Old Town
Old Town
Located in the heart of Winterthur is the Old Town, the largest connected pedestrian area in Switzerland, with its colourful mix of specialist shops, boutiques, cafés and restaurants.
The Old Town is a magnet for fascinating discovery tours with many sights such as the Stadtkirche (City Church) with its twin towers or the Stadthaus (City Hall) designed by famous architect Gottfried Semper. The houses, alleys and fountains of the Old Town testify to the ancient and modern history of the city.
Museums
Winterthur has a remarkable concentration of outstanding cultural institutions. For example, you can visit the The Swiss Science Center, the Museum of Art, the Museum of Photography, the Swiss Foundation for Photography, the Museum or the Collection Oskar Reinhart.
Casinotheater
Do you want to have a really good laugh again? Then the Casinotheater is perfect for you. Since 2002 the elegant comedy house has catered for the glamour factor in Winterthur, attracting visitors as well as artists from the entire German-speaking area. » More on the theater
City Hall
The monumental stone structure, built between 1865 and 1870, counts among the epochal examples of European historicism. A perron leads to a facade reminiscent of an antique temple. Its famous architect is Gottfried Semper, who at the time lectured at the Polytechnikum in Zurich. Johann Jakob Sulzer, the mayor at the time, had made contact with Semper through his friend Richard Wagner. Until 1934 the city hall (Stadthaus) housed the common hall, whereas today concerts are held here. The City Council offices are accommodated in the side wings of the building.
Marktgasse
"Schluuch" – this is what the people of Winterthur affectionately call Marktgasse. The lively alley stretches in a straight line through the entire Old Town. Here shop sits beside shop, interspersed with usually fully occupied cafés and restaurants; street musicians perform their skills and the young and beautiful promenade in order to see and be seen.
Parish Church
The Sankt Laurentius parish church with its two distinctive towers is located in the centre of the Old Town. As early as in the 7th or 8th century a wooden church stood in its place. In the course of a restoration archaeological excavations were carried out, showing that the foundations of six earlier churches in total lie below the church floor. The present-day church was built between 1501 and 1518. The expressionist mural paintings inside the church, which emerged in the 1920s, are wonderful.
Roter Turm (Red Tower)
You can enjoy the best view over Winterthur from the 23rd floor of the striking tower block: a classy tower restaurant is located at a height of 90 metres. The tower block, built by Swisscom and completed in 2000, is surrounded by parts of the building, which house offices and parts of the Fachhochschule zhaw (Zurich University of Applied Sciences). They form a plinth, on which the tower rises up like a sculpture. The chosen exterior facing alludes to the traditional brick buildings, which shape the cityscape.
Rosengarten (Rose Garden)
The decorative Rosengarten lies directly above the city centre on the Heiligberg. This insider's tip for rose lovers is an oasis of calm and tranquility with more than 330 species of roses and its gorgeous view. » More on the Rosengarten
Stadtpark (City Park)
The elegant city park with its mighty trees, carefully placed sculptures and cultivated brilliant display of flowers is the "green lung" right in the centre. The "Barockhäuschen" is evidence of a time, when the people of Winterthur used to enjoy the summer resort here. » More on the city park
Town Hall
+41 (0)52 267 67 00 | 