Zürich, Switzerland
Posted by: 
fi67
N 47° 22.304 E 008° 32.556
32T E 465467 N 5246576
The town hall of Zürich is located at the river Limmat in the historic center of Zürich.
Waymark Code: WMDA8Z
Location: Zürich, Switzerland
Date Posted: 12/13/2011
Views: 18
From Wikipedia: "Zurich (German: Zürich, German pronunciation: ['tsy?r?ç]; Swiss German: Züri) is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. While the municipality itself has approximately 380,500 inhabitants, the Zurich metropolitan area is an urbanised area of international importance constituted by a population of nearly 2 million inhabitants. Zurich is a mixed hub for railways, roads, and air traffic. Both Zurich Airport and railway station are the largest and busiest in the country.
Permanently settled for around 7,000 years, the history of Zurich goes back to its founding by the Romans, who, in 15 BC, called it Turicum. During the Middle Ages Zurich gained the independent and privileged status of imperial immediacy and, in 1519, was the place of origin and centre of the Protestant Reformation in German-speaking Switzerland, led by Ulrich Zwingli.
Zurich is a leading global city and among the world's largest financial centres. The city is home to a large number of financial institutions and banking giants. Also, most of the research and development centres are concentrated in Zurich and the low rate of tax attracts overseas companies to set up their headquarters there. According to several surveys from 2006 to 2008, Zurich was named the city with the best quality of life in the world as well as the wealthiest city in Europe."
The town hall of Zürich was built between 1694 and 1698. Although it was the capitol building of an independent state it is a relatively frugal bilding with three storeys in the center of town. This was due to the Zwinglian modesty of these days as well as to a certain lack of money, because at the same time the town fortifications were rebuilt. The town hall was built after plans of an architect from Augsburg by the not very well known local builder Hans Heinrich Holzhalb.
The Rathaus was the capitol building of Zürich until the end of the Old Federation in 1798. In 1803 it became the property of the new canton Zürich and it has been in shared use as town hall of the city of Zürich as well as the government building of the canton Zürich.
Name: Rathaus
Address:
Limmatquai 55
Zürich, ZH Switzerland
8001
Date of Construction: 1698
Architect: Hans Heinrich Holzhalb
Web Site for City/Town/Municipality: [Web Link]
Memorials/Commemorations/Dedications: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Post at least one original photo of the building that is a different view from the one on the page and describe your visit, including the date. Add any additional information that you may have about this building. A GPSr photo is NOT required