Lindenhofplatz (Lindenhof Square), Zurich (must see)
Perched above the Old Town of Zurich like a quiet, leafy crown, Lindenhof is both a park and a time machine with a view. And it's not just where the city began鈥攊t鈥檚 where the city still comes to breathe...
This peaceful hilltop was once the site of a Roman fortress, complete with ten towers and walls thick enough to make modern builders weep. The Romans got busy here in the 2nd century, but by the 9th, Louis the German decided the crumbling castle needed a royal facelift. Sadly, by the 13th century, the whole thing was abandoned, and locals did what locals do best鈥攔ecycled the stones for new projects. Eco-friendly before it was cool...
And no, Zurich鈥檚 ancient swagger didn鈥檛 start with Roman togas and centurions. Long before Rome flexed its empire, Neolithic and Bronze Age folks had already claimed this hill as prime real estate. Back then, the Sihl River liked to flood the surrounding lands, and the elevated Lindenhof was the safe (and dry) bet.
Fast forward to the 1700s, and Lindenhof reinvented itself as a public park. The early crowd-pleaser, it was primarily about archery and crossbow contests that drew visitors in those days (indeed, nothing like a bit of target practice to go with your afternoon stroll...).
Nowadays, keep an eye out for the Hedwig Fountain, built in 1912 to honor one of Zurich鈥檚 boldest deceptions. During the 1292 siege by Duke Albert I, the city鈥檚 women donned full battle gear and manned the ramparts, while the men were off fighting elsewhere. The ruse worked, and Zurich lived to tell the tale. Today, Hedwig and her helmet still stand proudly in the park, thanks to sculptor Gustav Siber.
Apart from all the attractions inside, Lindenhof gives you panoramic eye-candy of Zurich鈥檚 rooftops, rivers, and lake鈥攁ll in one relaxed snapshot. It鈥檚 the city鈥檚 breathing room, ideal for a pause between museum marathons and shopping sprees. Kids can run wild on the playgrounds, and for the tactically inclined, there鈥檚 an outdoor chessboard waiting to test your strategy.
Oh, and if you鈥檙e lucky, you might stumble onto a festival or event鈥攋ust ask at the tourism office.
Insider tip:
Check out the replica of a Roman tombstone that first mentioned Turicum鈥擹urich鈥檚 name back when Latin was all the rage. The original is at the Swiss National Museum, but Lindenhof鈥檚 got its own copy for on-the-spot admiration...
This peaceful hilltop was once the site of a Roman fortress, complete with ten towers and walls thick enough to make modern builders weep. The Romans got busy here in the 2nd century, but by the 9th, Louis the German decided the crumbling castle needed a royal facelift. Sadly, by the 13th century, the whole thing was abandoned, and locals did what locals do best鈥攔ecycled the stones for new projects. Eco-friendly before it was cool...
And no, Zurich鈥檚 ancient swagger didn鈥檛 start with Roman togas and centurions. Long before Rome flexed its empire, Neolithic and Bronze Age folks had already claimed this hill as prime real estate. Back then, the Sihl River liked to flood the surrounding lands, and the elevated Lindenhof was the safe (and dry) bet.
Fast forward to the 1700s, and Lindenhof reinvented itself as a public park. The early crowd-pleaser, it was primarily about archery and crossbow contests that drew visitors in those days (indeed, nothing like a bit of target practice to go with your afternoon stroll...).
Nowadays, keep an eye out for the Hedwig Fountain, built in 1912 to honor one of Zurich鈥檚 boldest deceptions. During the 1292 siege by Duke Albert I, the city鈥檚 women donned full battle gear and manned the ramparts, while the men were off fighting elsewhere. The ruse worked, and Zurich lived to tell the tale. Today, Hedwig and her helmet still stand proudly in the park, thanks to sculptor Gustav Siber.
Apart from all the attractions inside, Lindenhof gives you panoramic eye-candy of Zurich鈥檚 rooftops, rivers, and lake鈥攁ll in one relaxed snapshot. It鈥檚 the city鈥檚 breathing room, ideal for a pause between museum marathons and shopping sprees. Kids can run wild on the playgrounds, and for the tactically inclined, there鈥檚 an outdoor chessboard waiting to test your strategy.
Oh, and if you鈥檙e lucky, you might stumble onto a festival or event鈥攋ust ask at the tourism office.
Insider tip:
Check out the replica of a Roman tombstone that first mentioned Turicum鈥擹urich鈥檚 name back when Latin was all the rage. The original is at the Swiss National Museum, but Lindenhof鈥檚 got its own copy for on-the-spot admiration...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zurich. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Lindenhofplatz (Lindenhof Square) on Map
Sight Name: Lindenhofplatz (Lindenhof Square)
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Zurich, Switzerland
Create Your Own Walk in Zurich
Creating your own self-guided walk in Zurich is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Zurich Gourmet Tour
Apart from its high-quality watches, Switzerland is famous for its unique delicacies. The secrets of their making have been preserved for centuries and passed on from father to son. In this respect, it is not at all surprising that a global banking and financial center such as Zurich can be also a haven for food enthusiasts seeking gourmet delights. On this self-guided walk, we invite you to... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Zurich Souvenir Shopping
Zurich has no shortage of tourists, and when it comes to souvenirs, there are plenty of options available.
A popular saying goes, "When in Zurich, shop on Bahnhofstrasse." True, in terms of souvenir shopping, this thoroughfare is second to none. Another saying is that 鈥淲hen in Switzerland, buy Swiss-made products.鈥�
Alongside many other things, Bahnhofstrasse is home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
A popular saying goes, "When in Zurich, shop on Bahnhofstrasse." True, in terms of souvenir shopping, this thoroughfare is second to none. Another saying is that 鈥淲hen in Switzerland, buy Swiss-made products.鈥�
Alongside many other things, Bahnhofstrasse is home to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Zurich Introduction Walking Tour
Zurich鈥擲witzerland鈥檚 largest city and possibly the classiest time machine you鈥檒l ever stroll through. Beneath its polished surface of banks, trams, and world-class chocolate lies a city with roots older than most empires. Humans have been hanging out here for over 6,000 years, and in 15 BC the Romans finally gave it a name: Turicum鈥攎eaning 鈥渢he place of Turos鈥�, likely stemming from a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Zurich's Historical Churches Tour
The history of Christianity in Zurich is duly reflected in the local churches, found here in abundance. Indeed, Christianity has been the dominant religion of Zurich for many centuries. And while, historically, the city was a center of the Protestant Reformation, today it is home to both Catholic and Protestant communities.
The Swiss Reformed Church is the largest Protestant denomination, but... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
The Swiss Reformed Church is the largest Protestant denomination, but... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Old Town Walk
Zurich鈥檚 Old Town鈥攖he city鈥檚 historical core鈥攊s where the past shakes hands with charm and refuses to be boring. Spread on both sides of the Limmat River, this part of town still remembers when cobblestones were cutting-edge tech. They say 鈥淶urich is a city, but Old Town is a village鈥濃�攁nd yes, that pretty much nails it. A sort of medieval postcard with a side of espresso...
Old... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
15 Distinctively Swiss Things to Buy in Zurich
Zurich is Switzerland鈥檚 largest city, and although it may feel like a bustling metropolis, the tranquil essence of the Alps flows fervently through the lively cobblestone streets, the buzzing train station, and the frenzied designer boutiques. Most shops in downtown Zurich open at 9 am and close...