Art and culture are writ large in Zurich, as the city was already avant -garde in the Middle Ages. Be it as an important center of silk production and trade in the 13th century, as the birthplace of the Dada movement at the beginning of the 20th century and later of Constructivism, or as the hometown and adopted home of many important artists and intellectuals. Max Bill, Johanna Spyri, Lenin, James Joyce, Thomas Mann, Albert Einstein and many more left their mark on Zurich. Today, not only numerous museums a nd cultural institutions invite visitors to explore the city, but the public space and countless festivals also bear witness to Zurich's cultural highlights.
➡ zuerich.com/culture
Art & Culture , Zürich, Switzerland
Museums
in Zurich
Asia, Africa and Oceania
The route takes you through the idyllic Rieterpark to the Rietberg Museum with its magnificent views over the city and mountains. This consists of three 19th century villas. It was here that Wagner once drew inspiration for his masterpiece “Tristan and Iso lde”. To this day, the museum is a hotbed of creativity: the Rietberg Museum houses an important collection of non -European art. Masks from Africa can be admired here as well as sculptures from India and paintings from Japan.
➡ rietberg.ch
North America
In the other direction, to the west, the journey takes you to Nonam, the North American Native Museum. The focus is on the art and culture of the North American Indians and Inuit, which can be explored here in an interactive way. In addition to the existin g collection, the museum also features changing special exhibitions
➡ nonam.ch
Science and Technology
Be Daniel Gyro Gearloose for once. Reach into nature's bag of tricks. Or trick your own senses. The Technorama in Winterthur makes all of this possible - science, art and technology are brought to life for children and families at hundreds of hands -on stat ions. In Switzerland's only science center, you can touch, play and marvel.
➡ technorama.ch
The World of Soccer
Tooooor ! No other sport is able to inspire people across borders like football. And it is precisely this fascination that the FIFA World Football Museum explores. With more than 1,000 exhibits, visitors travel through the history of football and experience how a ball set out to conquer the world.
➡ fifamuseum.com
Swiss History
The grande dame of Zurich's museums: the National Museum Zurich, which is part of the Swiss National Museum, is the most visited museum of cultural history in Switzerland. In the newly renovated and extended building, Swiss and world history come together in exciting permanent and temporary exhibitions - a visit becomes an excursion between past and present
➡ landesmuseum.ch
Kunsthaus
Zurich is a mecca for art lovers. A visit to the Zurich Kunsthaus is an absolute highlight for art -loving visitors and a treat even for those less interested in art. The most important and comprehensive collection of works by the Graubünden artist Alberto Giacometti on display in a museum and the largest
Art & Culture , Zürich, Switzerland
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Munch collection outside of Norway are just some of the attractions. There are also important works of Expressionism and an extensive Dada archive, which can be visited by appointment.
➡ kunsthaus.ch
Constructivism
Max Bill, Richard Paul Lohse, Camille Graeser and Verena Loewensberg: the works of the representatives of the Zurich School of Concrete Art can be admired at Haus Konstruktiv. Around 900 works from the 20th and 21st centuries are housed in the collection, which has grown steadily since it was founded in 1986 and now includes both historical and contemporary art.
➡ hauskonstruktiv.ch
Swiss Contemporary Art
The Kunst(Zeug)Haus is the best place to immerse yourself in contemporary Swiss art - hardly any other collection displays as many exhibits of this style as the Kunst(Zeug)Haus with its approximately 5,000 works of art. The married couple Peter and Elisabe th Bosshard began collecting high -quality works by Swiss artists back in 1970 with a keen eye for newcomers. In addition to the exciting temporary exhibitions, the Kunsthaus can always draw on its own rich collection.
➡ kunstzeughaus.ch
Weird and Wonderful Sculptures
The Bruno Weber Park covers an area of around 15,000 sq.meters (18,000 sq.yards). Artist and sculptor Bruno Weber, who died in 2011, has created a fascinating fantasy world of mythical creatures, exotic beauties and enchanting beings overlooking the munici palities of Spreitenbach and Dietikon, to the west of Zurich, making it the largest sculpture park featuring a single artist in Switzerland. The Bruno Weber Park is open during the summer months on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
➡ brunoweberpark.ch
Art in Public Spaces
Over 1300 works of art in public spaces can be visited in the city of Zurich. The KiöR (Art in Public Spaces) working group ensures that this remains the case. Here are some of the most spectacular works in public spaces.
Guardian Angel by Niki de Saint -Phalle
11 meters high and weighing 1.2 tons, the colourful guardian angel at Zurich's main station is familiar to every commuter in Zurich. The angel was a gift from Securitas to mark the 150th anniversary of Swiss Railways and was transported in three parts from the USA by ship via Rotterdam and Basel to Zurich.
Niki de Saint Phalle personally supervised the installation.
➡ “L’ange protecteur” by Niki de Saint Phalle
Art & Culture , Zürich, Switzerland
Pavilion Sculpture by Max Bill
The walk -in Pavilion Sculpture by Winterthur -born artist Max Bill is situated on the corner of Bahnhofstrasse/Pelikanstrasse. Fashioned in elegant granite, it invites passers -by to stop and indulge in a quiet moment amidst the hustle and bustle of the Bahn hofstrasse.
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Heureka by Jean Tinguely
Whimsical poetry made of metal, steel and iron: This is “Heureka” by Jean Tinguely. The sculpture, created in 1967, was Tinguely's first public work and can be admired today on the Zürichhorn. And between April and October, you can not only admire it, but also marvel at it: The figure is set in motion for 8 minutes at 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm.
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The Swiss “Export Typeface” Helvetica by Max Miedinger
Walking through the streets of Zurich, you can spot one of Switzerland's most important exports: The “Helvetica” font, which is an icon, design classic and everyday brand all in one and is now by far one of the most widely used fonts in the world. It was d esigned in 1957 by Zurich graphic designer Max Miedinger in collaboration with Eduard Hoffmann, who was managing director of the Haas type foundry at the time. It is not only brands such as Lufthansa or Nestlé that rely on “Helvetica”; travelers on the New York subway are also informed and guided by the “Swiss”.
Harald Naegeli - the sprayer from Zurich
Harald Naegeli became world -famous as the “Sprayer of Zurich” at the end of the 1970s. With his illegal murals, he protested against urbanization and Zurich's monotonous cityscape. Naegeli's figures, once regarded as rebellious and anarchic, are now recogn ized as artistic interventions in the everyday world. This was honored in 2020 with the City of Zurich Art Prize. Naegeli was one of the first Swiss artists to devote himself to politically motivated interventions on the street. The street art pioneer's work is classified as art in public space.
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Theater and concert
Tonhalle Zürich
Eyes and ears are particularly spoiled during a visit to Zurich. The Tonhalle Zurich is a place that touches the senses and invites you to play with superlatives. The breathtaking hall with its outstanding acoustics is one of the best concert halls in the world. And the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, founded in 1868, can also call itself one of the best symphony orchestras in the world.
➡ tonhalle -orchester.ch
Schauspielhaus
The Schauspielhaus Zürich is not only the largest spoken theater in Switzerland, but is also considered one of the most important German -speaking theaters. Its two theatres - the traditional Pfauen in
Art & Culture , Zürich, Switzerland
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Zurich -Hottingen and the Schiffbau in Zurich -West - stage around 600 performances a year and include around 20 new productions in their program each season
➡ schauspielhaus.ch
Zurich Opera House
Stolz und majestätisch steht das Zürcher Opernhaus am Sechseläutenplatz, im Herzen von Zürich. Der Prachtbau ist aber nicht nur wegen seines imposanten Äusseren international bekannt, sondern gehört dank seiner herausragenden Produktionen zu den besten Ope rnhäusern der Welt. Nicht weniger als 250 Aufführungen pro Saison verwöhnen das Publikum mit Glamour und akustischen Highlights - oft mit internationalen Stars wie Cecilia Bartoli, Klaus Florian Vogt oder Nina Stemme.
➡ opernhaus.ch
Zurich Chamber Orchestra
If the internationally acclaimed Zurich Chamber Orchestra, founded by Edmond de Stoutz in 1945, were an animal, it would almost certainly be a chameleon, such is the diversity of its repertoire. This ranges from baroque, classical and romantic to contempor ary. And collaborations with other musicians from areas such as jazz are just as much a part of the program as the Nuggi, Krab -bel and children's concerts. Daniel Hope is the first time that the traditional orchestra has been led by an instrumentalist rath er than a conductor.
➡ zko.ch
Cabaret Voltaire
Just over a hundred years ago, the Cabaret Voltaire was the birthplace of Dadaism. A colorful, chaotic movement of artists and intellectuals. They wanted to counter the turmoil of the First World War with the weapon of art. From Zurich, the Dadaists conque red the entire globe with their new values. The wind of Dadaism is still blowing through the rooms of the Cabaret Voltaire today, so that the program sets the appropriate accents.
➡ cabaretvoltaire.ch
Casino Theater Winterthur
Founded in 2002, the Casino Theater Winterthur offers a rich program of cabaret events ranging from comedy, cabaret and satire to poetry slam and improv theater. Not only famous artists can be seen here, but also talented new discoveries.
➡ casinotheater.ch
Miller s
The laugh muscles are also exercised at Millers. The Seefeld Theater sets the stage for cabaret artists who celebrate the beauty of words and humor. Renowned names can be found on the program as well as up -and -coming artists.
➡ millers.ch
Art & Culture , Zürich, Switzerland
Comedyh aus
The Comedyha us at Albisriederplatz in Zurich provides a stage for lesser -known or smaller comedy artists in particular. The program is as varied and diverse as the district itself. tists.
➡ comedyhouse.ch
Culture in Former Industrial Halls
Löwenbräu Areal
Where the traditional Löwenbräu beer was once brewed, you can now wander through an exciting mix of old listed buildings and new architecture. But the area is not only exciting from an architectural point of view. Today, it is not only used for residential and commercial purposes, but i s also home to a lively international art scene. For example, with the Kunsthalle Zürich, the Migros Museum of Contemporary Art and countless galleries.
➡ Lowenbraukunst.ch
Rote Fabrik
The building was built in 1892 by the Henneberg silk company and bought by the city of Zurich in the 1970s - actually with the aim of demolishing it for a road extension. However, this met with great protest and left -wing groups in particular campaigned fo r the preservation of the factory and the establishment of an alternative cultural center. The name “Rote Fabrik” is therefore not just an allusion to the red brick façade. In the context of the opera house riot in May 1980, the demand was then met and a cultural center was opened. Since then, the Rote Fabrik has stood for an alternative art program in film, music and theater.
➡ rotefabrik.ch
Gessnerallee
Theater in the riding hall ? This may sound funny and ironic, but it is the program in the Gessnerallee , a former military building that consisted of arsenals, riding halls and stables. Today, cultural experimentation meets innovative forms of performance at the “Gessnerallee”. This makes the Gessnerallee Zurich one of the most important production and pres entation venues for the performing arts in Switzerland and internationally.
➡ gessnerallee.ch
Maag Halle
In the Maag Halle, where huge cogwheels were once produced, huge events and concerts are now organized that have an appeal beyond the city of Zurich to the whole of Switzerland. The venue's own bistro, k2, with its pre -industrial charm, also caters for vis itors' physical well -being ➡ maag -moments.ch
Z urich’s Movie Theaters
Zurich has a high density of cinemas that celebrate the fascination for the moving image - with blockbusters as well as cinematic trouvailles. The nostalgic interior of the Alba cinema exudes glamor, while
Art & Culture , Zürich, Switzerland
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at the Riffraff or the Houdini you can nestle into a movie seat with a lavish cocktail. A visit to the smallest cinema in the city of Zurich, the Kulturstudio, which has just 24 seats, is a special experience. Cinema director Felix Wicki, a passionate coll ector of old film reels, takes the opportunity to stand on the small stage before each screening and tell exciting anecdotes about the film.
The Zurich Art Weekend takes place once a year shortly before Art Basel. This weekend brings together all the big names from the Zurich art scene. Special exhibitions, guided tours, workshops and art talks take place at over 60 venues in the city of Zurich .
➡ zurichartweekend.com
Zürich Openair
Listen to music while you feel the light summer breeze caressing your face. The Zürich Openair is the perfect way to spend a warm summer’s day and over a period of four days presents top stars from the national and international music scene.
➡ zurichopenair.ch
Theaterspektakel
Every summer there's great theater on the “Landiwiese”, directly on Lake Zurich. And for 18 days. What was founded in 1980 as an international meeting of independent theaters has developed into one of the most important European festivals for contemporary forms of the performing arts. Today, 35 -40 theater groups and individual artists from all over the world travel to the Zürcher Theaterspektakel to perform at the specially constructed venues, providing a very special open -air experience.
➡ theaterspektakel.ch
ZFF
Held for the first time in 2005, the Zurich Film Festival has already firmly established itself on the national and international festival calendar. Here film enthusiasts come together with directors and movie -makers from all corners of the globe in order to celebrate the medium of film over a period of several days. Among the movies screened are cinematic gems from different countries, as well as major works by famous film -makers.
➡ zff.com
Contact
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➡ media@zuerich.com
➡ zuerich.com/media
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