City Walks on Saturday
Table of contents
CITY WALK 1: Szondi, Joyce, Canetti, Büchner: A Literary and Scenic walk on Zürichberg
From the university, the streetcar takes us up to the zoological garden, where we will visit Friedhof Fluntern, one of Zurich‘s oldest cemeteries. The Szondi family, James Joyce, Nora Barnacle and Elias Canetti are all buried there, having spent many years of their lives in Zurich before dying here. From there, an easy 25-minute walk along the “Alpenpanorama-Weg” offers views of some of the most prominent peaks of the Swiss Alps, while we learn about Zurich‘s and Switzerland‘s history in the 18th and 19th centuries. At the end of the walk, we reach Rigiblick, where a memorial on Germaniahügel from 1875 honors the German author Georg Büchner. The cable car and street car then bring us back down to the university.
Guide: Jürg Glauser
Meeting point: University of Zurich, Main Building, Main Entrance
Departure time: 14h
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Distance: 2 km
Difficulty: Easy
CITY WALK 2: Discover Zurich‘s Pre-Modern History
This city tour takes you quite literally into the foundations of Zurich‘s urban history. Together, we will explore the underground remains of the former city wall, the ancient thermal baths, and the Roman fort. Along the way, we will get to know the medieval Old Town and its inhabitants. The walk invites participants to read Zurich not only as a modern city, but as a layered historical landscape shaped by centuries of settlement, defence, trade, and everyday life.
Guide: Simon F. Piringer
Meeting point: University of Zurich, Main Building, Main Entrance
Departure time: 14h
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Distance: approx. 2 km
Difficulty: Moderate (some stairs)
CITY WALK 3: Dive Into Zurich‘s Queer Past
Few people know that Zurich was a safe haven for the LGBTIQ+ community at the beginning of the 20th century. On this walking tour, discover the meeting places of the first organization for gays and lesbians, „Der Kreis“, explore traces of queer life and art, and hear the stories of writers, artists and activists who fought for visibility, rights and a better future. From hidden histories to lasting cultural impact, this tour brings to light the queer stories and places that shaped Zurich.
Guide: Patrizia Ellis Huber
Meeting point: University of Zurich, Main Building, Main Entrance
Departure time: 14h
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Distance: approx. 2 km
Difficulty: Moderate (some stairs)
CITY WALK 4: Zurich – of Rulers, Reformers and Revolutionaries
Zurich – situated near the geographical heart of Europe – has repeatedly found itself at the crossroads of historical events. As we walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town, we will encounter statues, artworks, and hidden corners that bear witness to the presence of figures as diverse as Charlemagne, Huldrych Zwingli, Lenin, Marie Curie, and the Dada artists. Along the way, we will explore Zurich’s role as a center of political change, cultural experimentation, and scientific innovation.
Guide: Ursula Giger
Meeting point: University of Zurich, Main Building, Main Entrance
Departure time: 14h
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Distance: approx. 2 km
Difficulty: Moderate (some stairs)
CITY WALK 5 and 6: City tour offered by Zurich tourism
Guide: From Zurich Tourism
Meeting point: University of Zurich, Main Building, Main Entrance
Departure time: 14h
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Distance: approx. 2 km
Difficulty: Moderate (some stairs)
