The archaeological evidence suggest that there were settlements around Lake Zurich some 6,000 years…read moreago. Neolithic and Bronze age artifacts have been discovered in the Zurich area. In more recent times the Roman Empire included a fortress on what is now the Limmat river which runs through Zurich in 15 BC. At that time the Romans called Zurich "Turicum".It is also note worthy that Zurich was the primary center of the Protestant Reformation in Europe in 1519. The Old Town (Altstadt) reflects the Medieval and Renaissance period very well with housing style, contorted cobble stone streets, it's guilds and Rathaus (Town Hall).
The three notable churches in Old Town are Grossmuster, a 12th century church and site of the Reformation in Switzerland, Fraumunster, a church originally built in 874 AD and today boasts stain glass windows by Giacometti and Marc Chagall, and finally Peterskirche which has the largest clockface in Europe.
The Old Town has a walkway which takes you along the Limmat river, There are museums, public parks, restaurants and cafes, public markets and cruise offerings to Lake Zurich. Switzerland is probably the most expensive country in Europe and if you are a tourist from the USA, the prices are going to shock you. Hamburgers start at $28 dollars
