Contents
Preface 3
The Old Town and the Lindenhof 7
University and ETH 9
The Spanisch Brötlibahn 11
Urban Development 12
Train onto the Dolder 15
Rigiblick Railway and Polybähnli 17
Art is in the Air 18
Opera House and Landesmuseum 23
Sechseläuten and the Böögg 25
Züri Fäscht and Streetparade 27
James Joyce and Gottfried Keller 31
The Main Railway Station 35
Bahnhofstrasse and Paradeplatz 39
Chinese Garden 41
Water 45
Zoo Zurich 47
Grossmünster and St.-Peter-Church 53
Legends of the Stag 57
Figures and facts on the History of Zurich 58
Epilogue 59
Sources 60
Sechseläuten and the Böögg
The Böögg being burnt on the day of the Sechseläuten has only been customary since the beginning of the 20st century. Originally, this snowman donning a hat had the function and the look of an evil spirit, who had to be chased away by the means of a raucous carnival. As the six o'clock bell's ringing of the St.-Peter-church was celebrated at the same time as the start of the summertime by the guilds, they moved the custom of the burning the Böögg to chase away the winter to the same time and day.
Another extravagant tradition for some decades now is the unofficial, but very popular, roasting of sausages on the remnants of the stake. This, of course, is practiced only by non-guild-members, and it is necessary to bring along a rather long spit, since the temperatures next to the woodpile are extremely high.
