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5000 BCE
Sechseläuten Square
A city dating back more than 5000 years was found under this square (houses on stilt) . The second oldest door in the world was founded in this place. -
286 BCE
Legend Felix and Regula: Patrons of the City
Were imprisoned and executed as well as their servant Exuperantus.
They miraculously stood to their feet, picked up their own heads, walked uphill, and prayed before lying down in death. They were buried on the spot where they lay down, where the Grossmünster is now.
Legend revealed in a dream to a monk, wich contributed to the conversion of the inhabitants of these regions to Christianity.
These three saints still appear on the coat of arms and seal of Zurich today. -
15 BCE
LINDENHOF
Once the Romans conquered the Alps, they devoted their efforts to building a military base in Lindenhof.
It was a strategic customs post where fluvial traffic was controlled. -
853
Louis the Germanic
German grandson of Charles the Great, founded the Fraumünster Abbey for his daughter Hildegarde a womens convent surrounding the tombs of the patron saints of the city, Felix and Regula. -
929
First mention of Zurich as a city.
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1045
Fraumünster
King Henry III of the Holy Roman Empire authorized Fraumünster to manage the markets, the tolls and minting coins, thereby giving the abbess total economic control over the city of Zurich. -
1100
Grossmünster
The Grossmünster was a church-monastery. According to the legend, it was founded by Charlemagne who, in that same place, had knelt before the tombs of saints Saint Felix and Saint Régula, patrons of Zurich. Recent archaeological excavations have confirmed that, indeed, where the Grossmünster stands today there was a cemetery from Roman times. -
1336
Rudolf Brun
However, the political power of the convent was slowly diminishing in the XIV century with the establishment of trade union laws by Rudolf Brun, who also became the first independent mayor, that is, not elected by the abbey. -
1350
Swiss Confederation
Zurich becomes part of the Swiss Confederation becoming the fifth canton. -
1519
Protestant Reformation.
Zúrich fue el primer cantón suizo que adoptó la Reforma Protestante. -
1520
Ulrich Zwingli
He was the leader of the Swiss Protestant Reformation and the founder of the Swiss Reformed Church. -
1523
Iconoclasm
Zurich separates from Catholicism, provoking the massive withdrawal of images of saints in the churches. -
1524
End of Fraumünster
The power of the abbey was dissolved as a result of the reforms of Ulrich Zwingli. -
St. Peter´s Church
The only baroque church in the city, but by far it is not the first religious building built on this site: the archaeological excavations have brought to light the walls of the city. a church of 10 meters by 7 that dates from the VIII or IX century, mentioned in a document of 857. -
ETH (SCHOOL POLITECNICA FEDERAL DE ZÜRICH)
A pioneer in research in Europe. Prestigious scientists have passed through its classrooms, in total 21 Nobel prizes (Albert Einstein). Its reputation is based fundamentally on research in Molecular Biology, Copper Brain and Anthropology. -
Zurich during the Contemporary Age
In the 20th century, Zurich, like Switzerland, benefited from its position of neutrality, which allowed it to get rid of the two World Wars. Its neutrality allowed it to maintain its standard of living and even increase it due to the multitude of money and personal wealth that was installed in the country. -
Dadaism
Cultural and artistic movement created with the purpose of opposing the arts that arose at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. Dadaism arose from the disenchantment felt by these artists living in the Europe of the late period of the First World War. Proposed by Hugo Ball.
Most Famous representative: Tristan Tzara (From Romania) -
Hall de Giacometti – Augusto Giacometti
For two years, Giacometti worked with bright, warm colors to create floral decorations and scenic images. The wonderfully vibrant entrance hall was completed in 1925 and today is considered to be a work of national significance. -
Zürich: Biggest open-air drug scene in Europe
Platzspitz was the biggest open-air drug scene in Europe in the 80´s and 90´s. It was like Disney World for junkies. Zurich is a small town and its drug scene was huge in those days. On some days there were almost 3,000 junkies hanging out there, using drugs, getting drunk. People started dying and getting infected with HIV and hepatitis C. The area became a heap of garbage and there was an open war between rival drug gangs, so the Swiss government shut it down in the 1990s. -
Facts
Limmat is the cleanest urban river in the world
2nd best city to live in the world
2nd most expensive place to live in the world
