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11-night Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle Cruise/Land Package

Price: $4,299 - # of Days: 11 days

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11-night Paris to the Swiss Alps Cruise/Land Package

Price: $3,499 - # of Days: 11 days

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Overview

Introduction

Zurich's natural setting of a large lake, two rivers and tree-covered hills—plus its crisp, clean air—contribute to its excellent quality of life, for residents as well as visitors. Its Old Town is full of churches with tall steeples, medieval guildhalls, cobblestoned alleys and trickling fountains. No wonder the fabled "Gnomes of Zurich" like to do their financial business there.

This lovely Swiss city is more than a conservative banking town, though. It's also a center for contemporary art, alternative youth culture and an energetic party scene. A number of old buildings—including a dairy, brewery and shipbuilding factory—have been converted into more modern uses, such as museums, galleries, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Zurich is Switzerland's most cosmopolitan and multicultural city, as more than 30% of its residents are foreigners. It's also consistently named one of the best cities in the world in terms of quality of life—if not the best. Zurich certainly has something for everyone, from banking to the latest in hip-hop and jazz, as well as fine restaurants and haute fashion.

Must See or Do

Sights—The entire Old Town with its medieval guild houses, alleyways, fountains and river running through it; the austere but elegant Grossmunster and Fraumunster with their beautiful stained-glass windows and towers with a view; the posh boutiques along Bahnhofstrasse.

Museums—Schweizerisches Landesmuseum for a look at the cultural and artistic history of Switzerland; Kunsthaus Zurich for its nearly all-encompassing collection of fine art; Sammlung E.G. Buhrle for its French impressionist paintings; Museum Rietberg for its non-European art and artifacts, as well as its lovely setting; the Money Museum for its interesting look at the driving force behind one of Europe's richest nations.

Memorable Meals—Local specialty Geschnetzeltes kalbfleisch nach Zurcherart at Kronenhalle; one of many variations on duck at Blaue Ente; moitie-moitie cheese fondue at Le Dezaley; the refined Continental and local fare combined with the sleek, postindustrial decor at La Salle; vegetarian fare at the city's oldest vegetarian restaurant, Hiltl; fine cuisine at the oldest and best of the guild restaurants, Haus zum Ruden; apple or cherry strudel at Cafe Schober.

Late Night—Enjoying a cocktail at Jules Verne Panoramabar or at Clouds, located in Zurich's tallest building; barhopping in Niederdorf or Zurich West; listening to a live band at Moods im Schiffbau or X-tra, or to a jazz pianist at Widder Bar; dancing into the wee hours of the morning at Kaufleuten Lounge.

Recreation—Ice skating in the city or skiing, sledding and snowboarding in the nearby mountains in winter; hiking or biking in the nearby hills; the landscaped shores and swimming in the sparkling clean water of Lake Zurich in summer.

Especially for Kids—Europe's largest man-made rain forest at Zoo Zurich; the Zurcher Spielzeugmuseum toy museum; Swiss Technorama, a hands-on science museum in the nearby town of Winterthur.

Geography

Zurich is at the northern end of Zurichsee (Lake Zurich), and tree-covered hills loosely embrace the city on its three remaining sides. The best strategy in terms of zeroing in on sights and points of interest is to know the location of various neighborhoods and their main streets. The Old Town (Altstadt), which covers ground on both sides of the Limmat River, has most of the city's historical sights. Its northern border is formed by Bahnhofplatz and Bahnhofbrucke, its eastern border by Seilergraben, its southern border by Ramistrasse and Quaibrucke, and its western border by Bahnhofstrasse (the city's most famous street).

On the east bank of the Limmat are two popular neighborhoods: Niederdorf in the north and Oberdorf in the south. Limmatquai runs along the eastern bank of the Limmat River. Running parallel to it a block or two inland are Niederdorfstrasse (in the north) and Oberdorfstrasse (in the south). At the northern end of Niederdorf is a plaza called Central—it's a major tram hub.

The city center continues east of Bahnhofstrasse to the Sihl River. Two neighborhoods east of the Sihl River are nightlife hot spots. Zurich West (known as Zuri West) covers a large area that extends east of the train station, bordered by the rail lines to the south and the Limmat River to the north. The western end of Zurich West is a former industrial quarter where several abandoned factories have been converted into museums, restaurants, nightclubs and bars. South of the rail lines is Aussersihl, another neighborhood with plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants. North of the city center is the suburb of Oerlikon, and a bit farther north is Kloten, where the airport is located.

Zurich also extends along the eastern and western sides of Lake Zurich, with beautiful parks and promenades hugging both shores. At the northern end of the eastern shore are Bellevueplatz and Sechselautenplatz, two main squares. Utoquai runs along the shore and then becomes Bellerivestrasse, which runs inland until it meets a beach area at Zurichhorn, a tip of land that juts out into the lake. Another main north-south thoroughfare there is Seefeldstrasse, which lends its name (Seefeld) to the surrounding neighborhood. Running along the western shore of the lake is Mythenquai. A few blocks inland is Seestrasse. Enge and Wollishofen are neighborhoods on the western shore.

Finally, several nearby hills (small mountains) are important recreation spots. Southwest of the Old Town is Uetliberg, the tallest mountain near Zurich. To the northwest is Kaferberg, to the northeast Zurichberg and to the southeast Adlisberg. The area called Dolder, which is home to a famous hotel of the same name, is on the northwestern edge of Adlisberg.

History

Human settlements have existed in the area of present-day Zurich since the Bronze Age. Around 15 BC, Rome fortified the area and made it a customs post. However, it wasn't until the 10th century that Zurich began to develop into a significant town and trading center.

The silk and wool trade brought wealth to the city's merchants in the 11th and 12th centuries. In 1336, guilds of artisans and traders took over the town government (they held control until the 19th century). The guilds are still celebrated today in a yearly parade in the spring, Sechselauten, steeped in tradition. In 1351, Zurich joined the Swiss Confederation. In the early 1500s, the city became a center of the Protestant Reformation, spurred on by the preaching of Huldrich Zwingli.

In the 1800s, Zurich began to develop into Switzerland's transportation hub and became an economic powerhouse through banking and manufacturing. Switzerland maintained neutrality during World War I and World War II, and Zurich attracted a good number of dissidents during those years. But the country's, as well as the city's, banks later faced allegations and lawsuits concerning the return of monies stashed there by the Nazis.

In the past several decades, Zurich has grown into a leading financial center, as well as Switzerland's largest city and cultural center.

Potpourri

The name of the Alps is derived from the Latin world albus, which means "white."

The Latin name for Switzerland is Confoederatio Helvetica, and the abbreviation is CH, which was introduced after the formation of the federal state in 1848. You'll see the CH sign on many buildings, cars and postal routes throughout Zurich and Switzerland.

Switzerland—as it is known in English—has different names in its four national languages. In German, it's Schweiz; in French, it's called Suisse; in Italian, Svizzera; and in Romansch, it's Svizra.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich is one of the world's top universities and is associated with 21 Nobel prizewinners.

The Nobel Peace Prize was first conceptualized by Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel in 1892 in the Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich.

Zurich has more than 50 museums and more than 100 art galleries. It also claims to have more nightclubs than any other European city.

In 2010, the construction of an underground garage near the Opera House in Zurich's center was halted after the discovery of archaeological artifacts from the Bronze Age. Today, visitors can view a new display of these findings at the Parkhaus Opera.

Zurich has consistently been named as the city with the best quality of life in the world. Zurich's airport has also been voted Europe's leading airport.

Zurich's main shopping and business street, Bahnhofstrasse, was built along what was once a moat called the Froschengraben (Frog's Moat).