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Zurich is famously known as one of the largest financial centers in
the world. Located in central Switzerland, the city offers a balanced
mix of arts, culture, and history, amidst a backdrop of panoramic
beauty, which makes it one of the top tourism destinations in Europe. If
you are planning a vacation to Zurich, you will be pleased to know that
the city has plenty of interesting tourist attractions to suit your
fancies.
The earliest permanent settlers came to the area around
Lake Zurich about 7,000 years ago, going as far back as the Neolithic
and Bronze Age. In 15 BC, the Romans founded Turicum, which became a
tax-collecting post. As early as the 6th century, the city began to be
known as Ziurichi, its German form, and since the 10th century, the name
Zurich had been established. A leading global city, Zurich is the
wealthiest city in Europe and it’s constantly ranked as one of the
world’s top cities in terms of quality of life. The city is the largest
and busiest transportation hub in Switzerland with a top class
international airport and railway station. The large majority of the
people speak German and Zurich German. Generally, the hottest month is
July and the coldest month is January. Now, let’s take a look at some of
the top tourist attractions in Zurich.
Old Town
Every tourist who comes to Zurich will be guided to the Old Town
because there’s no other place which showcases the city’s cultural and
historical heritage so eloquently. As you walk on the contorted, cobbled
stone lanes which are only accessible to pedestrians, you will be
fascinated by the houses from the Middle Ages and Renaissance era town
halls which provide some signposts to the city’s past. It’s recommended
to talk a walking tour so you can learn about the buildings and history
of the town. There are also restaurants and shops so you may enjoy a
meal or do some inspired shopping while you are there. A number of
Zurich’s famous historical landmarks are found in the Old Town such as
the Great Minster, St. Peter’s Church, and Minster of Our Lady. When
night falls, the Old Town comes alive as numerous clubs kick into gear.

Great Minster
The
twin towers of the Great Minster or Grossmünster are quite possibly the
most famous landmark in Zurich. If you climb up the roughly 200 steps
of the North Tower, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the
city, including Peter’s Church and Minster of Our Lady. There’s an
interesting tale about the founding of the Great Minster. When
Charlemagne came upon the tombs of Zurich’s patron saints, Felix,
Regula, and their faithful servant Exuperantius, it was reported that
his horse went down on its knees. The architecture of the cathedral is
described as Romanesque so you can expect to see some gorgeous
Romanesque carvings and capitals. Other interesting spots in the Great
Minster are the Charlemagne statue, the Fresco of St. Felix, the
stained-glass windows by Augusto Giacometti, and more.
Minster of Our Lady
Defined by the clock tower with a tall, slender blue
spire exterior, the Minster of Our Lady or Fraumünster is most admired
for its awe-inspiring stained glass windows created by Marc Chagall. In
853, Charlemagne’s grandson,
Emperor Ludwig, founded a Benedictine convent on this location. In 874, a
basilica with a crypt beneath was added to house the relics of Zurich’s
patron saints, Felix and Regula. Its architecture is described as
Gothic and Romanesque. In 1970, Chagall worked his magic on the church
by designing 5 stained-glass windows. Measuring 10 meters in height, the
glass windows have symbolic color themes, and their resplendence is
best appreciated in bright morning light. The names of the windows are:
“Prophets”, “Jacob”, “Zion”, “Christ”, and “Law”.
The Kunsthaus
Founded in 1787, the Kunsthaus has grown to become one of the most significant art museums in the world. The museum is known for its extensive collection
of works by Edvard Munch, the largest outside of Scandanavia. For
painting and sculptures, there are works by Ruisdael, Rembrandt, Rubens,
Domenichino, Pellegrini, Bellotto, Manet, Monet, Cézanne, van Gogh,
Gauguin, Bonnard, Oskar Kokoschka, Marc Chagall, Paul Klee, Henri
Matisse, Picasso, Mirò, Salvador Dali, and much more. As for
photography, there are works by Robert Frank, Berenice Abbott,
Irving Penn, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Graham, Roth, Edward Steichen, Max
Ernst, Paul Strand, Ansel Adams, and more. Take the guided tour to learn
more about these great artworks.
Opera House
Built in 1834, the Zurich Opera
House is the premier location to see world-class opera, drama, and
musical events in the city. Its architecture is described as
neo-classical and you can see busts of Weber, Schiller, Goethe, Mozart,
Wagner, and Shakespeare. The auditorium has the capacity to hold approximately
1,200 people and it’s constructed in the rococo style. Some examples of
opera you can expect to see are Bizet’s Carmen, R. Strauss’ Ariadne
Auf Naxos, Mozart’s Die Entfürung Aus Dem Serail, Wagner’s Parsifal,
Verdi’s Otello, Puccini’s La Fancuilla Del West, and much more. The
Opera House also offers ballet performances and other events.

Bahnhofstrasse
Not many people go on a holiday without expecting to do some shopping. Well, you will be missing the opportunity to shop at one of the premier shopping districts in the world if you don’t make
a trip to the Bahnhofstrasse. Starting from Zurich Main Station, the
1.4 kilometer street goes all the way to Lake Zurich. There are
department stores, fashion stores, and boutiques offering such products like jewelry, accessories, furs, porcelain, shoes, watches, clothing, and more. Some of the top retailers include Cartier, Prada, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Bvlgari, Gucci, Tiffany and Co., Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, and Ermenegildo Zegna.

Zurich
is truly a fascinating city with something for everyone. Other
attractions in the city are Rhine Falls, Rietberg Museum, Zurich Zoo,
Zurich Toy Museum, Swiss National Museum, Lindenhofplatz, Parade Square,
Urania Observatory, the Botanical Garden, Museum of Design, and St.
Peter’s Church. Also, Zurich is well-known for its countless galleries
so it’s best to take your time to enjoy the city to the fullest.
Video Source: Youtube
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