In and Around Zurich Spring 2005

Children eat and sleep free of charge
In 2005, families in particular are guaranteed to enjoy their stay in Zürich: in ten different three and four-star hotels, children eat and sleep free of charge on weekends – even in their own room! The offer is valid from Friday to Monday for children accompanied by two adults, at least one of whom is the parent. Reservations can be made for a maximum of four children per two adults, providing that there are rooms available.

Zürich is the ticket to all kinds of memorable experiences, for both the city and the surrounding region offer an endless range of culture, gastronomy and events. One example is the opportunity to learn by observing and experiencing – an increasing number of museums are designing their exhibitions in line with the motto, “please touch – otherwise nothing will happen!” In many places, the doors to natural history and technology are also open on Sundays and public holidays. The largest covered water park in Europe, Alpamare, now has a breathtaking new water slide, the Tornado. First you hurtle down a long, straight, 1.4 meter-wide / 55.118 inches chute, complete with spectacular lighting and sound effects, which leads into a 12-meter / 39.4 foot wide, 6-meter /19.7 foot high funnel. The adrenalin rush kicks in at the latest on entering the funnel from an angle at high speed and then spiraling downwards three or four times over. Alpamare offers a total of 1,500 meters / 0.93 miles of sliding fun on 10 different water chutes. The possibilities for excursions in and around Zürich are as varied as they are numerous. In Zürich, gastronomes can fulfill their culinary dreams with the innovative, tailor-made choice of cuisine. An increasing number of restaurants are offering special children’s menus, while creative ideas are being implemented more inventively than ever before. Regular annual events, as well as the Teddy Summer 2005, are awaiting both young and old alike – from May 23 – September 18, 2005, Zürich and area will be populated by hundreds of artistically designed teddy bears made out of polyester. These almost life-size exhibits are guaranteed to captivate the hearts of everyone who sees them – children and adults, guests and locals, business travelers and vacationers. The colors and expression of each teddy bear will be different from all the rest, thus making it one of a kind. Anyone who loves teddy bears should not miss a trip to Zürich in summer 2005!

Restaurant tips for families – how to enjoy Zürich to the full!
Crazy Cow – complete with typical Swiss motifs, creative menus and original culinary dishes
Walliser Kanne – serves chocolate fondue, a treat for both young and mature
Restaurant Alter Tobelhof – eat and drink at a former farm in the country style
Restaurant Waldhaus Katzensee – model steam railway guarantees lots of fun

Additional tips, hotel reservation www.zuerich.com

On the Scene

Rainforest adventures whatever the season
Right in the middle of Zürich, exotic animals move between tropical plants in an area covering 11,000 square meters. Within a matter of seconds, visitors can experience temperature differences of up to 40°C / 104°F by venturing into the tropical world of the Masoala Rainforest. Zürich’s indoor rainforest is the largest of its kind and size in Europe.

Here, one can experience at close quarters the natural interdependencies between the flora and fauna outside their natural habitat in Madagascar; neither walls nor fences separate visitors from the animals and plants. By following the twisting paths, nature lovers can explore the habitats of over 300 animal species and around 17,000 tropical plants, and perceive them with all the senses. Where else can one make the acquaintance of a flying fox, or come face to face with a tomato frog or a coral fish? One year after the Masoala Rainforest opened in June 2003, the ecosystem was already functioning smoothly. The many insects provide food for the geckos and chameleons, while flying foxes and lemurs eat leaves and fruit without damaging the trees or plants in any way.

The information center adjacent to the hall shows the significance of, as well as the threat to, this unique animal and plant world and informs visitors about how they, too, can contribute towards protecting nature and endangered species. Zürich Zoo puts part of its revenue towards supporting projects in the Masoala National Park in Madagascar.

Further information www.zoo.ch

Excursion tips – experience Zürich’s nature at close quarters
Langenberg Animal Park – wolves, elks, brown bears and wild cats are the main attractions
Zürich Zoo – home to some 4,000 animals and 400 different species
Zoolino Petting Zoo – a paradise for young visitors and small animals
Planet Trail on the Uetliberg – follow the trail of the secrets of the universe
Boat trip on Lake Zürich – sit back, relax and enjoy a trip on Lake Zürich

Additional tips www.zuerich.com

Christopher Street Day: motto for 2005 – “Go for Yes!”
In June 1969, a police raid on the Stonewell gay bar in New York triggered off a street battle. On Christopher Street, homosexuals publicly fought for their rights. This riot is regarded as the birth of the worldwide gay liberation movement. The day on which lesbians, gays and transvestites stopped being just victims, but took to the streets to demand acceptance of their way of life has taken on historical significance. Members of the gay community all over the world celebrate Christopher Street Day (CSD) to promote social acceptance and express their joie de vivre as homosexuals and lesbians. In the run-up to the national referendum on the introduction of a law recognizing the civil registration of same-sex partnerships, the motto of CSD 2005 in Zürich is “Go for Yes!”.

Events ranging from the informative to the entertaining, from political to trendy, are planned for the entire CSD weekend, starting with a film evening on Friday, June 3, 2005 and culminating in a colorful parade though the city center on Saturday, June 4, 2005. During the late afternoon, a huge street party is scheduled to take place at Turbinen-Platz, in the trendy Zürich-West district, featuring show acts, DJs, market and refreshment stalls, and much, much more. After the street party, celebrations will continue in the various gay clubs in the party metropolis of Zürich. Night owls, party lovers and anyone else can enjoy a Sunday brunch to mark the end of the festivities.

Zürich takes a very liberal attitude towards the gay and lesbian scene; in the past, it has repeatedly been the scene of much talk and action, and is also home to countless clubs and bars. In 2003, the people of the Canton of Zürich voted in favor of a law to officially register partnerships. For groups, Zürich Tourism is offering a special themed city tour.

Further information www.csdzh.ch
www.zuerich.com (Group tours, accommodation)
Date Juni 4, 2005

Tips for gay & lesbian bars and clubs
Barfüsser – sushi – bar – café, with a modern, colorful decor
Cranberry – for those who know how to party
Labyrinth – discreet and tolerant, an erotic dance palace for gays, bisexuals and heterosexuals
Pigalle – the music-hit bar, with a tiny stage for performances
Odéon – the classic venue near Bellevue; one of the city’s most exciting cafés

Additional tips
and locations www.zuerich.com

Zürich Arts Festival
The Zürich Arts Festival have become a permanent fixture on the international festival calendar. The unique combination of opera, concerts, plays, dance and free theater again offers a high-class, festive program and turns Zürich into a festival city. The highlights of the Zürich Arts Festival 2005 are:

La Bohème: The idea came to me on a rainy day, when I had nothing to do. I started to read a book that I was not familiar with. The book totally captivated me; in it, I found everything that I seek and love so much – freshness, youth, passion, happiness, the silently shed tears, love with all its joys and sorrows. It has humanity, it has feeling, it has heart. And above all, it has poetry.” Excerpts from a quote by Giacomo Puccini about his work.

Der herrr norrrdwind: Alfred Kolleritsch, who was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, 1st Class, wrote about this work by Hans Carl Artmann: “Everything that constitutes freedom of writing, of inventing, of enchanting, I found in his work – the friendliest anarchism that one could imagine.”

Bruckner Cycle: Anton Bruckner’s nine symphonies will be performed by the Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich, the Zürich Opera Orchestra, the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig and the Champs-Elysées Orchestra.

Sigmar Polke, Pieter Claesz, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Alberto Giacometti:
A wide variety of exhibits await Festival visitors to the Kunsthaus Zürich art museum, ranging from the evolutionary contemporary art of Sigmar Polke to the strictly arranged, baroque still-lifes of Pieter Claesz, as well as the “instant décisif” of two great 20th-century artists, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Alberto Giacometti.

“the far side of the moon” and the “St. Matthew Passion”: “the far side of the moon”, written and directed by Robert Lepage, is being performed in the Schiffbauhalle. The “St. Matthew Passion” by Johann Sebastian Bach, directed by Stephan Pucher, will take place in the Box at the Schiffbau.

Openair: Festival performances will be shown on large-size screens at the Münsterhof. The Midsummer’s Night Ball is being held at Zürich’s main train station.

Further information www.zuercher-festspiele.ch
www.zuerich.com (Übernachtungs-Angebote)
Dates June 17 – July 10, 2005

The new library by Santiago Calatrava on Zürich’s Art Mile “hovers”
Zürich’s Art Mile boasts an architectural masterpiece: the Law Faculty at Zürich University commissioned star architect, Santiago Calatrava, to transform the open-air inner courtyard at Rämistrasse 74/76 into a library. He rose to the challenge by erecting a suspended construction, creating a symphony of movement and light.

The architect covered the inner courtyard with a glass dome. The oval-shaped inner area, which is six floors high, is completely open from top to bottom, allowing the light to flood the building right down to the ground floor. Natural, white stone and light-colored wood were used for the floor, giving the inner area a spacious, peaceful feel. With its 5,000 meters / 5468 yards of bookshelves, Zürich University possesses the second largest library in Switzerland. The contrast between old and new becomes particularly apparent when one enters the library from the old part of the building.

In an interview with the Swiss TV broadcasting company, SF DRS, Calatrava described the library as unexpected space, because the library is not visible from the outside. “We wanted to create optimal light, seating and individual working conditions”, Calatrava told SF DRS. The culture magazine, “Hochparterre“, and the editorial team of the SF DRS TV program, “Kultur Aktuell”, awarded Calatrava’s masterpiece 3rd prize in its “The Best 04” competition.

Santiago Calatrava was born in 1951 in Spain and studied in Switzerland. He was already well known in Zürich for his design of Stadelhofen Train Station. The star architect, who lives in Zürich, recently hit the headlines when he was awarded the contract to design the new transportation hub at Ground Zero in New York, and also as a result of his design of the stunning glass roof over the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Calatrava is currently involved in the planning of two new buildings in Zürich’s Seefeld district.

Further information www.rwi.unizh.ch/bibliothek
www.calatrava.com

Renovation of the largest multifunctional event hall in Switzerland
Abba, Luciano Pavarotti, the Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams and Pink, not to mention the Riverdance dance musical and Muhamed Ali – to mention just a few – have all rocked, sung, dance or boxed at one of the 5,300 events held at Zürich’s Hallenstadion indoor stadium since it was first opened in 1939.
Although the renovation work is still in full swing, the calendar of events from August 2005 already looks extremely promising. The Hallenstadion’s first guest after its reopening is the ambassador of peace, the Dalai Lama. After the Street Parade, the legendary Energy Party will be held in the stadium, followed just a few days later by DJ Bobo, the international pop star with Swiss roots, who will be performing his new show, “Pirates of Dance“. The largest multifunctional event hall in Switzerland is designed to cater for all kinds of events, ranging from concerts to musicals, and from sports events to conferences and congresses. The new Hallenstadion will also continue to be the home stadium of the Zürich Ice Hockey Club, the ZSC Lions, as well as the venue for the CSI equestrian event and the figure skating show, Art on Ice. In addition, the Swisscom Challenge, the largest women’s indoor tennis tournament in Europe, together with the European and World Championships of various sports, will take place here, at Switzerland’s largest venue for major sporting events. The improved infrastructure means that it will be possible to stage over 150 events here a year. The seating in the hall is to be increased to over 13,000 and the comfort will be considerably improved – in future, instead of benches, visitors can relax in individual seats. The new Conference Center in front of the hall will house a public restaurant, a VIP restaurant, flexible-sized rooms for conferences, media workplaces and offices. Safety has also has been improved by installing additional emergency staircases, as well as exits leading directly outside. Both the artists’ dressing and day rooms and the public refreshment facilities, comprising 19 take-away outlets, are being renovated, as are also the sanitary facilities, air-conditioning systems and electronic installations.

Further information www.hallenstadion.ch

Forthcoming events Dalai Lama, August 5 – 11, 2005
Energy, August 13, 2005
DJ Bobo, August 19, 2005
Musical Mamma Mia!, November 22 – December 4, 2005

The Hallenstadium, which these days is listed as an historical building, was built in 1939. It was designed by Karl Egender, with the assistance of Wilhelm Müller and Bruno Giacometti. It is a magnificent example of classical modern architecture, as well as a feat of 20th century engineering design. Tribute is regularly paid to the building in contemporary trade magazines and architectural guides.

Regional Outlook

Blues Festival in Baden-Wettingen
Following the resounding success in 2004, this year, too, visitors to the Baden Blues Festival can once again look forward to first-class blues music. In addition to the concert highlights, the program includes warm-up concerts, pub music and workshops.

Further information www.bluesfestival-baden.ch
Dates May 31 – June 5, 2005

Swiss Inline Cup around Lake Zug
The spectacular, 40 kilometers / 24.9 miles long circular route around Lake Zug has become a classic in the Swiss Inline Cup series! The events center around the pulsating inline village, where the event partners ensure a wealth of fun and excitement, present the latest products and provide visitors with competent advice and information about the sport.

Date July 16, 2005

Old Town Jazz Night – Zug’s Old Town will reverberate with the sounds of jazz
Zug’s Old Town Jazz Night, an event renowned far beyond the cantonal borders, once again promises a host of musical treats. Between 6.30 pm and 11.00 pm, Swiss bands will bring Zug’s Old Town alive with the strains of jazz music. Moreover, no visitor needs to go hungry – from 6.30 pm, bars and restaurants in the Old Town will be treating the public to culinary delights.

Date August 25, 2005
Further information www.zug-tourismus.ch

January 31, 2005   Posted in: Switzerland