No trip to Zurich is complete without a visit to the Grossmuenster church. The striking Protestant building was inaugurated around the year 1220, and is perhaps the most famous of Zurich's three large churches. Legend has it that Charles the Great decreed it should be built here after his horse fell on the graves of Felix and Regula, the patron saints of Zurich.
The most notable features of the Grossmuenster are its twin towers. In the first instance, these were wooden structures, but were replaced by the current stone structures following an 18th century fire. Richard Wagner once quipped that they looked like pepper pots.
You can spend hours studying the exterior of the Grossmuenster it is adorned with multiple statues and carvings, all with a story to tell. A highlight is the incredibly ornate south portal, characterised by medieval-style columns and grotesques. Two bronze doors covered in intricate reliefs are artistically accomplished (Otto Münch created these).
The Grossmuenster set the stage for an important moment in its country's history this is where pastor Huldrych Zwingli won the right to sever the church's ties from the papacy (this began with a series of debates starting in 1520).
The Grossmuenster's interior is altogether more plain than the outside a result of Zwingli's reforms. However, there are still a handful of spectacular features. Sigmar Polke's stained glass windows have only been here since 2009, but are already part of the fabric. Crafted from sliced semi-precious stones, these windows light up the nave in unusual ways, depending on the time of day. Giacometti's choir window is something to behold too. A Romanesque crypt forms the most ancient section of the Grossmuenster here you'll find an ancient statue of Charles the Great.
The Karlsturm (Charles Tower) can be climbed. On making it to the top, you'll be greeted with exceptional views of Zurich.
You'll find the Grossmuenster on Grossmuensterplatz. It's open daily.
