Grossmünster

The twin towers of the Grossmünster are the most familiar outline on the Zurich skyline, rising above the right bank of the Limmat in the Old Town. Building on the present church began around 1100 and it was inaugurated around 1220, on a site where legend says Charlemagne's horse knelt over the graves of Felix and Regula, the city's patron saints. The towers were first raised between 1487 and 1492; their wooden spires burned in 1763 and the neo-Gothic tops you see today were finished in 1787.

The church's place in history comes from the Reformation. Huldrych Zwingli preached here from 1520, and after the public debates of 1523 the city broke with Rome. The organ and statues were removed in 1524, which is why the interior is so plain. Look instead at the glass: Augusto Giacometti designed the choir windows in 1932, and the German artist Sigmar Polke created a new set of windows for the church in 2009. The Romanesque crypt holds an original 15th-century statue of Charlemagne, and the bronze doors are by Otto Münch. A small Reformation museum occupies the cloister, which dates from the late 12th century.

The south tower is the Karlsturm, named after the Charlemagne statue on its face. From inside the church, 187 steps lead up to a viewing room with six large panoramic windows looking over the Old Town roofs and the lake; the outdoor terraces are closed for safety. There is a small charge for the tower, and Zürich Card holders go up free. The climb is entirely by stairs, so it is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.

Opening hours change between the summer and winter seasons, and on Sundays the church opens after the morning service, so check the times on the official site before you go. The building is under renovation from 2025 to 2029, and parts may be covered by scaffolding during your visit. Allow about 30 minutes for the church and crypt and another 30 minutes if you climb the tower.

The Grossmünster stands on Zwingliplatz on the right bank of the river, an easy walk from the main station along the car-free Limmatquai. Combine it with the Fraumünster directly across the river, the lanes of the Niederdorf to the north and a coffee at Café Henrici, at the start of Niederdorfstrasse.