Fraumünster
A church with a slender green spire, facing the Grossmünster across the river. It's world-famous for five stained-glass windows by Chagall.
The Fraumünster was founded in 853 by East Frankish King Louis the German as a noble women's abbey for his daughter. In the Middle Ages its abbess held powers that included minting coins in Zurich. The present Gothic building has a slender green-copper spire that faces the twin towers of the Grossmünster across the river. The church is best known for the five stained-glass windows Marc Chagall completed in 1970 in the choir. Dominated by blue, green, red, and yellow, they depict Bible stories and glow dreamily when the light is strong. The north transept has a rose window by Chagall and a large stained-glass window by Augusto Giacometti. Entry requires a ticket (about CHF 5, including an audio guide), and photography is not allowed inside. Next door, the clock tower of St. Peter's Church holds a clock face about 8.7 m in diameter, said to be the largest church clock face in Europe. It's about a 3-minute walk from Paradeplatz on Bahnhofstrasse.
Opening hours
March–October 10:00–18:00; November–February 10:00–17:00 (open after midday on Sundays)
Nearby sights
- St. Peter Church
- Zurich Lake & River Baths (Badi)
- Confiserie Sprüngli Paradeplatz
- Lake Zurich
- Grossmünster
- Lindenhof
- Bahnhofstrasse
- Niederdorf (Old Town)