Altstadt (Old Town) at night.  Rathausbrücke (Town Hall Bridge) and the towers of Kirche St. Peter (St. Peter's Church) and Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady church) are visible.

Zürich, Switzerland

by Eve Andersson


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Zürich is a beautiful city in the north of Switzerland, situated on a long lake amid rolling mountains. Although it is a small city, with only a million people in the city and suburbs, it is quite cosmopolitan, perhaps partially owing to the high percentage of foreign nationals. Zürich is wealthy and immaculate, with a well-preserved, historic center (Altstadt).

Lake Zürich

The long, narrow Lake Zürich (Zürichsee) stretches from the center of Zürich along a nearly perfect 40-km arc to the southeast. The lake's water, originating from mountain glaciers, is used (after purification) as Zürich's drinking water. The Limmat river, dividing Zürich's old town in two, is actually formed from the outflow of Lake Zürich rather than being a contributor to it.

Zürichsee (Lake Zürich).  View towards the mountains, away from Zürich, from midway between Thalwil and Erlenbach. Layers of clouds and the shore of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich) at Küsnacht. Mythenquai, with lake fountain.  Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Sailboats on Zürichsee (Lake Zürich) at dusk. Altstadt (Old Town) Zürich, from Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Altstadt (Old Town) Zürich, from Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Utoquai, viewed from Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Lake fountain at Mythenquai.  Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Waterfront at Wollishofen.  Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). House in long grass on Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Pink house on Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Zürichhorn water slide.  Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Lindt factory on Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Waterfront at Zollikon.  Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Vine-covered house on the shore of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich).

Nearby Mountains

The Adliswil-Felsenegg Luftseilbahn (cable car) takes you up a steep mountainside, giving you a view over Zürich and the lake, with snow-capped peaks in the distance.

Cable car, with the town of Adliswil below, viewed from Felsenegg. View to the south of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich) and mountains. View to the north of Zürich and suburbs. Rolling mountaintop fields. Blossoming tree and rolling mountaintop fields.

Altstadt (Old Town)

This walkable area of the city, along and near the shores of the Limmat river, has narrow, cobblestone streets, old cathedrals (dating back to the 12th century), guild houses (15th century), fountains, and hills with great views. Once you're done feasting your eyes, you can engage your other senses at one of Altstadt's numerous world-class restaurants.

Grossmünster (Great Church) at night.  Built in the 12th century.  Altstadt (Old Town). Spiegelgasse at night.  Altstadt (Old Town). Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady church) at night.  Built in the 13th century.  Altstadt (Old Town). Fountain on Spiegelgasse at night.  Altstadt (Old Town). Altstadt (Old Town) at night.  Rathausbrücke (Town Hall Bridge) and the towers of Kirche St. Peter (St. Peter's Church) and Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady church) are visible. Intersection of Rindermarkt, Spiegelgasse, and Neumarkt at night.  Altstadt (Old Town).

Spiegelgasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Dragon-dog figure on fountain outside Zürich Hauptbahnhof (Main Station). Altstadt (Old Town). Heiri-Steg walkway along the Limmat river.  Altstadt (Old Town). House with front and back simultaneously visible.  Wohllebgasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Grossmünster (Great Church), built in the 12th century.  Altstadt (Old Town). Clock tower on Kirche St. Peter (St. Peter's Church).  Altstadt (Old Town). Bay window on Oberdorfstrasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Flags on Widdergasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Baby drinking from fountain.  Clean, mountain water comes out of fountains in Zürich.  Lindenhof.  Altstadt (Old Town). House with purple shutters.  Wohllebgasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Münstergasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Houses on a hill with steps on Grossmünsterplatz.  Altstadt (Old Town). Limmatquai, with Grossmünster (Great Church) visible in the distance.  Altstadt (Old Town). Chess players.  Lindenhof.  Altstadt (Old Town). Feet in a window on a sunny day.  Altstadt (Old Town). Shop sign with snake wearing crown.  Altstadt (Old Town). Bustling square on Niederdorfstrasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Rathaus (Town Hall), on the Limmat river.  Altstadt (Old Town). View of Münsterbrücke from Rathausbrücke.  Altstadt (Old Town). Cat painted on the side of a building.  Altstadt (Old Town). Limmatquai, from Rathausbrücke (Town Hall Bridge).  Altstadt (Old Town). Building at General-Guisan-Quai and Stockerstrasse.  Altstadt (Old Town). Dragon-dog with spiky collar. Rüden Restaurant. Altstadt (Old Town). Shop door on Spiegelgasse.  Altstadt (Old Town).

Other

Statue of Ganymede and Zeus (represented as an eagle).  Bürkliplatz, on the shore of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Water sculpture.  Zürich Hauptbahnhof (Main Station).  Altstadt (Old Town). Flower clock on Bürkliplatz, on the shore of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich). Metal sculpture in Zürichhorn Park. Nicolas the firebreather.  Zürich Arboretum. Dandelions.  Zürich Arboretum. Graffiti by the train track.  Two skulls within a skull. Tram.  The trams in Zürich run perfectly on time. Teuscher chocolate shop on Bahnhofstrasse.  Altstadt (Old Town).





More photos: View all photos in the directory /photos/switzerland/.
Eve Andersson (eve@eveandersson.com)
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