Käferberg
| Käferberg-Waidberg | |
|---|---|
 Zürich-Altstetten and Höngg and Käferberg-Waidberg, as seen from Uetliberg, Rümlang (to the left) and Kloten airport in the background | |
| Elevation | 601 m (1,972 ft) |
| Location | |
| Location | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 47°24′19″N 8°31′13″E / 47.40533°N 8.52021°ECoordinates: 47°24′19″N 8°31′13″E / 47.40533°N 8.52021°E |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Tram and bus |
Käferberg (el. 571 metres (1,873 ft)) and Waidberg (el. 601 metres (1,972 ft)) are the summits of a wooded mountain respectively chain of hills overlooking the inner city of Zurich, Lake Zurich, Albis chain and Uetliberg, as well as the Limmat Valley and the Zürcher Unterland in Switzerland.
Geography
Käferberg (Swiss German: Chäferberg meaning mountain of beetles) and Waidberg (mountain of meadows) are the peaks of a longish mountain in the north of the Limmat valley. It is located in the Zurich quarters Höngg, Wipkingen and Affoltern, between Bucheggplatz and ETH-Hönggerberg, known as Science City, and the western Hönggerberg heading on the northern border of the Limmat valley to Würenlos. In the east, Käferberg is bordered by a small mountain pass between Bucheggplatz (472 metres (1,549 ft)) and Milchbuck (476 metres (1,562 ft)) at Zürichberg, leading from the city of Zurich to the Glatt valley. In the north, the region is bordered by the Glatt and Furt valleys.
Its highest point (Waidberg) is about 200 metres (656 ft) above the Limmat valley. From northwest to southeast, Käferberg-Waidberg is part of a chain of peaks respectively mountains: Hönggerberg (541 metres (1,775 ft)), Käferberg-Waidberg, Zürichberg (676 metres (2,218 ft)), Adlisberg (701 metres (2,300 ft)), Öschbrig (696 metres (2,283 ft)), Wassberg (715 metres (2,346 ft)), Forch mountain pass, Guldenen (778 metres (2,552 ft)) and Pfannenstiel (873 metres (2,864 ft)).
Points of interest
It is a picturesque location, and the upper southwestern side is also the location of restaurants overlooking the city of Zurich and the Limmat valley. The upper area of the mountain is mostly woodland and a popular recreational area with picnic sites, in addition there are hiking routes heading from Bucheggplatz to the canton of Aargau and a Vita Parcours.[1] Rarely to find in the urban area of Zurich are Centaurea, Salvia pratensis, Knautia and Sand Lizards on the southwestern upper hill. Schrebergärten are typical for the southern and northern upper parts, too. The Wärmebad Käferberg is located in the south nearby the city hospital Waid (Waidspital) and a Deer inhabit.[2]
Another restaurant, a Tennis club and a small TV tower are situated within the woodland at Waidberg summit, nearby the former Freibad (public open air bath) Waidbad which is now a popular pic-nic site, too. The area is used for recreation and sport on a clearing not far from the ETH-Hönggerberg. There was a project to renew the Waidbad as a site of wellness, to integrate the area in a so-called "forest spa" including indoor baths, sauna, cafeteria, complete infrastructure and attractive outdoor grounds.[3]
ETH Zurich "Science City"
Science City is a campus of the ETH Zurich located on the eastern Käferberg slope respectively on western part of the Hönggerberg hill (officially the campus is named "ETH Hönggerberg", too). ETH Zurich declares it as vision of a university campus and a "City district of brainstorming culture" which will transform the ETH site into a place with greater quality of life through a variety of measures. It is also declared as a platform that will make it possible for the ETH Zurich to realize future projects that are based on the pioneering and symbolic development of future living and cognitive space.[4]
Transportation
The tram numbers 11 and 15 to Bucheggplatz, tram 13 alongside the southern area to Frankental as well as the bus line 80 Oerlikon–Altstetten–Triemli, bus line 38 (Höngg), trolley bus line 46 (City–Rütihof) and bus line 69 (Milchbuck–Hönggerberg) run up to different parts of the mountain area.
Käferbergtunnel (2,119 metres (6,952 ft)) is a node of the S-Bahn Zürich on the lines S5, S6, S7 and S16.
History
In addition to a total of 15 bastions and Letzinen (palisades) outside of the Fortifications of Zurich, in the 17th century the area was part of the so-called third fortifications of the city of Zurich. Since 1907, the houses "Zur Waid" served as Krankenheim, a small public hospital. The so-called Waidgut was rebuilt in 1918 as an urban nursing home which is since 1962/3 the care center Käferberg. As part of the incorporation of the former municipality Höngg, the forest area on Käferberg owned by the citizens was sold in 1934 to the city of Zurich as well as the other areas of the former urban forest located there. Even today, there are large, contiguous agricultural land in the immediate neighborhood of the "Science City".
References
Literature
- Hochbaudepartement der Stadt Zürich, Amt für Städtebau: Affoltern, Oerlikon, Schwamendingen, Seebach. Baukultur in Zürich, Band I, Verlag Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Zürich 2003. ISBN 3-03823-034-0
- Martin Bürlimann, Kurt Gammeter: Wipkingen - Vom Dorf zum Quartier. Wibichinga Verlag, Zürich Wipkingen 2006. ISBN 3-9523149-0-0
External links
Media related to Käferberg at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website of the city of Zürich: Perimeter (Käferberg) (German)
- Quartierverein Affoltern (German)
- Affoltern bei Zürich in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- Quartierverein Höngg (German)
- Höngg in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- Quartierverein Wipkingen (German)