Altstadt (Zurich)#Rathaus

The Zurich Town Hall, was until 1798 the seat of government of the city of Zurich Republic. It was built in the middle of the old town of Zurich 1694-1698 in the German Renaissance style at a representative position free standing in the river Limmat. Since 1803, the Town Hall is owned by the Canton of Zurich and serves as the seat of the cantonal parliament. The City Council of the City of Zurich also meets in the Town Hall. Similarly, in days of Churches and Church Synod of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich and the synod of the Roman Catholic authority of the canton of Zurich.

History

At the same place was already around 1252, a first " Richthus ", which had to give 1397 a larger and more representative probably also for the conditions at that time the town hall. It was built on an existing vault above the Limmat river. Much of the work has been done as forced labor and all buses of the city had to be processed on site. One hundred years after the completion of the windows were glazed, which were previously imposed with towels. With this building sat the Zurich city a clearly visible sign of their greater autonomy and increased importance since the entry into Confederation 1351st

On November 30, 1693 Small Council of the City of Zurich decided a new building, which was confirmed by the Council of 200 on 7 December. Here, the new building should be indeed handsome, but not gorgeous but still good for Zurich's reputation. When planning the new building, there was according to a compromise between zwinglianischer modesty, desire for prestige and economy. The new building was in connection with the further increase in the importance of the city. Since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 Zurich possessed the full sovereignty of the Holy Roman Empire and had as an independent city-state a greater need for representation. Because virtually the same time was still being built at the very expensive third city walls, but the money was scarce. Chosen from a catalog of Augsburg architect. The foundation stone was laid on October 12, 1694; The architect was the city architect Hans Heinrich wood half. Since no significant architect was brought in, the building is in its form no " big union ", but a simple three-story rectangular building along molasse sandstone from Baech lukarnenbesetztem with hipped roof. Among other things, the two Council tubes and have been installed computing facilities over the 1533. "

All the used larger effort to ensure for the decoration of the building inside as well as on the exterior facade. The sculptor Giovanni Maria Ceruto and John Jacob Keller were required for the decoration of the facade clad in sandstone. On 22 June 1698, the new building was finished; on 15 June 1698, he was inaugurated with a big fireworks display. For the construction had to " House for Schneggen " soft, which was attached to the former Town Hall 1400-1694 " at right angles.

After the fall of the city of Zurich Republic in 1798 the Town Hall went to the state ownership of the Helvetic Republic and from there 1803 to the newly built Canton Zurich. Since then, it served as the canton seat of government and the Cantonal Council. To this end, the town hall was adapted to the needs inside so in 1833 had to be built as a public gallery in the council chamber, to ensure the demanded under the new Constitution of the public meetings of the Cantonal Council.

Repeated attempts by the cantonal authorities a prestigious new building for the cantonal government, the parliament and the government failed, so that today the old town hall of the city has been seat of the Cantonal Council. The municipal council of the city of Zurich enjoys the cantonal parliament hall hospitality. The city of Zurich government has now located in the town house in the Bahnhofstrasse.

Facade

Today, especially the only style moderately already baroque portal on the east side of black marble from Richterswil and the ornate window fall on. The portal is from the Latin inscription " DEO ET patriae / SAC. HAEC CURIA / JUSSU ET AUSSPICIIS S.P.Q.T. / E fundam, EXTR. ET COND. EST / ANNO CHR. MDCXCIV ET SEQQ " crowned. On both sides of the inscription are on the pillars of fighters the heraldic animals of Zurich, two gilded lions as a plate holder. One of the two lions carrying a sword, the other a palm branch - originally a scepter. The ground floor windows are 23 also decorated each with a bust of a hero of the Greek, Roman and Swiss history, whose names are each assigned a Latin inscription.

Originally, the typical time for the baroque volutes were accompanied with acanthus and crowned. About the skylight above the entrance there was a clock. The gutters referred to the corners of Zurich then also typical dragon gargoyles. These ornaments were all removed in the 18th century.

The town hall is built freestanding over the Limmat River. This is from the south side, where the two barrel vaults are visible through which the Limmat flows through highly visible. In the vaults also an input exists so that you can get directly from the ship to the town hall.

Lately, the fact was some talk that the listed building has no emergency exit and the portal on the ground floor is the only output or input. This is also not handicapped accessible. In case of fire, however, the grid can be opened on the ground floor from the inside, so that the parliamentarians could escape either directly into the Limmat or on the Gemüsebrücke.

Inscriptions and busts the windows on the ground floor

Feats of arms.

Alliance connected.

More detailed images

Inscription and lion of the portal ( with traces of a color stop )

Portal and roof painting

Window downstairs with bust of Adrian I. of Bubenberg (see above)

View from Karlsturm of the cathedral, left the city hall bridge in the background on the left and right of the Schipfe the Limmat Quay

South side, in the background the town hall bridge, Schipfe and the Lindenhof