Augustinergasse

Augustinergasse is a narrow medieval lane in Zurich’s Old Town on the left bank of the Limmat. It links Bahnhofstrasse with Münzplatz by the Augustinerkirche and continues to St. Peterhofstatt, famed for its brightly painted wooden oriels.

• Length about 200 m – a pedestrian strip between Bahnhofstrasse, Münzplatz and St. Peterhofstatt.
• Named after the Augustinian priory and Augustinerkirche (c. 1270); the convent was dissolved in 1524/25; today the church serves the Christian Catholic parish.
• Carved, vividly painted bay windows – traditional “lookout” oriels, set slightly offset from the doorway.
• Münzplatz with the Augustinerbrunnen – documented since 1537; the present scheme dates to 1577, the allegorical figure of Temperance was replaced in 1761 and later restored.
• Fortification remnants: Augustinertor and Augustinerturm formed part of the left-bank walls; the bastion was dismantled in 1811–1813.

• Continuous facades with colourful oriels along the lane.
• Münzplatz with the Augustinerbrunnen and the modest front of the Augustinerkirche.
• The passage to St. Peterhofstatt – a quiet forecourt by St. Peter’s Church.

As a city thoroughfare, Augustinergasse emerged by the 12th–13th centuries, skirting the foot of the Lindenhof towards the Augustinian monastery, whose church rose around 1270. In the late Middle Ages it housed artisans; from the 17th century wealthy factory owners moved in, sparking a “façade competition”.

During the Reformation (1524/25), the convent was dissolved and the church became a mint – hence the name Münzplatz; the Christian Catholic community reclaimed it in 1841. On the southern Fröschengraben line stood the Augustinertor and Augustinerturm; rebuilt 1575–1578, the bulwark was dismantled in 1811–1813 as the city was redesigned.

In 1925, under artist Karl Hüglin, the street façades received their vibrant paintwork – a rare Zurich example of the period’s colour movement, still shaping the lane’s character today.

Location: Altstadt, left bank of the Limmat; between Bahnhofstrasse and the squares of Münzplatz/St. Peterhofstatt.

Getting there: Trams 6, 7, 11, 13 to Rennweg; also convenient from Bahnhofstrasse/HB or Paradeplatz (lines 2, 8, 9, 11, 13).

Access: Pedestrian cobblestone lane; mostly level with slight gradients. Open 24/7.

Visiting hours: 24/7; shops typically Mon–Fri ~9:00–19:00/20:00, Sat to ~18:00, Sun closed.

Visit duration: 15–30 minutes, including Münzplatz and St. Peterhofstatt.

Best time: Morning or late afternoon for softer light; during Holy Week the Münzplatz fountain is often decorated with roses.

Notes: Residential area – keep noise down; don’t block shop and house entrances.