Self-Guided Audio Tour to the Dark Side of Zurich

What do people usually say about Zurich? Switzerland's financial heart... The city of bankers and shoppers... The streets where everyone is in a hurry...

We invite you to get to know a radically different Zurich.

Think 500 years back and imagine a medieval city with medieval customs. An executioner lives somewhere nearby, across the street they are taking a woman suspected of witchcraft to prison, and not very far away the city council is deciding on how to execute the guy who stole four bags of salt.

Do you want to see and find out where people were tortured in Zurich and how, where the pillory was located and where executions took place? We will not only guide you through the key places associated with this dark side of the city, but also tell the true story of the real people. You will learn how stoically the beautiful Elsbeth, suspected of witchcraft, endured torture, how cruelly the maid Adelheid was executed, and how rich Agatha did not manage to escape a death sentence.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Paradeplatz, Bahnhofstrasse / Poststrasse, Zurich Switzerland

Your acquaintance with the witches and executioners of Zurich will begin from Paradeplatz.

You will see where exactly on this square the house of one of the executioners of Zurich was located and see his picture.

Moreover, you will learn some special details about this profession, for example, how executioners were trained.


Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Börsenstrasse, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

Here you will see another place, where executioners of Zurich lived in the Middle Ages.

In addition, you will learn: what were the most “popular” types of executions, how much money the executioner received as a salary and how often the executions took place.


Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Limmat, Zurich Switzerland

You will see the place, where the witches of Zurich have been tortured and understand how exactly this was done.

You will also hear the story of poor Elsbeth, who has been tortured there fifteen times over the course of twenty-six days.


Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Fraumunster Church, Munsterhof 2, Zurich 8001 Switzerland

You will see Fraumunster. This church is famous for its Marc Chagall stained-glass windows and we will tell you about one of them, depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Hans Waldmann Statue, Munsterbrucke, Zurich 8001 Switzerland

You will see the monument to Hans Waldmann executed in Zurich in 1489 and learn, what was special about his life and death.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Wasserkirche, Limmatquai 31, Zurich 8001 Switzerland

You will see the Water Church and learn the legend about Felix and Regula beheaded next to this church for their Christian beliefs.

Duration: 5 minutes

Pass By: Grossmunsterplatz, Zurich 8001 Switzerland

You will pass by Grossmunster, the starting point of the Swiss-German reformation and one of the Zurich's main landmarks.

Stop At: Kirchgasse, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

You will see the place where in old times in Zurich the guidance on how to recognize and torture a witch was available. You will also learn details about the content of this guidance.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Untere Zäune, u. Zäune, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

You will see the house of one rich woman executed in Zurich for witchcraft and learn the story of her life.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Neumarkt, Zurich Switzerland

You will see the former place of pillory.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Obere Zäune, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

You will see the house of the judge working during the peak of the witch-hunt and learn his revenge story.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Zürich's Town Hall (Zürich Rathaus), Limmatquai 55, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

Here you will learn about the process of prosecution in the Middle Ages and see the square where death sentences were announced.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Täufergedenkplatte, Schipfe 16-24, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

You will see memorial plate where executions by drowning took place.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Rennweg, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

You will see the house of the baker, who was supposed to give the “last sip” to people going to the execution.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Herkulesbrunnen, Bahnhofstrasse, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland

You will see the place where those going to execution exited the city.

You will understand where people usually were burned and hanged.


Duration: 5 minutes

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.