Zurich

Zurich (in German, ZŸrich) is the largest city in Switzerland (population
364,558 [2002]) and capital of the canton of Zurich. The origin of the name
is most likely the Celtic word Turus, a corroborating reference to which was
found on a tomb inscription dating from the Roman occupation in the 2nd
century AD. The city is Switzerland's main commercial and banking centre,
and home to Switzerland's largest airport.

Geography

Situated where the river Limmat leaves the Lake Zurich, surrounded by wooded
hills. The river Sihl meets with the Limmat at the end of Platzspitz, which
borders the the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum).

Sights

   * GrossmŸnster (great minster) (near Lake Zurich, in the old city), where
     Zwingli was pastor
   * FraumŸnster (our lady's minster) first church built before 874; the
     Romanesque choir dates from 1250*70; Marc Chagall stained glass choir
     windows; (on the opposite side of the Limmat)
   * St. Peter (downstream of FraumŸnster, in the old city); with the
     largest clock face in Europe
   * Lindenhof (lime court), near St. Peter; site of the Roman and medieval
     castle. View over river and old town.
   * Guild houses along the river (downstream GrossmŸnster)
   * Old town on both sides of the river
   * Bahnhofstrasse (shopping avenue) starting at main train station
   * Landesmuseum (directly opposite ZŸrich's main train station.)
   * Art Museum (Kunsthaus ZŸrich)
   * Zoological garden

Industry and commerce

UBS, Credit Suisse and many private banks have their headquarters in Zurich.
Commercial center of Switzerland.

Sport

   * Federation Internationale de Football Association
   * Swimming in the lake, in the river or in several outdoor swimming pools
     (June-September)

Education and research

   * ETH Zurich
   * University of Zurich

History

   * settlement in the Bronze age
   * Roman town
   * Free imperial town
   * Joined Swiss confederation in 1351 (then not one country but a
     confederation of eight independent states)
   * Zwingli started the Swiss reformation when main preacher in Zurich
     (lived there from 1518 to his death in 1531).

Famous children of Zurich

   * Gottfried Keller (poet)
   * Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (poet)

Airports

   * Zurich International Airport