St. Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Zurich

St. Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Zurich (must see)

Saint Peter's Church鈥擹urich鈥檚 oldest temple鈥攊s also, quite possibly, the city鈥檚 most punctual landmark. Built in the 9th century, this beauty has seen more centuries than your local pub鈥檚 clock has seen beers. And speaking of clocks, St. Peter鈥檚 claims the biggest clock face in all of Europe. At a whopping 8.6 meters in diameter, its minute hand alone is longer than most compact cars. No excuse for being late around here...

The church got some facelifts over the years鈥攆irst in the 13th century and again in the 1700s鈥攂ecause, indeed, medieval landmarks deserve a little renovation every now and then. Until 1911, a firewatcher lived in the steeple, popping his head out the window four times an hour to scan for smoke. If flames were spotted, he鈥檇 wave a flag in the direction of the danger鈥攕imple, low-tech, and surprisingly effective. Thus, unlike many of its European cousins, Zurich avoided catastrophic fires. It turns out that medieval flag signals are not just for parades...

Inside the church, you鈥檒l find a Baroque nave paired with a Romanesque choir鈥攍ike architectural speed dating through the centuries. Look closely at the faded murals, and you might spot a saint lurking in the shadows. Above the pulpit, the name of God appears in Hebrew, a nod to the Reformation鈥檚 love for the Bible鈥檚 original languages. Think of it as ancient theological street cred...

Now here鈥檚 the kicker: Saint Peter鈥檚 Church has shared custody. The City of Zurich owns the tower, while the Swiss Reformed Church parish holds the rights to the bells, the belfry, and the staircase. It is, indeed, church co-parenting at its finest...

Tip for the savvy traveler: Admire it up close, but for peak Instagram potential, cross the river鈥攖he church is even prettier from a distance.

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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Sight Name: St. Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church)
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Religious
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.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

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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

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...

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