Viewpoint on the city

The panoramic view of the Lindenhof, in Zurich

The Lindenhof square offers one of the finest panoramic views over the historic centre of Zurich, perched at the summit of a hill laden with history. The Zurich audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this belvedere born from a glacial moraine, Celtic then Roman cradle of the city, where the emperor Tiberius once installed a customs post on the left bank of the lake.

The hill cradle of the city

Here you are on the Lindenhof square, that offers you a fine panoramic view over the historic centre of Zurich, its roofs, its bell towers and the right bank of the Limmat. But if you have been led here, it is not only for the souvenir photo. Know that you find yourself at the summit of the vestiges of a glacier, on the Lindenhof hill, formed by the moraines of the Linth glacier, today largely flattened. A little notion of glaciology: the moraines are accumulations of debris of earth and rock torn from the mountains and transported by the glaciers, because Zurich is a former glacial area. In the first century before our era, the Celts were settled around the hill, in pile dwellings, on the banks of the lake. Around fifteen before our era, the emperor Tiberius integrated the territories of the left bank of the lake of Zurich into the Roman provinces and installed there a sort of customs, to tax the goods circulating towards or from Italy. Several stone buildings of the Roman era were then built on this strategic hill, cradle of the city of Turicum. Today peaceful, shaded by lime trees and adorned with a fountain, the Lindenhof is a place of relaxation appreciated by the people of Zurich, who play chess or pétanque there, and one of the best viewpoints of the city. A historic belvedere and a cradle of Zurich, the panoramic view of the Lindenhof is a fine stop of the discovery of the city.

What to see

Here you enjoy a fine panoramic view over the historic centre of Zurich, its roofs and its bell towers, from the Lindenhof hill, born from a glacial moraine; cradle of the city, occupied by the Celts then endowed by the emperor Tiberius with a Roman customs post, it is today a peaceful square shaded by lime trees and adorned with a fountain. The Lindenhof is one of the best belvederes of Zurich. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Lindenhof square lies on the left bank of the Limmat, at the summit of the hill of the same name, in the old town of Zurich, reachable on foot. It is a public square freely accessible, shaded by lime trees and offering a fine view over the city. You discover it during a walk in old Zurich.

Why is the Lindenhof hill the cradle of Zurich?

Because this hill born from a glacial moraine was occupied from the first century before our era by the Celts, then endowed around fifteen before our era by the emperor Tiberius with a Roman customs post to tax the goods towards Italy, giving birth to the city of Turicum; today peaceful and shaded by lime trees, it offers one of the finest panoramic views over the historic centre.

Where is the Lindenhof square in Zurich?

On the left bank of the Limmat, at the summit of the Lindenhof hill, in the old town of Zurich, in Switzerland.