the surrounding Alpine peaks, Üetliberg (height 873 metres) is a ridge of hills - though often described as a mountain - in the Swiss plateau and part of the Albis chain.

From Zürich Hauptbahnhof (main station), it's a twenty-minute train ride from platform 2 using the S10 Sihltal Zurich Uetliberg Bahn (SZU) service to Uetlibergbahn (the end of the line).

Alternatively, a popular hiking route from Felsenegg runs along a forested ridge overlooking Lake Zürich. Access is first from the Adliswil valley station (which operates train services to Zurich HB) then, from the base station, a 300 metre long cable-car ascends to the mountain station at Felsenegg (for further details telephone: 01/206 45 11, e-mail: info@szu.ch).

For hiking routes and local contour lines, it's possible to pick up a leaflet entitled "Ausflugstipps" from Zürich HB, Üetliberg Kulm or the Felsenegg cable car station, with popular (shorter) paths including Albisgüetli-Üetliberg Kulm, Üetliberg-Felsenegg and Üetliberg-Albispass, while the longest stretches from Albisgüetli-Sihlbrugg.

For arrivals at Üetlliberg station, a trail (named the "Planetenweg" or "Planet Path") takes visitors on a short uphill walk to the summit. Accurately recreating the distances between each planet in our solar system - to a scale of 1:1 billion - it features models of the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars en-route, while the most distant (Pluto) is located approx. 5km away at Felsenegg.

At the summit, a 30 metre viewing tower (which raises the overall altitude to over 900 metres) affords 360-degree panoramic views, while in the immediate vicinity you'll find the Gmüetliberg restaurant (open Mon–Sat 8am–midnight, Sun 8am–10pm, see www.gmuetliberg.ch) which serves as a self-service buffet. Indeed, ZVV offer (through Zürich Tourismus) a Fondue Feast at the restaurant, which includes a 24hr ZürichCARD in the price.

Wasserkirche (and Helmhaus)

Limmtquai 31, CH-8001 Zürich, Tel: +41 (0)44 251 61 77, Website: www.helmhaus.org, Tram 4, 15 to << Helmhaus >>
Built in 1479, the Wasserkirche's (Waterchurch's) foundations are said to have been laid on the execution site of Felix and Regula, the patron saints of Zürich. Both the Wasserkirche and adjacent Helmhaus were once surrounded by water on their own island (hence the name), though today they stand at the foot of the Münsterbrücke - a span built in 1838 to replace the previous wooden pilgrams' foot bridge.

Late-gothic in style, the church's contents were sacked during the Reformation, when any signs of ornamentation or embellishment removed. Indeed, a statue of Ulrich Zwingli - the preacher who led the city in adopting ecclesiastical reforms - to make it the first Protestant state outside of Germany - stands directly outside the building (depicting him with a bible in one hand and sword in the other).

The Wasserkirche does, however, boast stained glass windows (dating from the turn-of-the-20th century) by Italian artist Augusto Giacometti.

Here, you'll also find the open court of Helmhaus, which once served as a linen market and which today plays host to exhibitions of contemporary, often experimental, art by Zürich-based artists.

Zürichsee (Lake Zürich)

Lake Zürich (German: Zürichsee or, more locally, known as Zürisee) is located in the south-western part of the Canton of Zürich, with its northern shores extending to the city of the same name.

Zürich is the principal settlement on the lake, with its waters originating from the valley of the river Linth. Through a series of canals (the Escher and Linth) water is channeled into Lake Walen, before continuing on to the Zürichsee. The lake's point of egress lies at its north-western end, passing through the town of Zürich as the river Limmat.

Extending 40km in length and with a maximum breadth of 3 km, the eastern section of the lake is known as the "upper lake" or Obersee in German.

All year round, ferries (which form part of Zürich's public transport network) ply their trade on the lake. The city's principal ferry terminal is at Enge – on the western shore of Lake Zürich – though many will find the landing stage at Bürkliplatz the most convenient.

Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (Tel: 1/487 1333), operates ferries daily (from 9am-7pm) and serve towns and villages around Lake Zürich including Rapperswil and Schmerikon (at the far end of the lake). To reach Enge, take tram 7 from Central or tram 5 from Bellevueplatz to Bahnhof Zürich-Enge (with the ferry terminal being adjacent to the local Arboretum). For Bürkliplatz, trams 2, 5, 8, 9 or 11 and buses 161 or 165 all serve the landing stage.

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Zürich Sights/Attractions - Uetliberg, Wasserkirche, Zürichsee (Lake Zürich)

Uetliberg

Wasserkirche (and Helmhaus)

Zürichsee (Lake Zürich)