Timeline of Zürich

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Zürich, Switzerland.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Prehistory

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• 4th millennium BC – Prehistoric pile dwellings Alpenquai at Bürkliplatz and Kleiner Hafner at Sechseläutenplatz on then islands or peninsulas at the outflow of the Limmat, and the Grosser Hafner island in the Lake Zurich, an area of about 0.2 square kilometres (49.42 acres).^[1][2]
• 4th century BC – Helvetii/ Celtic Oppidum Uetliberg
• 1st century BC – Helvetii tribe: Oppidum Zürich-Lindenhof^[3][4]

1st–8th centuries

• 70 CE – Roman Vicus and Gallo-Roman settlement Turicum,^[5] Thermengasse hypocaust between Weinplatz and Münsterhof^[3]
• 122 or before – Roman island sanctuary on Grosser Hafner island.^[6]
• 256 - Town rebuilt by Alemanni.^[4]
• 610 – Castellum turegum mentioned by Columban, meaning probably the Gallo-Roman-Allemanic settlement

9th–14th centuries

• 853 – Fraumünster founded.
• 857 – St. Peter church first mentioned.^[7]
• before 1200 – Pfalz on the Lindenhof hill^[3]
• 1218 – Zurich becomes free imperial city.
• 1220 – Grossmünster inaugurated (approximate date).
• 1230 – Predigerkloster founded (no foundation document).
• 1231 – Predigerkirche Zürich, construction started.
• 1237 – Oetenbach nunnery first mentioned.
• 1267 – Feud between Zürich and Rudolf I von Habsburg against the Regensberg family (1267/68).
• 1270 – Augustinerkloster Zürich established and Augustinerkirche Zürich built.
• 1280 – Grimmenturm built by the Bilgeri ministerialis (around, maybe ~1250)
• 1291 – On 28 November 1291 Countess Elisabeth von Rapperswil concluded a three-year alliance with the city of Zürich against the Dukes of Austria-Habsburg.^[8]
• 1292 – Battle nearby Winterthur, Zürich defeated, legendary siege of Zürich.
• 1336
  • Guilds in operation, some members of the previous council refuged to Johann I (Habsburg-Laufenburg).
  • Zunft zum Kämbel established.
• 1349 – Pogrom against the Jewish population of Zürich.^[9]
• 1350 – Brun opponents executed on occasion of the so-called Mordnacht, Rapperswil Castle destroyed by Brun troops, Count Johann II von Rapperswil imprisoned,^[10] Dukes of Habsburg started counterattack and forced Zürich to search for new allies.^[11]
• 1351 – Zurich joins Swiss confederation.^[12]
• 1377 – Haus zum Rüden (guildhouse) first mentioned.^[13]
• 1383 – Jewish citizens was allowed to renew the Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery.^[14]
• 1389 – Zunfthaus zur Haue (guildhouse) first mentioned.^[15]

15th century

• 1407 – Herrschaft Regensberg became äussere Vogtei of Zürich.^[16]
• 1423 – The Jewish citizens had to leave Zürich^[17] to 1850.^[9]
• 1437 – Elisabeth von Matsch granted the mayor and council of the city of Zürich or their representatives the authority to act on their behalf, immediately after the usurpations of lands of the Toggenburg County by the cantons of Schwyz and Glarus, and to lock Grynow.^[18]
• 1440 – Zurich expelled from Swiss confederation; Old Zürich War begins.
• 1443 – Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl.
• 1451 – Zurich re-admitted to Swiss confederation.^[19]
• 1460 – Thurgau becomes part of city.
• 1467 – Winterthur becomes part of city.
• 1484 – Stein am Rhein becomes part of city.
• 1496 – Eglisau becomes part of city.

16th century

• 1518 – Huldrych Zwingli becomes pastor of Grossmünster.
• 1522 – Affair of the Sausages.
• 1522 – Katharina von Zimmern, last imperial abbess of Zürich, passed the Fraumünster Abbey into the possession of the city of Zürich.^[20][21]
• 1524
  • Reformation in Zürich
  • Augustiner and Prediger monasteries and Oetenbach nunnery in Zürich and Rüti Abbey in Rüti nearby Rapperswil disestablished.
• 1525 - Carolinum Zürich and Rütiamt established
• 1527 – Kappel Abbey disestablished.
• 1531 – Froschauer Bible published.
• 1535 - Coverdale Bible published.^[22]
• 1576 – Murerplan published.

17th-18th centuries

• 1634 – City library established.
• 1642 – Fortifications expanded
• 1648 – City status changes from Reichsstadt to Republik.
• 1662 – Bauschänzli at Bürkliplatz built.
• 1746
  • Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zürich (scientific society)^[23]
  • Old botanical garden established.
• 1757 – Zunfthaus zur Meisen built.
• 1770 – Orell, Gessner, Füssli & Cie in business.^[24]
• 1780 - Zürcher Zeitung (newspaper) begins publication.^[25]
• 1799
  • June – First Battle of Zurich.^[12]
  • September – Second Battle of Zurich.^[12]

19th century

• 1804 – Kantonspolizei Zürich (police) established as "Landjäger-Corps des Kantons Zürich".^[26]
• 1814 – Zürich District established.
• 1832 – Zunfthaus zur Saffran built.
• 1833 – University of Zurich founded.^[4]
• 1834 – Aktientheater built.
• 1836 - Confiserie Sprüngli in business.
• 1837
  • Staatsarchiv Zürich established.
  • Predecessor construction of Frauenbad Stadthausquai inaugurated.
• 1838 - Villa Belvoir and Münsterbrücke (bridge) built.
• 1839 – Züriputsch.^[4]
• 1847
  • Spanisch-Brötli-Bahn begins operating; Zürich Hauptbahnhof opens.
  • Bahnhofbrücke (bridge) built.
• 1850
  • Population 35,483 in city;^[27] 250,698 in canton.^[28]
  • The Jewish citizens are allowed to re-settle in Zürich (see 1423).^[9]
• 1853 – Villa Tobler built.
• 1855
  • Stock Exchange established.
  • Eidgenössische Polytechnische Schule and Zürich Oerlikon railway station open.
• 1859
  • 10 November: Peace treaty signed in Zurich.^[29]
  • Limmatquai built.
• 1860
  • Public schools established.^[27]
  • Population 44,978.^[27]
• 1862 – Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Zürich (ICZ) founded.
• 1868 - Tonhalle Orchester Zürich formed.^[30]
• 1870 – Population: 58,657.^[27]
• 1875 – Pestalozzianum founded.
• 1880 – Population: 78,345 in city;^[27] 316,074 in canton.^[28]
• 1884
  • Synagoge Zürich Löwenstrasse built.
  • Quaibrücke (bridge) built.
• 1886 – Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen opened.
• 1887 – Seeuferanlage by Arnold Bürkli, Arboretum Zürich and Bürkliplatz inaugurated.
• 1888
  • Population: 94,129.^[27]
  • Frauenbad Stadthausquai (public bath) opened.
• 1889 – Knabenschiessen begins.
• 1890 – Seebad Utoquai opened.
• 1891
  • Eduard Spelterini starts his Urania balloon.
  • Stadttheater Zürich opens.
  • Gottfried Keller Stiftung founded by Lydia Escher (1858–1891).^[20][21]
• 1892 – Volkstheater am Pfauen built.
• 1893
  • City expands, incorporating Wollishofen, Enge, Leimbach, Wiedikon, Wipkingen, Fluntern and Hottingen, Aussersihl, Oberstrass, Unterstrass, Riesbach and Hirslanden.
  • Rathausbrücke built.
  • August: International Socialist and Labour Congress held in Zurich.
  • Tages-Anzeiger newspaper begins publication.^[25]
• 1896
  • Akademischer Alpen-Club Zürich (hiking club) formed.^[31]
  • Sechseläutenplatz first mentioned.
• 1898
  • Bund Schweizerischer Frauenvereine (BSF) founded.
  • Swiss National Museum opens.^[12][27]

20th century

1900s-1940s

• 1900 – Population: 150,703 in city;^[27] 431,036 in canton.^[28]
• 1901 – Kriminalmuseum associated with the Kantonspolizei Zürich founded.
• 1902
  • Sechseläuten and Böögg-burning event commences.
  • Voliere Zürich established.
• 1903 – Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (ZSG) founded.
• 1909 – Paddlesteamer Stadt Zürich put into commission.
• 1910
  • Kunsthaus Zürich opens.
  • Water airport Zürichhorn opens.
• 1906 - Schweizerisches Sozialarchiv founded.
• 1914
  • Zentralbibliothek Zürich (library) founded.
  • Paddlesteamer Stadt Rapperswil put into commission.
• 1915 – Mieterverband founded.
• 1916 - Cabaret Voltaire and Dada art movement founded.^[32]
• 1919 – Ad Astra Aero founded.
• 1920 - Population: 206,120 in city;^[33] 538,602 in canton.^[28]
• 1922
  • Kino Walche (cinema) opens.^[34]
  • Strandbad Mythenquai opened.
• 1926 – Der Schweizerische Beobachter founded.
• 1928
  • SAFFA exhibition at Saffa-Insel held.
  • Weltklasse Zürich begins.
• 1929 - Zürich Zoologischer Garten (zoo) opens.^[35]
• 1931 – Sukkulentensammlung established.
• 1937 - 2 June: Premiere of Berg's opera Lulu.^[36]
• 1939
  • Hallenstadion opens.
  • Landi39 at Zürichhorn and Mythenquai
• 1941 – Bernhard-Theater Zürich founded by Rudolf Bernhard.
• 1945 – 4 March: Bombing by Allied forces.^[37]
• 1948 – Klubschule Migros founded.
• 1949 – Ex Libris (bookshop) became part the Migros group.^[38]

1950s-1990s

• 1951 – Reederei Zürich AG established.^[39]
• 1952 – Reederei Zürich cargo liner Adele christened by Adele Duttweiler^[40]
• 1954 – Zurich 6-day race begins.
• 1956 – Besuch der alten Dame premierred at Schauspielhaus Zürich, Ruedi Walter played the blind eunuch Loby,^[41] and Paul Bühlmann the conductor.^[42]
• 1959 – Theater am Hechtplatz opened.
• 1960 - Population: 440,170 in city; 952,304 in canton.^[28]
• 1961 – Theater am Neumarkt opened.
• 1962 – Les Sauterelles founded.
• 1963 – Mahmood Mosque, Zürich built.
• 1964 – Theater an der Winkelwiese opened.
• 1966 – Sigmund Widmer elected mayor.
• 1967 – Centre Le Corbusier inaugurated.
• 1971 – Musikabteilung established.^[43]
• 1975 – Limmat Verlag founded.
• 1976 – Rotpunktverlag founded.
• 1977 – Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich opens.^[44]
• 1979 – Ursula Koch refuses to swear on 'Vaterland'^[45]
• 1980
  • May: Opernhauskrawalle, the Opernhaus youth protests known as Züri brännt^[46] meaning Zürich is burning.
  • September: Zürcher Theater Spektakel begins.
  • October: Rote Fabrik opens as a youth culture centre.
• 1981
  • WOZ Die Wochenzeitung founded.
  • Züri brännt (movie), a documentary film of 1981.^[46]
• 1984
  • Opera House renovated.
  • Theater Rigiblick opened, built in 1901 as Rigiblick restaurant and former Gastsaal venue.^[47]
• 1986 – Irchelpark opened.
• 1988 – Sozialwerke Pfarrer Sieber founded by pastor Ernst Sieber.
• 1989 – Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster founded.
• 1992 – Street Parade begins.
• 1993 – Technopark Zürich established.
• 1996 – Langstrasse festival begins.

21st century

• 2000 - Population: 363,273 in city; 1,247,906 in canton.^[28]
• 2001 – Digitec founded.
• 2003 - Sister city relationship established with San Francisco, USA.^[48]
• 2005 – Zurich Film Festival and Neujahrsmarathon Zürich begin.
• 2008 – SIX Group formed.
• 2009
  • Corine Mauch elected mayor.^[49]
  • Uetliberg Tunnel opens on the A3 motorway in vicinity of city.^[50]

See also

• History of Zurich
• List of mayors of Zurich
• List of cultural property of national significance in Switzerland: Zürich

Other cities in Switzerland

• Timeline of Basel
• Timeline of Bern
• Timeline of Geneva

References

This article incorporates information from the German Wikipedia and French Wikipedia.

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zurich.

• "History of the City of Zurich". City of Zurich. 
• Links to fulltext city directories for Zurich via Wikisource
• Europeana. Items related to Zurich, various dates.

Cities in Switzerland by population 300,000+ Zürich 100,000+ Basel Bern Geneva Lausanne Winterthur 30,000+ Bienne Chur Fribourg Köniz La Chaux-de-Fonds Lucerne Lugano Neuchâtel St. Gallen Schaffhausen Thun Uster Vernier 15,000+ Aarau Adliswil Allschwil Baar Baden Bellinzona Burgdorf Carouge Dietikon Emmen Frauenfeld Gossau Grenchen Herisau Horgen Kloten Kreuzlingen Kriens Lancy Littau Locarno Meyrin Monthey Montreux Muttenz Nyon Olten Onex Ostermundigen Pratteln Rapperswil-Jona Regensdorf Renens Schwyz Sierre Sion Solothurn Spiez Steffisburg Thalwil Vevey Volketswil Wädenswil Wettingen Wetzikon Wil Yverdon-les-Bains Zollikon Zug

Years in Switzerland (1848–present) 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029