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TRAVELLER
1893
Zürich merges with 12
surrounding villages.
In 1934, eight more
villages join them.
These are crucial steps
in Zürich becoming a
cosmopolitan city
1939
The Swiss National
Exhibition, Landi, takes
place. With World War II
looming, the industrial
fair becomes a symbol
of the Swiss ‘Spiritual
Defence’ ideology
1980
Youth movements riot
over several weeks,
demanding space and
money for alternative
youth culture. These
clashes kick off the
liberalisation of the city
2011
A new tram line, Zü
West (route no 4
provides access
the fast-developi
newly trendy distr
between Escher W
Platz and Altstett
1847
Switzerland’s first
railway opens between
Zürich and Baden,
transporting people
and goods over the
30km between them
in just half an hour
Swiss chocolate is renowned a
world beater – strange given th
Switzerland has totally the wro
climate for producing the bean
used to make it. So how did it
become so good?
Cocoa was first brought to
Europe from South America in
the early 16th century, and by
the end of the 18th century the
Swiss were starting to process
it into chocolate. By the mid-
19th century, some of today’s
best-known producers – like
Zürich-based Lindt & Sprüngli
were established, but it was on
after two advances in the 1870
that Swiss chocolate became a
real success: first Daniel Peter
invented milk chocolate. Then
Rodolphe Lindt invented a
scraper-mixer, called the
conc
which is still used to make
chocolate smooth and creamy.
Today, around 172,000 tonn
are produced in Switzerland ev
year. In Zürich, it’s possible to v
the Lindt & Sprüngli factory, fr
where chocolate is shipped to
sweetshops worldwide.
LANGSTRASSE
LAKE ZURICH
VIADUKT
GIACOMETTI MURALS
NIEDERDORF
N
300m
Z U R I C H
GETTING
AROUND
ZÜRICH’S CHOCOLA
Zürich is fairly compact, but public
transport can be useful, especially
when the weather isn’t behaving. The
network includes trams, buses, local
trains, boats on the lake and river, and
the S Bahn to surrounding areas.
NIEDERDORF
This part of the Old Town, east of the
River Limmat, teems with restaurants
and bars. It’s crisscrossed with
medieval alleys, and a walk through it
should be part of every visit to Zürich.
LANGSTRASSE
Previously known as an unpleasant
red-light district, in the last decade
Langstrasse has become Zürich’s
most cosmopolitan neighbourhood,
a great destination for bar hopping
and dining out.
LAKE ZÜRICH
One of the city’s highlights, strolling
along the lake’s shore is a must.
Start at Bellevue and walk along the
promenade towards Zürichhorn.
VIADUKT
You’ll findmore than 30 shops and
a market hall for groceries under the
arches of this 19th-century railway
viaduct, which feels like a long,
bustling street (
im-viadukt.ch
).
GIACOMETTI MURALS
In the entrance hall to the city’s
police headquarters, Swiss artist
Augusto Giacometti’s magnificent
murals adorn the vaulted ceiling
and walls. Open daily 9-11am and
2-4pm, admission free, ID required
(
3 Bahnhofquai
).
WORDS LUKAS FÜGLISTER | PHOTO ©CORBIS | MAP ILLUSTRATION © JASON PICKERSGILL/ACUTEGRAPHICS.CO.UK
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