What is this place

Lindenhof is a moraine hill and public terrace in Zurich’s Old Town on the left bank of the Limmat. It is the city’s historic core, once home to a Roman fort and an early medieval royal residence.

Key features

  • Rises about 25 m above the Limmat – a natural vantage point over the old city.
  • Roman outpost from the 4th century and a Carolingian 9th-century palatium – successive defensive and royal uses on one site.
  • Zenith under the Salian emperors 1025–1055; on Christmas 1055 Henry IV was betrothed here to Bertha of Turin.
  • Citizens swore the Helvetic Republic’s constitution here in 1798 – a long-standing civic assembly place.
  • Hedwig Fountain (1912) by Gustav Siber – commemorates the 1292 legend of Zurich’s “brave women”.

What to see

  • The viewing terrace over the Grossmünster, Niederdorf, the Limmat and the old town bridges.
  • The Hedwig Fountain along the east wall and the Modestia cum Libertate Masonic lodge.
  • Outdoor chess boards and benches under the linden trees.

History

A Celtic settlement preceded a Roman 4th-century castellum that controlled the river outflow. In 1747, a 2nd-century tombstone bearing the name Turicum – Zurich’s Roman name – was found on the hill.

In the 9th century, Louis the German had a royal palatium built on the Roman foundations. The complex hosted imperial events in the 10th–11th centuries; on Christmas 1055, the future emperor Henry IV was betrothed to Bertha of Turin. After Zurich became an imperial free city in 1218, the fortifications were dismantled.

From the 15th century, the plateau served as a public garden; chronicles note mass linden plantings in 1774. In 1798, the Helvetic oath was sworn here. The Hedwig Fountain was added in 1912; today the car-free terrace is a quiet lookout with a long tradition of public chess.

Practical information

Location: Lindenhof, 8001 Zurich; left bank of the Limmat between Bahnhofstrasse and St. Peter’s Church.

Getting there: Trams 6, 7, 11, 13 to Rennweg – 3–5 minutes on foot via Rennweg/Pfalzgasse; also 5–7 minutes from Rathaus/Helmhaus across Münsterbrücke.

Access: Free, open 24/7. Access via stairs or sloped lanes; the top is a flat gravel surface. Partially wheelchair-accessible, easier with assistance.

Visiting hours: 24/7.

Visit duration: 15–30 minutes; 30–45 minutes with photo stops.

Best time: Clear mornings or sunset for crisp views of the Old Town and Alps.

Notes: Car-free area; crowds possible during city events.