Zurich

In 1336, a group of Zurich craftsmen led by Rudolf Brun staged a coup that overthrew the city’s old aristocratic council. It made Zurich one of the first places in Europe ruled by working citizens instead of nobles. That revolt shaped the city’s fiercely independent spirit, still visible today in its politics and precision watchmaking.

Zurich might be known for banks and chocolate, but its real story is about bold ideas and people who refused to take orders.

Long before it became Switzerland’s financial hub, Zurich began as a Roman customs post called Turicum around 15 B.C. It grew along the Limmat River, trading salt, silk, and ideas that flowed between Italy and northern Europe.

In the Middle Ages, Zurich joined the Swiss Confederation in 1351, becoming one of its earliest members. The city helped defend the alliance against the powerful Habsburgs. Its high walls and hilltop position made it nearly impossible to conquer.

The Reformation reached Zurich in the 1520s when priest Ulrich Zwingli began preaching against indulgences and clerical corruption at the Grossmünster Church. His ideas spread quickly, turning Zurich into the heart of the Swiss Protestant movement.

Zwingli’s debates and fiery sermons did more than change religion. They helped shape Switzerland’s commitment to education, democracy, and self-governance. He died in battle in 1531, sword in hand, defending those beliefs.

By the 19th century, Zurich had become a center for science and innovation. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), founded in 1855, produced legends like Albert Einstein.

The city’s order and efficiency also drew anarchists, artists, and political exiles. Lenin even lived here before leaving to start a revolution in Russia.

Today, visitors can climb the towers of the Grossmünster, stroll the medieval alleys of the Old Town, or take a ferry across Lake Zurich for postcard views of the Alps. Families can explore the Swiss National Museum, swim in the lake’s clean public baths, or ride the Polybahn up to ETH for a skyline view.

Don’t leave without trying Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, sliced veal in creamy mushroom sauce, or the city’s famous Luxemburgerli macarons.