City history and church stories

“Die Zürcher Altstadtkirchen”, Yves and François G. Baer, Basel 2019, call number: 2019 B 12043

December 2019. Christmas is a time when many people take the opportunity to attend church again. But how many of them know the history of these sacred buildings? This lavishly illustrated book by Yves and François G. Baer explores the art and cultural history of Zurich’s seven old-town churches.

Die Zürcher Altstadtkirchen – Eine Stadtgeschichte entlang der Sakralbauten” can be found in the Turicensia Lounge.

For more literature about Zurich’s churches see the Zurich Bibliography.

Walks through Zurich

“Zürich – Spaziergänge durch 500 Jahre überraschende Stadtgeschichten”, Barbara Hutzl-Ronge, Zurich 2019, call number: 2019 A 36465

November 2019. Good weather, comfortable shoes and Barbara Hutzl-Ronge’s new book are all you need to explore the history and stories of the city on the River Limmat. “Zürich – Spaziergänge durch 500 Jahre überraschende Stadtgeschichten” is a great way to slow down and take things easy in the pre-Christmas period.

A number of walks in the book lead past the Zentralbibliothek. Come in and visit our Turicensia Lounge.

For more guides to Zurich see the Zurich Bibliography.

More than just pumpkins

“Kelten, Kürbisse und Klosterdorf: 800 Jahre Seegräben”, Zurich 2019, call number: DW 24975

October 2019. The commune of Seegräben was first mentioned in an official deed 800 years ago, but its history stretches back to the pile dwellers who settled on the shores of the lake known as Pfäffikersee. Over time they were followed by Celts, Romans and monks, then in the 16th century the now famous pumpkins from the New World and, in the 19th, the textile mills that made Seegräben an important manufacturing location. In his book, Peter Niederhäuser guides you through the history of this beautiful lakeside commune.

The book is available in the Turicensia Lounge. For more literature about Seegräben see the Zurich Bibliography.

Pavillon Le Corbusier

“Der Pavillon”, Andreas Müller-Weiss, Zurich 2019, call number: 2019 C 10745

September 2019. A murder on the Côte d’Azur, an inquisitive Master student and the last building by Le Corbusier: just three ingredients from the graphic novel “Der Pavillon” by the architect and comic illustrator Andreas Müller-Weiss, alias Sambal Oelek. The detailed comments in the appendix to this exciting architectural detective mystery explain the background to the story, as well as the life and work of the celebrated building designer.

The book is available in the Turicensia Lounge. For more literature about the “Pavillon Le Corbusier” see the Zurich Bibliography.

A boat trip round Lake Zurich

“Zürichsee Guide” by Walther J. Fuchs, Küsnacht 2019, call number: DA 87836

August 2019. Late summer, when the weather is still warm but the heat has begun to fade, is the best time to explore Lake Zurich on the water. With the “Zürichsee Guide” by Walther J. Fuchs you can choose to discover – or rediscover – the left and right shore of the lake on a “small” or “big” boat trip. The book is packed with information on 22 points of interest around Lake Zurich that you can also consult on-site on an interactive digital map.

The guide is available in the Turicensia Lounge. For more literature about Lake Zurich see the Zurich Bibliography.

Marking the 200th birthday of Gottfried Keller

<p>“Gottfried Keller – Das grosse Lesebuch” edited by Thomas Hürlimann, Frankfurt am Main 2019, call number: 2019 A 26727

July 2019. Interested in learning about (or rediscovering) Gottfried Keller? Then this “Grosses Lesebuch” is perfect reading-matter for you. Thomas Hürlimann’s collection of letters and excerpts from texts – some well known, some less so – is a guide to the life and work of Gottfried Keller.

The book is available in the Turicensia Lounge. For more literature and information about the famous Zurich author, see the Gottfried Keller Bibliography, the current exhibition “Known unknowns” and our topic page.

Züribadibuch

«Züribadibuch» von Tina Schmid, Zürich 2019, Signatur: 2019 B 10768

June 2019. Writer Tina Schmid’s lavishly illustrated and informative Züribadibuch tells the story of Zurich’s outdoor swimming pools and offers new insights into the city’s recreational bathing culture. A truly inspirational read for the start of the outdoor bathing season!

The book is available in the Turicensia Lounge. For more literature about Zurich’s outdoor pools see the Zurich Bibliography.

Zurich through the camera

“Zurich 1967–1976” by Willy Spiller, Zurich 2019, call number: AWD 2107 | G 

May 2019. Between 1967 and 1976, Zurich-based photographer Willy Spiller captured life in the city in a remarkable series of images. This is a decade of youth unrest, burgeoning industry and social change that shape the city to this day.

The Bildhalle gallery published the book of images to accompany an exhibition. For more about the book and the life and work of Willy Spiller visit fotointern.ch.

A wide selection of illustrated books on the city of Zurich are catalogued in the Zurich Bibliography.

Printing in Zurich since 1519

“500 Jahre Drucken”, Zurich 2019, call number: 2019 D 10135

April 2019. “500 Jahre Drucken” showcases the history and activities of a Zurich-based company whose roots date back to the printing works of Christoph Froschauer. Today, the name Orell Füssli is synonymous with multiple printed products in everyday use in Switzerland, such as banknotes, passports, maps, books and magazines.

The ZB holds books from the Orell Füssli publishing house in the publishers’ book archives.

For more literature about printing works in Zurich see the Zurich Bibliography.

Myths and legends from around Lake Zurich

“Sagen und Legenden rund um den Zürichsee” by Peter Ziegler, Zurich 2018, call number: 2018 A 49312

April 2019. Not quite new but recently re-issued, Peter Ziegler’s “Sagen und Legenden rund um den Zürichsee” is an entertaining collection of anecdotes and stories – some well known, others less so – that are part of Zurich folklore.

For more literature about Zurich myths and legends see the Zurich Bibliography.

The story of a Zurich orchestra

“Mit Musik stromaufwärts” by Peter Marschel and Peter Révai, Zurich 2018, call number: 2019 B 10004

January 2019. As the foreword explains, this book about the Zurich Chamber Orchestra (ZKO) was not written for an anniversary or significant birthday. Rather, its authors aimed “to record the history and stories of this orchestra before they are swept away by the digital avalanche”. “Mit Musik stromaufwärts” is available in the Turicensia Lounge.

For more literature about Zurich orchestras see the Zurich Bibliography.

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