St Peter’s Church

The St. Peter's Church, in Zurich

The St. Peter's Church is the only baroque church of Zurich, famous for the largest clock face of Europe, that adorns its bell tower. The Zurich audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this Protestant place of worship inaugurated in 1706, heir of a thousand-year-old sanctuary, whose tower once served as a watch post and still today belongs to the city.

The largest clock face of Europe

Here you are in front of the Protestant St. Peter's Church. You may notice that it is quite different from the other churches of the city: inaugurated in 1706, it is the only baroque church of Zurich, to be discovered with respect. You read the time rather well, even from afar, and it is normal: the clock of its bell tower is the largest of Europe, with a face of nearly nine metres of diameter. The St. Peter's Church also has the original particularity of having two owners: the nave and the bell tower belong to the parish, but the tower is the property of the city of Zurich, that formerly used it as a watchtower to watch over the city and alert in case of fire. A watchman kept watch there permanently. It is known that a religious building already stood at this location in the eighth or ninth centuries; this first construction was replaced around the year one thousand by a new church, in turn rebuilt two centuries later in a late Romanesque style. It is in the choir of this church that the very first mayor of Zurich was buried, a sign of the importance of the place. The current building, with its sober façade and its massive bell tower, testifies to the stripped spirit of the Reformation. Inside, in the calm conducive to contemplation, you admire fine woodwork and the peaceful atmosphere of a sanctuary laden with history. A baroque church and an emblematic bell tower, the St. Peter's Church is discovered with respect.

What to see

Here you discover, with respect, the only baroque church of Zurich, inaugurated in 1706, heir of a sanctuary of the eighth-ninth centuries; its bell tower bears the largest clock face of Europe, of nearly nine metres, and its tower, long a watch post against fires, still belongs to the city. Inside, fine woodwork in a stripped spirit. The St. Peter's Church is an emblematic sanctuary of Zurich. It is a stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The St. Peter's Church stands on the left bank of the Limmat, near the Lindenhof, in the old town of Zurich, reachable on foot. A place of worship, it can be visited with respect; entry is generally free and the hours follow the conditions in force, which vary and may be restricted during services. It is best to enquire before coming.

What is particular about the clock of the St. Peter's Church of Zurich?

Its face, of nearly nine metres of diameter, is the largest of Europe, which allows to read the time from very far; the tower that bears it belongs to the city of Zurich, that used it formerly as a watch post against fires, while the nave belongs to the parish. Inaugurated in 1706, it is the only baroque church of the city, to be discovered with respect.

Where is the St. Peter's Church in Zurich?

On the left bank of the Limmat, near the Lindenhof, in the old town of Zurich, in Switzerland.