Fraumünster Church

Fraumünster

Fraumünster is one of Zurich’s oldest churches, founded in the 9th century as a convent for aristocratic women. Today, it’s most famous for its breathtaking stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall, which bathe the interior in vibrant light and biblical imagery. With its elegant Gothic nave, historic 19th-century organ, and the relics of Saint Regula, Fraumünster remains a spiritual and cultural landmark in the heart of the city.

Transport

How to Get There

Ways to get to the attraction

On foot from Zurich center 29-43 min.

From Lucerne by car ~46 min.

From Basel by car ~1 h 16 min.

From BRN airport (Bern) by car ~1 h 52 min.

From SIR airport (Sion) by car ~3 h 4 min.

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Attraction

Description

Detailed information about the attraction

What is this place

The Fraumünster is a Protestant church in Zurich’s Old Town on the left bank of the Limmat. Once a Benedictine convent, it is a city landmark renowned for stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti.

Key features

Founded in 853 by Louis the German – an early spiritual and political center of Zurich.
Privileges since 1045 – market, toll and minting rights elevated the abbess’s authority.
Marc Chagall glazing – five choir windows (1970) and a rose window in the south transept (1978).
Augusto Giacometti window in the north transept (1940) – about 9 m tall, roughly twice the Chagall windows.
Crypt museum open since 2016 – a multimedia exhibit spanning 1,200 years of church and city history.

What to see

The choir with Chagall’s window cycle and the south-transept rose.
The monumental Giacometti window in the north transept.
The crypt museum with early medieval remains and multimedia displays.

History

The Fraumünster began as a Benedictine convent for noblewomen in 853; the early crypt held relics and preserves the first building phases. Today’s fabric reflects Romanesque and Gothic stages.

From 1045, the abbey gained market, toll and minting rights; in 1218 it obtained imperial immediacy, with the abbess effectively appointing the mayor. Power waned after the guild revolution of 1336.

During the Reformation the convent was dissolved in 1524; in 1898 parts of the complex were demolished for the town hall. Early 20th-century restorations ended by 1912; Giacometti’s window was installed in 1940, Chagall’s in 1970 and 1978; since 2016 the crypt museum has been open to visitors.

Practical information

Location: Münsterhof 2, 8001 Zurich; left bank of the Limmat, near Paradeplatz.

Getting there: Trams 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 to Paradeplatz or 4, 15 to Helmhaus – then a 2-minute walk.

Access: Quiet contemplation is free; touristic visit fee CHF 5 incl. audio guide and crypt; children 0–16 and students free. Nave, shop and exit are wheelchair-accessible; a few steps to the choir; crypt not accessible.

Visiting hours: Daily 10:00–18:00 (Mar 1–Oct 31) and 10:00–17:00 (Nov 1–Feb 28); Sundays after the 10:00 service, from 12:00. Last entry 15 minutes before closing.

Visit duration: 30–45 minutes for the interior; 60–90 minutes including the crypt and audio guide.

Best time: Early weekday mornings; check special openings for your date.

Notes: Private photography without flash/tripod; Chagall windows are copyright-protected; large luggage not allowed; induction loop available for hearing-impaired visitors.

Tours