Limmatquai

''Limmatquai'' () is a street in the Swiss city of Zurich. It is named after the Limmat, and it follows the right-hand (eastern) bank of that river for about through the ''Altstadt'', or historical core, of the city. The street was once important for both road and public transportation, but today sections of it form a pedestrian zone shared with Zurich's trams, effectively forming a northern extension of the '' Seeuferanlage'' promenades that ring the shores of Lake Zurich.

The ''Limmatquai'' has its southern end adjacent to the '' Quaibrücke'' () and Bellevue square, where the Limmat flows out of Lake Zurich. Its northern end is at the '' Bahnhofbrücke'' () and '' Central'' plaza. Between the and the , the river is crossed by four other bridges all of which connect to the ''Limmatquai''; from south to north these are the '' Münsterbrücke'', '' Rathausbrücke'', '' Rudolf-Brun-Brücke'' (named after Rudolf Brun) and '' Mühlesteg'' (a pedestrian bridge).

For most of its length, the street runs directly alongside the river, with buildings only on its eastern side, and with a clear view across the river to the west. The only buildings abutting the street from the west are the '' Wasserkirche'', located on what was originally an island within the river, together with the '' Rathaus'' (town hall) and a police station, which both form part of the ''Rathausbrücke'' bridge structure.

History

In the 12th and 13th century, the houses alongside the east bank of the Limmat were built directly on the shore, and were accessed from and , two streets on their landward sides. Over the course of the following centuries, the Limmat was increasingly channeled, and it can be demonstrated that the right bank of the Limmat is now up to in front of the original bank. Although the ''Limmatquai'' as a through road along the river side dates from the 19th century, it was actually built in several sections at different times and under different names, and the name ''Limmatquai'' has only applied to the full length of the current street since 1933.

The section downstream of the () and the was originally known as or , and was built in two stages, south of between 1823 and 1825, and to the north between 1855 and 1859. The section between the and the steps up to (next to Grossmünster) was originally known as and was built in 1835/36, along with the . The section upstream of the steps was originally known as () and was built between 1835 and 1839. In the years 1887 to 1891 the whole street was broadened, and the ''Limmatquai'' assumed its present appearance.

Points of interest

The churches of '' Grossmünster'' and '' Wasserkirche'' are both adjacent to the ''Limmatquai'', although both predate its construction. The ''Grossmünster'' lies to the east, at the top of a flight of stairs, whilst the lies on a former river island joined to the street. Among the numerous secular buildings of interest on the street are the '' Haus zum Rüden'', the guild houses of '' Zimmerleuten'', '' Haue'' and '' Saffran'', and the ''Rathaus'' that was the seat of the assemblies of the city and of the cantonal parliaments.

Views across the river from the ''Limmatquai'' include the ''Fraumünster'' church, the '' Hotel zum Storchen'', the '' Schipfe'' and the '' Lindenhof''. The ''Limmatquai'' is also one of the main attractions for tourists, and has many small shops, cafés and restaurants.

Transport

Zürich tram lines and traverse the ''Limmatquai'' between ''Bellevue'' and ''Central'' stops, calling at the intermediate stops at ''Helmhaus'', ''Rathaus'' and ''Rudolf-Brun-Brücke''. The Limmat tour boats operated by the Lake Zurich navigation company call at a landing stage mid-way along the ''Limmatquai'' on their route between Zürichhorn and the '' Landesmuseum''.

Most private vehicles are prohibited; the area is the largest pedestrian zone of Zurich. Since 25 September 2004, the driving of motor vehicles, motorcycles and scooters is forbidden, except for goods transport, traffic towards Weinplatz, postal delivery services, and doctors and emergency services. Private road transport between ''Central'' and Brun bridge and ''Uraniastrasse'' ( Urania Sternwarte) at the site of the former Oetenbach nunnery is still allowed, as well as between the former ''upper'' Limmatquai and Bellevueplatz at the upper end of the Limmat, as the road traffic via ''Utoquai'' and ''Rämistrasse'' still uses the ''Bellevue'' house area as a turning point towards General-Guisan-Quai.

Future developments

According to the project ''Riviera'', the waterfront promenade between Utoquai, Quaibrücke and Limmatquai will be planted with two-row lines of Chestnut trees, and along the staircase to the Limmat will be added a third detached tree row of '' Styphnolobium japonicum''. The garden restaurant ''Terrasse'' will be redesigned, while the snack stand is maintained. Bus and motorized road transport operate in the future on a common track, meaning the separate bus lane at Utoquai is repealed, but on the river shore a bidirectional cycle path added.

Culture

The best-known event on the ''Limmatquai'' is the annual '' Sechseläuten'' parade which traverses the street on its way to '' Sechseläutenplatz''.

The fictitious 2007 Swiss mystery film '' Marmorea'' was filmed at the '' Burghölzli'' sanatory in the Weinegg district, on the Limmat near Technopark Zürich, at the Limmatquai promenade, and on the Münsterbrücke river crossing towards Münsterhof.

Between April 2014 and January 2015, an art installation known as the ''Hafenkran'' or ''Zürich maritim'' project was present on the ''Limmatquai''. The installation comprised an old harbour crane from Dresden, together with a number of bollards and a port horn located on different high-rise buildings in Zurich. The installation proved controversial, and polarized the public and the political establishment of Zürich.

Bibliography

* ''Das Limmatquai vor und nach der Neugestaltung. Aufenthaltsnutzung, Fuss- und Veloverkehrsaufkommen im Vergleich der Jahre 2004-2005-2008''. Published by , Zurich 2009.

References

External links

*

Limmatquai page from the Zürich Tourist Service


(in German)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Limmatquai Zurich
Altstadt (Zurich)
Streets in Zurich
Culture of Zurich
History of Zurich
Limmat