This is a full 18-hole round through Zürich. The map follows the real city, with the ball rolling across actual streets and banking off building facades. Real attractions like the Grossmünster are what the holes are built from. Skip knows every corner of this place, though a pigeon mostly cares about the crumbs. The walk covers 12.4 km and uses 70 portals to bridge the gaps between distant landmarks.
The Grossmünster is a Protestant church building and one of the four major churches in the city. It is a Swiss Reformed Church in Zurich and is designated as a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. When you look at the facade, you can see that the building is designed in the Romanesque architecture style. The core of the present structure was constructed on the site of a Carolingian church, with construction of the current building beginning around 1100 and the final inauguration taking place around 1220.
The Kunsthaus is an art museum and memory institution in Zürich. Founded in 1819, it is a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. You can see a collection that spans from the Middle Ages to contemporary art, all assembled by the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft, a nonprofit art society. It is the biggest art museum in Switzerland by area and attracts 382,603 annual visitors. I've noticed the crowds can get quite thick on the weekends, so it is usually a good idea to plan your visit for a quieter weekday morning if you can manage it.
St. Peter is a church building and a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. The construction of the site was started in 1706, and it is built in the baroque architecture style. This building is one of the four main churches of the old town of Zürich, Switzerland. The other main churches of the old town of Zürich are Grossmünster, Fraumünster and Predigerkirche. These sites are central to the layout of the historic district.
You will first notice the constant flow of traffic and commuters at Bellevueplatz. This square is one of the nodal points for roads and public transportation in Zurich. Built in 1856, the area is named after the former Grandhotel Bellevue on its north side. It is part of the Altstadt district and functions as an extension of the quaysides that were built between 1881 and 1887. I find it is a great spot to watch the city move, as people from all over the city converge here before heading toward the water or the old town streets.
Let me show you Paradeplatz, a square located on Bahnhofstrasse in downtown Zurich, Switzerland. It is one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the country and is surrounded by four blocks of buildings. The area is a major financial center, as it is the location of the headquarters for both UBS and Credit Suisse. I've noticed the crowds here always seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere important, which makes it a great spot to watch the city move. It is a place where the scale of the architecture matches the scale of the business happening inside.
Let me show you the FIFA Museum. It is a sports museum located in Zurich, Switzerland, though you will find it sits across town from the FIFA headquarters. Operated by FIFA, this association football museum opened on 28 February 2016. You can pick out the scale of the project by its cost, which was over SFr500 million. It is a significant spot for any fan, even if the project is currently under investigation for suspected criminal mismanagement. I usually see plenty of excited crowds gathering here.
Located in Zürich, the Museum Rietberg is the largest museum to be run by the city. It is a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance that was founded in 1952. When you visit, you can pick out works of Asian, African, American and Oceanian art. It is the largest art museum in Switzerland focusing on non-European art and design, and it remains the third-largest museum in the city. I've noticed it's a great spot to stretch your wings and see the world in one place.
You might mistake this for a simple city garden, but the Arboretum is a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. It is a botanical garden and public park that has been around since 1887. I like to point out that the surrounding area is quite active, as it houses a lido with a lake sauna for those who want a dip in the water. It is situated as part of the Quaianlagen, the series of lakefronts that define this part of Zurich.
Let me show you Bürkliplatz, a town square named after Arnold Bürkli. It is a nodal point for roads and public transportation in Zurich. If you look toward the water, you can pick out the lake shore promenades that were built between 1881 and 1887. The square itself dates back to 1887. For a bit of greenery, there is the Stadthausanlage, a tree-shaded square located between Bahnhofstrasse and Fraumünsterstrasse. I find it a great spot to watch the city move.
You can find Cabaret Voltaire in Zürich, where it operates as both a nightclub and an exhibition space. This location is famous for being the birthplace of the Dada art movement. Founded in 1916 by Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings, the venue was created specifically to be a cabaret for artistic and political purposes. It is a great spot to see how unconventional art took root in the city, blending performance with provocation. I've noticed the energy here still feels a bit rebellious, which makes it a fun place to visit if you like things a little strange.
You will first notice the imposing presence of the Landesmuseum, a national museum located in Zurich. It is recognized as a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance, making it a key stop for anyone wanting to understand the region. This history museum manages a vast museum collection and serves as a memory institution for the public. With 369,282 annual visitors, it is a busy spot in the city. I've noticed the crowds here often move in waves, though there is always room for one more curious visitor to explore the halls.
You will find the Museum für Gestaltung right here in Zurich, Switzerland. It is an art museum and memory institution that focuses on the intersection of industrial design, visual communication, architecture, and craft. Founded in 1875, the museum maintains a significant presence in the city's cultural life, welcoming 40,344 annual visitors. I've found that the variety of design styles on display makes it a great spot to spend an afternoon. Whether you are interested in the technical side of architecture or the artistic side of craft, there is plenty to see within these walls.
This isn't just another city plaza; it is a moraine hill situated in the historic center of Zurich. As a public square, Lindenhof is a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. You can find a variety of history here, as the hilltop area includes prehistoric, Roman, and medieval remains. Specifically, it is the site of the Roman and Carolingian era Kaiserpfalz. I've found that the elevation makes it a great spot to get your bearings of the surrounding streets.
The Predigerkirche is a church building in the old town of Zürich. It is one of the four main churches in this part of the city and is designed in the Romanesque architecture style. The building was first built in 1231, and the Basilica was converted in the first half of the 14th century. During the period between 1308 and 1350, the choir was rebuilt. It is recognized as a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. This structure remains a central part of the city's historic architecture.
The Fraumünster is a Protestant church building and one of the four main churches of Zürich. Founded in 853, it is a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. The church belongs to the Evangelical Reformed Church of the canton of Zurich. You can pick out the Gothic architecture style used in its construction. This site carries a long history, starting when it was established by Louis the German for his daughter Hildegard. He also endowed the Benedictine convent with the lands of Zurich, Uri, and the Albis forest.
Standing at the Sechseläutenplatz, you will find the Opernhaus. This opera house was designed by architects Hermann Helmer and Fellner & Helmer. It is a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. While it is a theatre building, it is best known for hosting the Zurich Opera, which has been based here since 1891. You can also find the Bernhard-Theater Zürich and Ballett Zürich inside. I've noticed the plaza is a great spot to get your bearings before heading inside.
Let me show you the Pavillon Le Corbusier. This art museum in Zürich-Seefeld at Zürichhorn is dedicated to the work of the French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier. The project began when Heidi Weber had the vision to establish a museum designed by Le Corbusier in 1960, and the museum had its inception in 1967. You can pick out the unique style of the building, which was renamed in May 2016. The building and museum went over to the city of Zürich in April 2014. It is a bright spot for any visitor to the city.
You can find this botanical garden at Zollikerstrasse in the Weinegg quarter of Zurich. It serves as a science museum and a memory institution, having first opened its doors in 1977. Because of its importance to the region, the site is recognized as a class A Swiss cultural property of national significance. I've found that the greenery here provides a nice break from the city noise, and it is a great place to slow down for a while. Let me show you around this unique space where nature and academic study meet in the heart of the city.
A minaret rises 18 meters above the Mahmud Moschee, a mosque situated on Forchstrasse in Zurich. This building is the first purpose-built mosque in Switzerland and was started in 1963. It is owned and run by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Visitors to the area can observe the architecture of this site, which represents a significant point in the religious history of the city. The structure remains a central place of worship and community for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the region.