Zurich (better: Zürich), located 409 meters above sea level at the northern end of the Lake of Zurich on the Swiss central plateau, is charming and multilateral. Its well-preserved Old Town is to be found on both banks of the River Limmat which flows out of the lake in a northerly direction. With a population of some 360.000 inhabitants, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. The canton of the same name hosts 1.1 million inhabitants and is thus the country's most densely populated canton.



Zurich was founded as a Roman customs post on the site of what is now Lindenhof in the year 15 B.C. From the 10th century onwards, it enjoyed the status of a town, and in 1218 was granted the rights of a free city. Rudolf Brun introduced a guild constitution after the downfall of the government in 1336. In 1351 the city joined the Everlasting League of the Confederates. After that, it has grown increasingly in importance, especially under the rule of Mayor Hans Waldmann (15th century). 1519 saw the beginning of the Reformation under the leadership of Ulrich Zwingli. During the 19th century, Alfred Escher transformed Zurich into a trade and business centre (machine and textile industry, banks, insurance companies, tourism), not in the least because of the founding of the Zurich Stock Exchange in 1877. This gave the city a fourth rank on the world's list and made it into what it still is: Switzerland's most important business centre and the world's gold trading centre.



The Old Town consists of narrow streets which can be easily explored by foot. Along the riverside, you can find baroque guildhouses that tell their own version of the city's past. Winding streets that show a nostalgic Zurich or maybe even expose the city's fringe - just give way for the enthusiasm this inspirited and colourful (both with houses and people) city appeals. You will find a myriad of small boutiques, antique shops, bars and cafes in the Old Town on the left bank of the Limmat.



The main shopping area is concentrated nearby the train station. Stroll down the famous 'Bahnhofstrasse' - one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Europe - towards 'Paradeplatz' and the lake. Here you will find all sorts of elegant boutiques, department stores and specialist shops with a rich selection of high quality goods. When you feel like it, take a tour on the river so you can lay eyes on the nice skyline of Zurich.



Besides being a business centre and a shopping paradise, Zurich is known for 'culture': Old Churches, such as the 'Grossmünster' and the 'Fraumünster' with stained glass windows by Marc Chagall; art galleries with the finest collections, amongst them Chagall, Miro and Picasso and museums for all sorts of tastes. Try to stay at least two days. This will give you the time to explore not only the city by daylight but also Zurich's exciting and varied nightlife, ranging from jazzy bars and popular discos to cabaret performances in smokey clubs.

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