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 | Zürich Churches - St. Peter's Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 25 |  |
 | |  |  | Churches - St. Peter's: Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church) | Tip Rating:    |  |  | |  |
Peterskirche is the oldest church in Zurich; it stands close by the ruins of a late Roman fortress at the Lindenhof and its origins go back to pre-900.
It is first mentioned in 857, when King Louis the German gave it as a gift to two of his daughters, of whom one became the first abbess of the Fraumunster at the time when this church was founded. The first mayor Rudolf Brun, buried in 1360 in the choir of the church, acquired St. Peter's in 1345 with all the associated privileges (church tax) and obligations. He now has a grave and monumentby the outer tower wall. The first reformed pastor, Leo Jud (1523-1542), was a friend of Zwingli and contributed to the first translation of the Bible in Zurich.
Architectural features: late Romanesque-Gothic tower, Baroque nave (1705/06), stucco work by Salomon Burkli from Zurich and Franz Schmutzer from Wessobrunn, Europe's largest church clock face (8.7 m diameter !), five bells dating from 1880, fire-watchers in the tower until 1911. Leave a Comment Directions: Tramways : 4,15 (Rathaus) Website: www.st-peter-zh.ch
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| | | | Churches - St. Peter's: St Peters and Fraumünster's churches | Tip Rating: | | | | |
********** St. Peters *****************
Dating from the 13th century, St. Peter's, sitting on the left bank south of Lindenhof , is the oldest church in Zurich. The existing building has been considerably expanded over the years. The tower, for example, was extended in 1534, when the clock was added with the largest clock face in Europe: 9m (28 1/2 ft.) in diameter; the minute hand alone is almost 4m (12 ft.) long.; The nave was rebuilt in 1705. Inside, the choir is Romanesque, but the three-aisle nave is baroque.
********** Fraumünster ***************
The Fraumünster's, with its slender, blue spire, is on the left bank overlooking the former pig market, Münsterhof. Münsterhof is one of the historic old squares of Zurich and is well worth a visit. A Benedictine abbey was founded at the site in 853 by Emperor Ludwig (Louis the German), the grandson of Charlemagne. His daughter became the first abbess. The present church dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, but the crypt of the old abbey church is preserved in the undercroft. The church spires that are Zürich's signature was added to the Gothic structure in 1732.
The chief attractions of Fraumünster are five stained-glass windows -- each with its own color theme -- designed by Marc Chagall in 1970. Chagall’s stunning blue, green, orange and yellow panels portray the lives of Jacob, Christ and the road to Zion. The orange panel off to the left celebrates the prophets, while the blue window to the right depicts biblical law. They are best seen in bright morning light. The Münster is also celebrated for its elaborate organ. The basilica has three aisles; the nave is in the Gothic style.
From Fraumünster you can cross the Münsterbrücke, an 1838 bridge that leads to Grossmünster. On the bridge is a statue of Burgomaster Waldmann, who was beheaded in 1489 when his political enemies seized power. During his rule, the city gained influence over much of the surrounding lands. Leave a Comment Directions: Off Bahnhofstrasse
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