Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. Synonymous with international banking,
Zurich (Zürich or, more familiarly, Züri) has a financial and cultural
importance that contradicts its modest size.
Being a breathtaking city of Switzerland, Zurich is a dream destination for
travellers who visit this place for business or leisure.
Besides being the commercial center, Zurich is mostly visited for its
natural beauty encompassed in its lakes, mountains and lush green fields.
The Zurichsee and the River Limmat are two of the key elements but the
charming old town which occupies a large part of the city center, with its
narrow, hilly alleys and stunning restored buildings add to the magnificence
of the city. Besides this, the distant snow-capped peaks overlooking the
waters of the lake add to the allure of the city.
Fact File
Country : Switzerland
Population : 348,000
Area : 41,290 square kilometers
Languages : German, French, Italian, and Romansch
Climate : Zürich generally has a temperate climate, as
suggested by its northern latitude of 47 degree. But warm, moisture-laden
winds frequently blow in from the Atlantic Ocean, which results in a milder
climate. The average low and high temperatures are -10 to 5 degree C in
January; 5 to 20 degree C in May, and 10 to 30 degree C from June through
August
Official
Currency : Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $ = 0.678141
GBP (subject to change)
Location : Zurich is located at the centre of the Zurich canton, on
Switzerland’s central plain, with the elevation rising towards the
south and the Alps. Nestled at the Northern tip of the Zürichsee (Lake
Zurich), Zurich is surrounded by lakeside promenades and expensive houses.
Getting There
By Air : Kloten airport is the airport and connects Zurich to
various parts of the world.
From Kloten Airport the preferred (and fastest) method of travel is by
train. The airport station is below ground and adjacent to terminal 5;
trains depart for the 12-minute trip to Zurich several times an hour,
dropping passengers at Central Train Station. The considerably slower City
Bus #768 departs every 10 minutes during peak hours - by bus the trip into
Zurich takes 1 hour.
Getting Around
By Road : Buses and trams are the transportation you will find on
the road of Zurich. Zurich's combination of buses and streetcars, operated
as the Swiss VBZ system, is terrific: efficient and inexpensive.
Taxis are not easily found in Zurich and are among the most expensive in
Europe.
Bicycle : Bicycle is a popular mode of transportation in Zurich.
Bike are available on rents at the train station.
Accommodation
There are various hotels available which provide a comfortable accomodation
to the tourists. Here is a list of a few hotels :
5 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Sofitel Zurich
Hotel Baur au lac
Hotel Widder
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Marriott
Hotel Adler
Hotel Storchen zum
3 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Gregory
Hotel Ibis Zurich Messe Airport
Major Tourist Attractions
Zurich
encircles wonderful religious sites, exotic lakes, extraordinary museums and
galleries. The must look out are the two magnificent sites - the medieval
Niederdorf district and the swanky Bahnhofstrasse. The city also has a
strong cultural presence – over 30 museums, art galleries, auction
houses, the opera, orchestras and the Schauspielhaus theatre, as well as a
number of performance spaces that encourage contemporary artists in all
media.
Here is the list of important places of tourist interest:
Swiss
National Park : The Swiss National Park is a natural preserve
protected from all human influence and interference. Since its founding date
there is no more hunting, fishing, exploitation or maintenance of forests
and meadows on its premisses.
Swiss
National Museum : The Swiss National Museum is actually made up of
eight museums spread around the country but the main museum in Zurich is the
parent of the group. This is situated in an imposing castle-like building
behind the main central railway station. It was officially opened in 1898
and contains an extensive collection of objects that were either produced or
used in regions belonging to today’s Switzerland.
The Church of our Lady (Fraumunster) : Church spires are a feature
of Zurich and the souring Fraumunster is the most elegant. From the outside,
the structure looks quite unassuming but once inside, the world-famous
modernistic stained-glass windows by Russian-born Marc Chagall spring into
life.
The 12th century Grossmunster cathedral :The towers of the
Grossmunster dominate the skyline of Zurich. Sitting near the River Limmat
it is a very beautiful setting. Although very beautiful on the outside the
inside is very unremarkable.
The Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches : The Fraumünster
and Grossmünster churches, solemnly face each other across the River
Limmat.
St. Peter Church. (St. Peterskirche) : This is one of the oldest
churches in the city and is best known for having the largest clock face in
Europe.
Lakes of Macun : It is said that the tourist discover Zürich's
natural beauty along the shores of the lakes of Macum. The walk up to the
Lakes of Macun, well-hidden in a highland valley encircled by craggy peaks
of over 3000 meters, is probably the most rewarding walk in Switzerland.
The
Museum of Art : This fantastic art museum displays Western works since
the 1600s and has an especially impressive selection of modern art.
The Rietberg Museum : Magnificent park and historical buildings
create a unique setting for Asian, African, American and Oceanian art. This
relatively small museum contains displays of objects of the highest quality.
The Museum of Contructive Art (Haus Konstruktiv) :The museum has an
interesting collection of artefacts from all over world.
Other Attractions
Other attractions in Zurich are the Old Town (Altstadt), Zoological Garden
(Zoologischer Garten),
Foundation E. G. Buhrle Collection, the old parish church of St Peters
Kirche and the modernistic with a host of bathing areas and ferry boats
Swiss
Ecstasy (10 D)
