Europe | Cheaper Airtickets

Saint Moritz, Switzerland

A- Overview:
St. Moritz is one of the most famous resorts in the world. This fashionable and opulent village with a cosmopolitan ambience, is located at an altitude of 6000 feet above sea level in the heart of the Engadin valley, surrounded by the majestic mountain peaks of the Swiss alps. The sun shines on St. Moritz an average of 322 days a year (more than anywhere else in Switzerland).

Favored winter retreat of the international élite, St Moritz was built around two villages: one on the shores of St. Moritz Lake, and the other on the hillside above. St. Moritz is influenced by three cultures: that of the German speaking majority of its residents, the Romansch speaking population of the Engadine and the nearby Italians.

St. Moritz originally rose to prominence because of its healing mineral springs, which have been widely acclaimed for their beneficial effects for over 3,000 years. Even in the Middle Ages, visitors came to St. Moritz to take these waters in summer. In fact, in 1519 Pope Leo X promised full absolution for every visitor of the Christian faith who came to the spa of St. Moritz. The fame of the mineral waters has endured because they are the strongest carbonated iron springs in all of Europe and are at an altitude higher than any other within Switzerland.

The St. Moritz Olympic ski runs and its vast cross country ski trails are known throughout the world. Skiers, snowboarders and cross country enthusiasts are drawn to St. Moritz by its natural beauty and quality infrastructure. In addition, St. Moritz offers a wide variety of first class events, to make it a holiday destination unmatched anywhere else.

Sixty mountain railways and lifts with 220 miles of groomed, downhill slopes, a halfpipe and fun park for snow boarders, 90 miles of cross country ski trails, 90 miles of winter walking paths, high altitude and glacier ski tours, bobsled taxi rides, hang gliding and para sailing taxi flights, indoor swimming, indoor tennis and squash courts, outstanding restaurants, a casino, four and five star accommodations, as well as numerous cozy mountain huts, all assure a colorful and exciting range of activities.

St. Moritz is guaranteed to have favorable snow conditions from December 1st to May 1st, due to it’s high altitude (5,834 to 11,150 feet above sea level), the local glaciers, and its modern snow-making facilities (there are 9 miles of prepared slopes). Visitors are wise to allow enough time to experience as much as possible of the wonders of this mountain paradise. There is no way to ski the area in less than a week’s stay, there’s plenty of terrain to accommodate all abilities, and there is an endless supply of sunshine and powder.

Each summer brings more guests to St. Moritz. Hiking (in Switzerland’s only National Park), cycling, mountain biking, the health spa, river rafting, horseback riding, polo, golf (18 holes), windsurfing, sailing, tennis, ice skating and the International High Altitude Training and Competition Centre are just some of the attractions which draw vacationers A stunning, intact natural environment: sparkling mountain lakes with dense pine and larch forests, glaciers and panoramic scenic trails, which are unparalleled anywhere in the world in their diversity, along with excellent summer concerts, assure a multi-faceted summer stay.

Skiing in the region is divided into four distinctly different areas, the most popular of which is Corviglia, just above the town. Those seeking diversion may head for the slopes above the satellite resort of Sils Maria (Corvatsch) which is said to bear some similarities to Aspen Highlands, and to have the most challenging terrain . There are also the slopes above the nearby village of Pontresina (Diavolezza). Intermediate level skiers enjoy taking a cable car from St. Moritz-Dorf to the top of Piz Corvatsch, almost 11,000 feet above sea level. From there, with only one cable car connection en route, it is possible to ski a network of intermediate level trails all the way back down to the resort’s lake.

St. Moritz is a high altitude resort with a modern infrastructure. While many other famous ski resorts have been content to rest on their reputations, St. Moritz has invested heavily in state of the art lifts and is now served by a number of high speed detachable triples and quads.

Overwhelmingly, when asked their opinion of St. Moritz, visitors have said that it is the best in every regard. The St. Moritz name stands for style, tradition and quality and its success proves that: St. Moritz lives up to its promise.

B- City Information:
Population:
6000 inhabitants, approximately 3000 seasonal workers, and 250,000 visitors annually

Location:
St. Moritz lies on the south side of the Alps, in the Engadine Valley

Elevation:
6125 feet above sea level

Time Zone:
Switzerland’s clocks are usually 6 hours ahead of eastern standard time in the United States, and 1 hour ahead of Greenwich mean time. However, because Switzerland and the United States switch their clocks every spring and fall during different weeks, the time difference is sometimes only 5 hours.

Language:
The local languages are Romansch, German and Italian.

Telephones:
The country code for Switzerland is 41.
All telephone operators speak English, and instructions are printed in English in all telephone booths.

Local Calls:
There is direct dialing to everywhere in Switzerland. For local and international codes, consult the pink pages at the front of the telephone book.

Long Distance:
You can dial most international numbers direct from Switzerland, adding 00 before the country code. If you want a number that cannot be reached directly, dial 144 for a connection. Dial 191 for international numbers and information. It’s cheapest to use the booths in train stations and post offices: Calls made from your hotel cost a great deal more. Rates are lower between 5 and 7 PM, after 9 PM, and on weekends.
When dialing long distance within Switzerland, precede the area-code number with 0. Omit the 0 when using the international code to dial Switzerland from another country. Switzerland’s country code is 41.

Emergency numbers:
Police (tel. 117). Ambulance (tel. 144).Emergency calls are free from phone booths.

Average Temperatures (in Fahrenheit):
High Low
January-March 24 13
April-June 43 20
July-September 47 34
October-December 35 15

Snow Conditions:
Telephone: +41 (82) 33147
Weather–American Express Travel Related Service Company provides hourly reports on current weather conditions and 3-day forecasts for more than 900 cities in Europe. For Switzerland, dial tel. 900/WEATHER (there’s a 95¢-per-minute charge for the call) and press the first three letters of the desired city: BAS (Basel), BER (Bern), GEN (Geneva), LUC (Lucerne), STM (St. Moritz), or VAD (Vaduz, Liechtenstein).

Packing:
Sportswear is appropriate in most settings. If staying at a resort, men would be wise to include a jacket and tie. Women wear skirts more frequently here than in the US, especially women over 50, though anything fashionable goes. Formal evening dress is needed only at the international resorts. Good walking and hiking shoes are a must. Sun screen is important during all seasons of the year.
If you need a washcloth to feel clean, bring your own: They are not standard equipment in Swiss hotels. Budget hotels occasionally do not provide soap. If you’re planning on shopping and cooking, a tote bag will come in handy: Most groceries do not provide grocery bags, though sturdy, reusable plastic totes can be bought at checkout. Laundromats are rare, so laundry soap is useful for hand washing.
Water–Tap water is safe to drink in all Swiss towns and cities. But don’t drink from rivers or mountain streams, regardless of how clean the water may appear.

Equivalent Weights And Measures:
1 cm – 0.39 inches
1 meter – 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards
1 km – 0.62 miles
1 liter – 0.26 gallons
1 inch – 2.54 cm
1 foot – 0.39 meters
1 yard – 0.91 meters
1 mile – 1.60 km
1 gallon – 3.78 liters

Passports & Visas:
All U.S., Canadian, and British citizens, even infants, need only a valid passport to enter Switzerland for stays of up to three months.
Electricity: To use your U.S.-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a converter and an adapter. The electrical current in Switzerland is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take Continental-type plugs, with two round prongs.
Some international hotels are specially wired to allow North Americans to plug in their appliances, but you’ll usually need a transformer for your electric razor, hair dryer, or soft-contact-lens sterilizer. You’ll also need an adapter plug to channel the electricity from the Swiss system to the flat-pronged American system. Don’t plug anything into the house current in Switzerland without being certain the systems are compatible. Most hotels will supply guests with an ironing board and iron if requested.

Business Hours:
Banks are open Monday-Wednesday and Friday 8:15-4:30, Thursday 8:15-6.
Museums are usually open Tuesday-Friday and Sunday 10-noon and 2-5, Saturday 10-noon and 2-4; there are many variations, so check listings.
Stores are open weekdays 9-6:30, Saturday 8-4. On Thursday, some central shops stay open to 9. Some close Monday morning.

Holidays:
January 1-2 New Year March or April (varies) Good Friday March or April (varies) Easter and Easter Monday May (varies) Feast of the Ascension, May (varies) Whitsunday, Pentecost Monday August 1 National Day December 25-26, Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Currency:
The unit of currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (SF), available in notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000. There are coins for 5, 10, and 20 centimes. Larger coins are the 1/2-, 1-, 2-, and 5-franc pieces.

Tipping:
Tips are not normally given or expected as a 15% service charge is included in the price, but a customer can tip for excellent service. The usual tip would be 10%. For taxis, a tip is usually included in the charges (a notice will be posted in the cab).

Credit Cards:
All the major international brands of bank cards – MasterCard, Visa and American Express – are recognized. accepted, except at major hotels, gas stations and department stores.

Drug Laws:
A word of warning: Penalties for illegal drug possession are more severe in Switzerland than they are in the United States and Canada. You could go to jail or be deported immediately.

Liquor Law:
The official drinking age is 16. As in many European countries, the application of laws governing drinking is flexible and enforced only if a problem develops or if decorum is broken. Driving while intoxicated, particularly if it results in damage to property or persons, brings swift and severe punishment, involving sizable fines and possible imprisonment.

Local Costs:
Despite increased competition across Europe, Switzerland remains one of the most expensive countries on the Continent for travelers, and St. Moritz is exceptionally so. Restaurant prices are standardized from region to region, but it is imperative to seek assistance in booking a hotel or resort package. Taxes–No taxes are added to purchases in Switzerland. Swiss merchants pay tax to the government, and the percentage is included in the price marked on any object.
Restaurant prices and hotel rates include all taxes in Switzerland.

Valued-added Tax (VAT):
In 1996, Switzerland introduced valued-added tax (VAT) of 6.5%, making it the 20th European country to adopt the measure. While the rate is the lowest in Europe, it can add a significant amount to your bill. Theater and cinema tickets are exempt.
On any one purchase of 500 francs or more from one store, VAT refunds are available for clothes, watches and souvenirs, but not for meals or hotel rooms. To get a VAT refund, request a form from the shopkeeper, and get it stamped at customs on departure. Then send the form in the provided envelope to Bern once you arrive back in the United States. The Swiss government will send the check to you in the United States in a few weeks.

Local Transportation
There is excellent, reliable bus and train transportation within St. Moritz and surrounding areas. In addition to traditional means of transport, there are also paragliding taxis and bobsled taxis. Driving an automobile to the area is not necessary because of the availability of public transportation.

Arriving & Departing
By Air

Zurich-Kloten International Airport, (tel. 01/812-71-11) is Switzerland’s most important airport and the 10th busiest in the world. Flying times: 7 hours from New York, 10 hours from Chicago, and 14 hours from Los Angeles.
>From the U.S. Kloten is served by some 60 airlines.

Between Zurich-Kloten Airport and St. Moritz:
By Train : From Zurich to St. Moritz, Lines from Zurich to Chur with Intercity trains of the Swiss National Railway. From Chur, a superb train journey with the Rhaetian Railway. A panoramic trip with breathtaking viaducts and technical wonders of spiral tunnels. Highest point of the line at 6,600 ft. A train with salon and restaurant car refurbished in the true style of the 1920s, as well as individual coaches, can be chartered.
Zurich – St. Moritz: 125 miles, 200 km, 4 hrs. telephone or write: Swiss Federal Railways Swiss Center, 608 Fifth Avenue; New York, NY 10020 telephone: (212) 757-5944 for schedules, times and fares.

By Car
Zurich International Airport to St.Moritz
At the Airport, take Motorway N51 – Travel in the direction of Zurich
In Zurich change from Motorway N51 to Motorway N3 Travel in the direction of Sargans, Chur
In Sargans: Change from Motorway N3 to Motorway N13 Travel in the direction of Chur, Thusis
In Thusis, change to Motorway N13 to Main street Travel in the direction of Tiefencastel
In Tiefencastel change at Main street to Main street 3 : Travel in the direction ofJulierpass, St.Moritz to St. Moritz.
Distance: 211km / Time: about 2h 30min

Auto Tips
Driving is on the right. In built-up areas, the speed limit is 50 kph (31 mph); on main highways, it’s 80 kph (50 mph); on expressways, the limit is 120 kph (75 mph).
Children under 12 are not permitted to sit in the front seat. Driving with parking lights is prohibited. Use headlights in heavy rain or poor visibility and in road tunnels ( compulsory.) Always carry your valid license and car-registration papers; there are occasional roadblocks to check them. Wear seat belts in the front seats (required.)
To use the main highways, you must display a disk or vignette in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield. You can buy it at the border (cash only; neighboring foreign currencies can be changed). It costs 40 SF, can be purchased from any post office, and is valid to the end of the year. Cars rented within Switzerland already have these disks; if you rent a car elsewhere in Europe, ask if the company will provide the vignette for you.
In winter, use snow chains, which are compulsory in some areas and advisable in all. Snow-chain service stations have signs marked Service de Chaînes à Neige or Schneekettendienst; snow chains are available for rent.
If you have an accident, even a minor one, you must call the police. Breakdown assistance is available through the telephone exchange: Dial 140 and ask for “Autohilfe.”
Unleaded (sans plomb or bleifrei) gas costs around 1.20 SF per liter, and super costs around 1.31 SF per liter. Leaded regular is no longer available. Prices are slightly higher in mountain areas. Have some 10 SF and 20 SF notes available, as many gas stations (especially in the mountains) offer vending-machine gas even when they’re closed. Simply slide in a bill and fill your tank. You can get a receipt if you punch in the machine code requesting it.

Requirements
In Switzerland your own driver’s license is acceptable, but consider buying an International Driver’s Permit, available from the American or Canadian automobile associations. Some European rental firms will not lease to drivers over 70 years old.

Alternate Arrival
via Milan Linate Airport, Italy
Telephone for General information: 02/74852200
>From Milan:
take a train in the direction of Lecco-Tirano and then the Swiss local Rhaetishe Bahn up into the mountains to St. Moritz. There is beautiful scenery on the banks of Lago di Como (which takes the name Lago di Lecco) and amazing views from the Swiss train, which climbs from 1200 feet to over 6000 feet.)

Pets:
Pets–Dogs and cats brought into Switzerland will require veterinary certificates stating that the animals have been vaccinated against rabies not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year prior to entry into the country. This regulation also applies to dogs and cats returning after a temporary absence from Switzerland, but is not applicable to animals transported through the country by rail or air traffic.

C- Attractions/Things To Do:
Churches
The following are some of the notable Engadine Churches:
Santa Maria in Pontresina – frescoes from the 13th century.
San Gian near Celerina – famous coffered ceiling from the 12th century.
Sils Fex – Mountain Church Fex-Crasta – frescoes from the 16th century.
The chapel of the St. Moritz-Dorf Catholic church is built into the rock: modern, but very impressive.

Other architecturally significant churches can be visited by driving or touring by bus, the Ofen Pass to Müstair, whose Cloister Church was founded by Charles the Great in the 8th century. Or the Church of Bondo in the Bergell valley.

Cresta rider
Opposite the Kulm Hotel is a life-size bronze sculpture of a skeleton rider by David Wyne, presented to the village by the St.Moritz Tobogganing Club in 1985, to mark the club`s centenary.

Document Library
The library has a wealth of material on the history of St.Moritz, the local area and the Engadine.

Engadine Ski Marathon Roll of Honour
The roll, which bears the names of all the winners of the event over the years, is located in the spa centre park.

Engadiner Museum
Via das Bagn.
081- 833 44 54 / 833 43 33
Mon-Fri 9.30am-noon & 2-5pm, Sun 10am-noon
A folk museum with a wide range of exhibits depicting local life housed in a solid stone building that is one of the few surviving pieces of original Engadine architecture in the town. The house was built in 1905 and opened to the public in 1906.

Engadine Villages
Take the Rhaetian Railway or the post bus and drive to one of the beautiful neighbouring villages. Some are prime examples of the Engadine architecture (Zuoz, Zernez, Guarda, Scuol/Schuls, Tarasp etc.).

Heidi Chalet
The original hut from the Heidi film is located between Oberalpina and Salastrains, above St. Moritz. It is 200 years old and was used as the setting for the most successful film production of the Heidi story.

Giovanni Segantini Museum
June-Oct Tues-Sat 9am-12.30pm & 2.30-5pm, Sun 10.30am-12.30pm & 2.30-4.30pm; Dec-May Tues-Sat 10am-12.30pm & 3-5pm, Sun 3-5pm. Displays the work of the largely self-taught Symbolist who was perhaps the definitive painter of Alpine life. The Segantini Museum was built in 1908 and is dedicated to the paintings and graphics of the great Italian born “Engadine” painter Giovanni Segantini. There are about fifty works exhibited. The most important paintings from his final period are displayed in the domed room of the museum. Visit the studio of Giovanni Segantini in Maloja to view an exhibition of unpublished pictures, sketches, documents and personal belongings of the artist.

Library / Nietzsche House
The village of Sils is not only attractive, it also has a library, the “Biblioteca Engiadinaisa” with a large collection of books in foreign languages and the Nietzsche House to visit.

The Mili Weber House
(081- 833 31 86 / 833 33 09 / 833 42 95 / 833 53 55)
Visit the house where Mili Weber lived in her quiet intact world. You can admire her life-work (illustrated stories, paintings, sketches etc.) and be enchanted by her fantastic fairy-tale world. Visits by appointment only .

Mauritius Fountain
The fountain, which was erected in 1910, is named after the leader of the Roman legionnaire (around 300 AD) who was to become the patron saint of the village. It stands in front of the town hall in St.Moritz-Dorf.

The Olympic Stone
The stone, which commemorates the Winter Olympic Games held in the town in 1928 and 1948, stands opposite Bistolfi`s Segantini Monument, by the steps leading up to the Segantini Museum.

The Schiefer Turm (crooked tower)
Long a landmark of the village, the tower, which dates from the 13th century, is all that remains of St.Maurice`s Church, which was demolished in 1890.
Sils-Maria, a short bus ride from St Moritz, is the summer home of the German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. It is located in the centre of town and is open to the public for a nominal entry fee. Memorabilia of photos and writings are on view. All rooms are open for inspection.

The Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is the slowest express train in the world. This remarkable route links two of Europe’s most renowned Alpine resorts – Zermatt and St. Moritz. The route covers some of the most stunning scenery in the country, passing through 91 tunnels and across 291 bridges. From the comfort of a panorama railcar, experience the breathtaking beauty of the unspoiled Alpine landscape. Dine in comfort, traveling in the attractively furnished restaurant car.

The Bernina Express
When you take the four-hour trip on the only Swiss train which crosses the Alps without a tunnel, you’ll never know a dull moment. Wild gorges, soaring bridges, fascinating loop tunnels and white glaciers near enough to touch. From the valley of the young Rhine to that of the Inn in Engadine, across the regions of eternal snow and down to palm trees and oleander bushes; to Poschiavo/Le Prese and on to Veltlin and its rich Mediterranean charm.

The Palm Express
The journey links St. Moritz with Ascona, and provides wonderful views of Swiss mountains and glaciers as well as sub-tropical lakeside scenery to the south. It is a combination of a postal bus and railway. The various stretches are operated by the Swiss Postal Bus Service, the Centovalli Railway and the BVZ Railway. The length of the journey is 186 miles and takes two days to complete.

For information on any of these tours, please contact: Swiss Federal Railways. They have an office in the US at Swiss Federal Railways Swiss Center, 608 Fifth Avenue; New York, NY 10020 telephone: (212) 757-5944.

D- Family Fun Attractions:
Sport possibilities
Sailing, rowing, windsurfing, swimming, fishing, canoeing, squash, tennis, badminton, horseback riding, golf, clay pigeon shooting, archery, summer skiing, ice skating, Bavarian curling, hiking, mountain climbing, trekking, mini golf, hang gliding, paragliding, biking, mountain biking, equestrian driving, river rafting, kite flying, track and field, jogging, inline skating, Snowboarding, cross country, offpiste, glacier, bobsledding, curling, and ice skating, heli-skiing

Sport facilities
Indoor swimming pool, artificial ice rink, natural ice rinks, horseback riding hall, bobsleigh and Cresta runs, curling rinks, indoor tennis and squash halls, cross country ski center, lighted night cross country ski trail, children’s sledding slopes, indoor golf facility, ski jump.door swimming pool, artificial ice rink, exercise trail, horseback riding hall, indoor tennis and squash halls, tennis courts, high altitude training and competition center (400 meter track and field facility, gym, “Finnon” trail on the Corviglia), shooting range (300, 100, 50 & 25 meters), biking trails.

Fitness centers :
Nautilus Gym at Noldapark, Via G. Segantini 32 / 081- 833 84 14
Berry Health Center, Via Arona 28 / 081- 833 03 77
Gut Training, Heilbadzentrum / 081- 833 52 54
The Gym, Via Quadrellas / 081- 834 41 41
Crystal-Health-Club / 081- 832 11 65
Inquire about weekly aerobic, stretching and Hatha Yoga relaxation lessons.

Swimming Pool / Health Spa
(081- 833 60 25 / 833 30 62)
The public pool is in St. Moritz-Bad; sauna and massage are in the same complex, so visitors can be warm when it is cold outside. Sparkling mineral baths at the famous health spa and samples of “St. Moritz water” directly from the spring are other healthful possibilities.

Spa & Sauna Complex
Scuol
(081- 861 20 00)
Enjoy a train journey to the Engadin Bad Scuol in the Lower Engadine. Relax in the different indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools, solaria, saunas or in the Roman-Irish steam bath.

Bowling
(081- 854 12 64)
Go bowling! Partners usually turn up quickly.
Hotel Aurora in S-chanf. Reserve the alley in advance.

Cross-Country Skiing
You can exercise on the cross-country tracks – they are prepared every day even in bad weather and when it is snowing. Try a cross-country ski tour into one of the unique valleys of the Engadine, such as Val Roseg, Val Fex or toward Morteratsch

Horseback-Riding
(081- 833 57 33)
Do you know how to ride? If not, why not take a lesson in the riding hall in St. Moritz. Escorted excursions on horseback can be arranged by appointment.

Tennis or Squash
(081- 833 15 00)
There are 4 tennis and 2 squash courts in the sports hall. Raquets can be rented on the spot. If you are not in the professional class, a tennis instructor will teach you a few “tricks”.

Tobogganing
A newly built run showcases one of the best views in the valley, at Muottas Muragl, daily 9.30 – 23.00
081 842 83 08

Taxi Rides :Bobsled and Hang Gliding
(081- 833 41 10 / 018-833 80 90)
For the more daring visitors, there is the possibility of taking a “taxi ride” on the bobsleigh run from St. Moritz to Celerina, or a delta hang gliding taxi from Corviglia down to the frozen St.Moritz Lake.

Walking
The walk to Pontresina through the snow covered Staz forest is particularly attractive in winter. Wear a pair of good hiking boots and discover the pleasure of walking under the fir and larch boughs.. Don’t forget your camera! The bieds, deer and squirrels are photogenic. In case you should be cold in spite of winter clothing, there are two restaurants on the way where you can warm up.

Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides
M. Degiacomi / 081-833 32 42
A. Melcher / 081-833 74 57 / 833 14 21
U. Moro / 081-833 34 74 / 079 232 09 45
D. Motti / 081-833 37 68 / 077-81 20 68
C. Pedrolini / 081-833 12 39
Outings with a horse sleigh are very popular.. Prices on request.

Cinema
(081- 833 31 55)
Maybe the movie being shown is the one that you missed at home. And most likely, it’s in English.

E- Events & Entertainment:
Events

Late December through February

The Cresta Run
]With speeds of up to 85 mph, the drivers race down the ice canal head first on “skeleton” sleds. There are races or training runs daily. Dates back to 1885. Main events: Heaton Gold Cup, Curzon Cup, Grand National, Gunter Sachs Challenge Cup.
Instruction for beginners. Demonstration event at the 1928 and 1948 Olympic Winter Games

Late December through February

Bob Run
The only remaining natural ice bobsled run in the world. Dates back to 1890.
Length: 1585 meters, with a maximum speed of 85 mph. Races or training runs daily in 2 and 4-man bobsleds, as well as skeleton sleds. Main events: Swiss and European championships, bobsled world championship, two Olympic Winter Games (1928/48) Bobsled taxi rides for guests: advance registration required

Late December through February

Curling
Curling Center Al Parc, 8 to 16 natural ice rinks. Scottish team sport – played for the first time on the continent in 1881 in St. Moritz. Training, matches or tournaments daily.

January

Zurück Festival
Musik Festival “Snow and Symphony”
Fr 23.03.2001
Engadin/St. Moritz

Mid January and beginning of August

Concours Hippique
International equestrian jumping tournament on snow; since 1958. An annual event with more than 100 horses participating. 15 tests, including skikjöring (a horse and rider pulling a skier). Summer Concours: since 1996. 15 international tests on the equestrian field in St. Moritz Bad, with a large special prize.

January

Schlitteda
An old Engadine tradition: young people from the village, dressed in traditional garb and driving colorful old horse-drawn sleighs, parade through the snow-covered landscape to the neighboring village.

Last weekend in January

Polo On Snow
The world’s oldest team sport – played with red balls on the white turf of the frozen St.Moritz lake; since 1985. 6 matches to 4 chukkers on three days.

Cricket On Snow
Cricket, the national sport of the Anglo Saxons, became popular in England 200 years ago. The first cricket tournament in history to take place on a frozen lake was staged in St. Moritz in February 1989.

The first three Sundays in February

Horse Races On Snow
Horse races on a White turf have taken place on the frozen St. Moritz lake since 1907. Every race weekend there are short distance, flat, trotting and skikjöring events (skikjöring is a worldwide exclusive: a riderless horse tows a skier around the track)

First week in February

Gourmet Festival
The best chefs from all over the world inspire young talented chefs from St. Moritz hotel kitchen brigades. Multi-course meals with specialties from the chef’s homeland are served. Climax: “Grand Gourmet Finale” on the frozen St. Moritz lake.

British Classic Car Meeting
Elegance and class in the Engadin alpine environment. Over 150 Old time and Classic Cars have a date in St. Moritz: “Concours d’élégance”, motor rally; since 1994.

Late February

Greyhound Races
International greyhound races on the frozen St. Moritz lake. The “Gold Rush”: a tradition was brought back to life in March, 1988.

December, January, February

Ski Jumping
Ski jumping whithin the World and European Cup competitions. Olympic ski jump facility 90 meters long, “Falcun” jump 50 meters, “Spreret” jump 30 meters, boys’ jump 15 meters. Main events: Christmas jumping, World Cup competition, World Cup jumping with Nordic combination.

March

Chalanda Marz
A very old Engadin tradition: The Engadin school children drive away winter with bells and songs.

2nd Sunday in March

Engadin Ski Marathon
Annually, one of the world’s largest sport events with over 12’000 participants. 42 kilometers, cross country skiing from Maloja to Zuoz. Since 1969.

Winter Season

Hangglider Rides
Tandem flights with a hangglider. Start on skis with a certified pilot from the top of Corviglia. Landing is on the frozen lake below.

Winter

HTWZ High Altitude Training And Competition Center In St. Moritz
Ideal training conditions in the sparkling high altitude climate of St. Moritz. 400 meter Rub-Tan track and field facility, gym, track, rowing course, jogging paths, Good Training Center with medical care, etc. Bobsled run, ski jump facility, alpine and Nordic skiing, etc. (winter). Since 1968.

July and August

International Concert Weeks
With world-renowned orchestras, directors and soloists; since 1940.

2nd weekend in August

Windsurfing
Windsurfing marathon with approx. 300 participants. On Friday a tandem marathon event with approx. 50 participants, and on Saturday, the singles marathon. Total distance of each race: 42 kilometers. An annual event since 1977. Windsurfing World Cup on the Silvaplana Lake, the only World Cup on an alpine lake (since 1994).

Summer Season

Wild Water River Rafting
Exciting river rafting adventure on the Inn River, the “King of the Alpine Rivers”. One, two or three day excursions in a rubber raft, with a certified guide.

Inline Skating

First Saturday in July

Engadin Inline Skating Marathon

since 1996 (first Saturday in July).
From Maloja to S-chanf (41.195 kilometers) with speeds of up to 48 mph along the scenic Upper Engadin mountain lakes. Various training trails and Inline parks.

Golf
18 hole golf course (end of May to the beginning of October) in Samedan/St. Moritz. Over 40 tradition-rich tournaments are on the program every summer. Main events: St. Moritz Gold Cup, Heineken Cup.

Winter golf: with red balls on the “white greens” once every winter, an Upper Engadin Winter Golf Tournament.

Zurich, Switzerland

A- Overview:
Zürich is a stunningly beautiful city that circles around the northern end of Zürichsee (Lake Zurich), from which the Limmat River flows, bisecting the city. In the distance, magnificent snow-clad peaks overlook the waters of the lake, and the shores are dotted with stately 19th century mansions.

Its charming Old Town, comprising a substantial part of the city center, is filled with beautifully restored historic buildings and narrow, hilly alleys.

The city is crisscrossed by lovely, low bridges. On the left bank are the Altstadt (Old Town); the Hauptbahnhof (the main train station); and Bahnhofplatz, a major urban crossroads and the beginning of the Bahnhofstrasse. The right bank constitutes the livelier older section, divided into the Oberdorf (Upper Village) and the Niederdorf (Lower Village).

Zurich is said to have begun at the Lindenhof, which is where many begin their orientation to the city. This square is the architectural center of historic Zurich. From there, you can look out over the city as it rises on both banks of the Limmat from Bahnhofbrücke (Brücke means bridge) to Quailbrücke

Below this square runs Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most elegant and expensive shopping streets in the world Old Town, or Altstadt, was developed during the early medieval period . It expanded to Weinplatz, the oldest market square, and Strehlgasse. By the 11th century, the city continued its development on the right bank with such centers as Kirchgasse and Neumarkt.

State-operated “Heimatwerk” shops present a high-quality selection of ‘cottage industry’ goods including wooden, hand carved objects and lace .

Zürich has a free bicycle rental program. For a small, refundable deposit and your passport, you can borrow a bike. More than 300 bikes are available. The most central pickup points are at Platform 18 of the Hauptbahnhof, the Globus department store on the Bahnhofstrasse, and at Theaterplatz/Stadelhofen. Bikes are available from the train station year-round; the other locations distribute bikes May through October. A great place to bike is the path along the river starting at the Hauptbahnhof and running along the left bank of the Limmat, downriver.

Zürich’s tram service, VBZ-Züri-Linie, is rapid and on time. It runs from 5:30 AM to midnight, every six minutes at peak hours, every 12 minutes at other times. All-day passes can be purchased at the stops that post maps and sell one-ride tickets. Free route plans are available from VBZ offices, located at major crossroads.

Switzerland is rich in natural attractions, which seems to make it a ‘natural’ for families with children. Exploring the mountains and lakes provides endless hours of enjoyment.

Getting around is likely to be as much an attraction as the destination. The train, bus, boat and mountain transport infrastructure are usually very attractive to children. They’ll find steam trains and steam ships, and mountain lifts of all sorts: large cable cars, four person cable cars as in Disneyland, chairlifts, and many ancient funiculars.

Zürich is a central point allowing one-day excursions almost anywhere in the country. Luzern and Bern are only 75 minutes away. The Rhein, the medieval village of Stein, and the Rhein Falls are also close.

Swiss cooking deserves its reputation of being delicious, clean and wholesome. The Swiss National Dish is Rösti: a sort of Swiss-style hash browned potatoes, which cannot be imagined until they have been tasted. There are many regional variations on Rösti (with eggs, cheese, bacon, onion, etc.), especially in the mountains.

One of the most popular excursions out of Zürich starts with a train ride to Uetliberg. From there, there is a panoramic two-hour Planetary Path (Planetenweg) running along the mountain ridge overlooking the lake to Felsenegg. En route you pass models of some of the planets in the solar system: These and the distances between them are on a scale of one to 1000 million.

Along the shores of Lake Zürich, concrete walkways give way to trees and lawns in the Arboretum on the west bank, making the area perfect for strolling. Designated areas for outdoor swimming and sunbathing are open May to September. Well-known spots are Utoquai on the east shore of the lake and Mythenquai on the west shore. There are also various free swimming spots, such as the one just north of the confluence of the Sihl and Limmat Rivers.

A day in the Jungfrau region is easily arranged through tour services in Zurich. It is an incredible experience. Travelers are given a range of choices as to stops and activities. One option is to buy a Jungfrau pass and plane to spread the experience over several days. That allows time to stop for an afternoon in the alpine village of Grindalwald and just relax and revel in the beauty of the mountains and the quiet beauty of the village.

A second day can be spent taking the tour of the glacier farther up the mountain. Both are experiences to be savored and enjoyed at a relaxed pace.

Switzerland’s largest city is surely among the most beautiful in all of Europe. Even today, Zurich retains much of its 19th-century charm. Zurich is also considered to be one of the best shopping destinations in the world. The city is both large enough to offer all amenities to its visitors and small enough to make the visitor feel at home.

B- City Information:
Population: 380,000.

960,000 inhabitants in the Zürich city and suburbs

1.2 million inhabitants in the entire canton of Zürich (city plus 100 surrounding localities)

Time Zone: GMT/UTC plus one hour. When it is noon in Zurich, it is 6am in New York City.

Language: Most speak a form of German called Schwyzerdütsch (Schweizerdeutsch, in standard German). In Zurich, people in the tourist industry usually speak English.

Geographical position

The city of Zürich is situated at the northern end of the lake of Zürich on Switzerland’s central plain, in the heart of Europe. The city is clustered around the banks of the Limmat River. The city covers a total area of approx. 92 km, its highest point is 871 m above sea-level (Üetliberg/Uto Kulm).

Temperatures:

Month
High
Low

January
36F
26F

February
41F
28F

March
51F
34F

April
59F
40F

May
67F
47F

June
73F
52F

July
76F
56F

August
75F
56F

September
61F
45F

October
69F
51F

November
45F
35F

December
37F
29F

Climate

Zürich has a temperate climate, but frequently finds itself in the path of warm, moisture-laden winds blowing from the Atlantic ocean. This results in a milder climate than its northern latitude of 47° might otherwise suggest. If you will be in the mountains the weather is unpredictable and often changes suddenly. Most first-time visitors will be surprised by the 20-40F difference in temperature between where they began the day and the mountain peaks that they visit. (Dress in “layers”)

Be prepared, even on overcast or cloudy days, for a faster suntan (or burn) at high altitude. The thin air in the beautiful higher elevations not only makes breathing and staying warm harder, it blocks less of the suns rays. Sunscreen or sunblock is a must!

When to Go

In July and August, Zurich’s best weather coincides with the heaviest crowds. Summers in Zurich are not as warm as on the French Riviera, but the lake is usually warm enough to swim in during July and August (70-72F). June and September are still pleasant, and hotel prices can be slightly lower, especially in resorts. Winter is cold throughout, and in low-lying areas it is frequently overcast and damp. Many days are chilly, and spring and fall can be quite cold. In winter, however, the temperature rarely goes below zero.

Holidays

Jan. 1 New Year’s Day

Mar/Apr (varies) Good Friday

Mar/Apr (varies) Easter Monday

May 1 Labor Day

May (late May) Ascension Day

May/June (varies) Pentecost Monday

Aug. 1 Swiss National Holiday

Dec. 25 Christmas Day

Dec. 26 St. Stephen’s Day

Business Hours

Banks & Offices

Some businesses still close for lunch in Switzerland, from 12:30 to 2, but this is changing, especially in larger cities such as Zurich. All remain closed on Sunday, and a few stay closed through Monday morning. Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 to 4:30.

Museums & Sights

Museums are usually closed on Monday. Increasingly, they open late one night a week, usually on Thursday or Friday evening.

Shops

Shops are open every day but Sunday, though a few stay closed through Monday morning. Smaller stores close for an hour or two for lunch. Stores in train stations often stay open until 9 PM; in the Zürich airport, shops are open on Sunday.

Emergency Contacts

Ambulance: 144

Police: 117

Fire: 118

Electricity

the current is AC, 230V, 50 Hz. The standard plug is three-prong, but you may, in older buildings, run across some others. The Swiss plug is used nowhere else in Europe. While a general purpose “European-style” conversion plug may work, we’d hold off buying more than one of those (no kits, etc.) until you get to your ho The hotel or a nearby hardware or variety store will be able to help you if you don’t have with you what you need. Most laptops operate on 110 and 220 volts and so require only an adapter.

Telephones

The country code for Switzerland is 41. When dialing a Swiss number from abroad, drop the initial 0 from the local area code.

Zurich Area Code: 01

Directory & Operator Information

Dial 111 for information within Switzerland All telephone operators speak English and instructions are printed in English in all telephone booths. Precede the area-code number with 0 when dialing long-distance within Switzerland.

Anglo-Phone ( 1575014) is an English-language information service that gives details on hotels, restaurants, museums, nightlife, skiing, what to do in an emergency, and more. Lines are open weekdays 9-7 and 9-1 on Saturday.

Medical Emergency

Doctors and dentists can be referred in case of emergency by the English-speaking operators at Notfalldienst (Emergency Service) phones (01/2616100).

Hospital (Zürich Universitätsspital, Schmelzbergstr. 8, 01/2551111).

Health

Switzerland’s reputation for cleanliness is well-earned. Even at the foot of an icy-pure glacier you’re likely to find locals drinking bottled mineral water.

If you’re traveling with a child under two years old, you may be advised by locals not to take him or her on excursions above 6,560 ft. Check with your pediatrician before leaving home. Adults should limit strenuous excursions on the first day at extra-high-altitude resorts, (those at 5,248 ft and above). Adults with heart problems may want to avoid all excursions at high altitudes.

Mail

Postal codes precede the names of cities and towns in Swiss addresses.

Currency

The unit of currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (SF), available in notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1,000. Francs are divided into centimes (in Suisse Romande) or rappen (in German Switzerland). There are coins for 5, 10, and 20 centimes. Larger coins are the half-, 1-, 2-, and 5-franc pieces. Switzerland has not joined the European Union.

Exchanging Money

For the most favorable rates, change money through banks. Although ATM transaction fees may be higher abroad than at home, ATM rates are excellent because they are based on wholesale rates offered only by major banks. You won’t do as well at exchange booths in airports or rail and bus stations, in hotels, in restaurants, or in stores.

Internet Access: Internet Café, Uraniastrasse 3 01/210-33-11), in the Urania Parkhaus. Open Monday 10am to 6pm, Tuesday and Thursday 10am to midnight, Friday and Saturday 10am to 2am, and Sunday 10am to 11pm.

Passport Offices

The best time to apply for a passport or to renew is during the fall and winter. Before any trip, check your passport’s expiration date, and, if necessary, renew it as soon as possible.

U.S. Citizens

Taxes

Restaurant checks and hotel bills include all taxes.

Value-Added Tax

Switzerland’s value-added tax is 7.6%.However, on any one purchase of 550 francs or more from one store, refunds are available to nonresidents for clothes, watches, and souvenirs, but not for meals or hotel rooms.

To get a VAT refund, pay by credit card; at the time of purchase, the store clerk should fill out and give you a red form and keep a record of your credit card number. When leaving Switzerland, you must hand-deliver the red form to an officer at the customs office at the airport or, if leaving by car or train, at the border. Customs will process the form and return it to the store, which will refund the tax by crediting your card.

Tipping

Tipping is expected at the same rate as in the US.

is the two-letter country abbreviation for Switzerland and is displayed on currency and cars. Switzerland has four official languages, French, Italian, German and Romantsch

Hence, the choice of a Latin construct, Confoederatio Helvetica.

(The Helvetii were one of the native tribes in the area of Switzerland in Roman times, and Helvetica a Roman province.)

Arriving & Departing

By Air

Zürich-Kloten (ZRH) 7 mi north of Zürich, 1571060, is Switzerland’s busiest airport and the 10th busiest in the world.

Flying time is just under two hours from London, seven hours from New York, 10 hours from Chicago, and 14 hours from Los Angeles.

Airport Transportation

Fares to downtown Zurich: Taxi $35; Train $5; Bus: $4. From Kloten Airport our preferred (and fastest) method of travel is by train. The airport station is below ground and adjacent to terminal 5; trains depart for the 12-minute trip to Zurich several times an hour, dropping passengers at Central Train Station. The considerably slower City Bus #768 departs every 10 minutes during peak hours – by bus the trip into Zurich takes 1 hour.

By Boat

The Zurichsee-Schiffahrtsgesellschaft, Mythenquai 333 01/482-10-33), offers regularly scheduled service on modern passenger ships as well as old steamers plying both sides of Lake Zurich. The service is operated from Easter to October, going from Zurich as far as Rapperswil.

By Car

From Basel, take N3 east, and from Geneva, take N1 northeast, going via Bern, where you’ll connect with E4 and E17 heading east into Zurich.

By Train

Several trains bound for Switzerland leave from the Gare de l’Est in Paris. Without a stop, a train departs Paris at 10:43pm daily, arriving in Zurich at 6:45am. Other connections are via Basel. One train leaves Paris daily at 2:43pm, arriving 9:22pm in Zurich; yet another leaves Paris at 5:19pm, also going via Basel, arriving in Zurich at 12:06pm. From Munich, the Gottfried Keller Express departs daily at 6:15pm with a 10:23pm arrival in Zurich. The Bavaria leaves Munich daily at 8:15am, arriving in Zurich at 12:26pm. All trains arrive at the Zurich Hauptbahnhof 01/157-22-22).

By Bus

Zurich’s bus routes function only as feeder lines from outlying suburbs, which lie off the train lines, into the vicinity of the town’s railroad station.

slopes of the Z|richberg and Kdferberg hills into the Glatt River valley.

Finding an Address

In a system that developed during the Middle Ages, all Swiss cities, including Zurich, begin their street-numbering system with the lowest numbers closest to the center of town. In Zurich, the center is the Hauptbahnhof. All even numbers lie on one side of the street, and all odd numbers are on the other.

Getting Around Zurich

By Bicycle

Biking is a good way to get around Zurich, especially in the outlying areas. Bicycles can be rented at the baggage counter of the railway station, the Hauptbahnhof 0512/22-29-04). Hours are daily from 6:45am to 7:45pm.

By Car

the city is too congested for automobile use, and parking is scarce and expensive. If you have a car with you, plan to drive only when exploring the environs.

On Foot Zurich and its quays are ideal for walking, and many of the places of interest, such as the sights of Altstadt on both sides of the Limmat, are conveniently grouped together.

Bus & Tram

Zurich’s combination of buses and streetcars, operated as the Swiss VBZ system, is terrific: efficient and inexpensive. Buy your single tickets, valid for 5 stops – at the vending machines situated at each stop. At Central Station you can purchase a 24-hour pass, which allows unlimited travel on the buses and trams.

Taxi

Taxis are not easily found in Zurich and are among the most expensive in Europe.

Public transport in Zürich

S-Bahn commuter railway, bus, trams, ships and local excursion trains make up the extensive transportation network, known for its high level of comfort and unique tariff system based on fare zones. While your ticket is valid you are entitled to an unlimited number of rides in all directions on all public transport within the designated zones.

By Train

The Swiss Federal Railways, ( 0900/300300), has an extensive network; trains and stations are clean and service is prompt. There are straightforward connections and several express routes leading directly into Zürich from Basel, Geneva, Bern, and Lugano.

All roads lead to the Hauptbahnhof ( 0900/300300) in the city center.

Trains described as Inter-City or Express are the fastest, stopping only in principal towns. Regionalzug/Train Régional means a local train. If you’re planning to use the trains extensively, get the official timetable (“Kursbuch” or “Horaire

By Tram

VBZ-Züri-Linie, the tram service in Zürich, is swift and on time. It runs from 5:30 AM to midnight, every six minutes at peak hours and every 12 minutes during non-peak times. All-day passes can be purchased from the same vending machines at the stops that sell post maps and one-ride tickets; tickets must be purchased before you board.

There is a comprehensive and unified bus, tram and S-Bahn service in the city, which includes boats on the Limmat River. Tickets allow you to switch between modes of transport as you like. A 24-hour city pass is available, and a 24-hour pass valid for unlimited travel within the whole canton of Zürich saves additional money.

Biking and Swimming on the Lake. In July and August, one can bike from Seebach station through the forest to Katzenruti where there are several places ideal for a picnic. After lunch, cycle to the Katzensee with its sandy beach, returning later via Affoltern. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to go the full 8 miles.

Road Conditions

Swiss roads are well surfaced but intricate and curving, especially in the mountains. There is a well-developed highway network.

A combination of steep or winding routes and hazardous weather means some roads will be closed in winter. Signs are posted at the beginning of the climb.

Drive on the right in Switzerland, except when merging into traffic circles, when priority is given to the drivers coming from the left.

Children under age seven are not permitted to sit in the front seat.

C- Attractions/Things To Do:

Zurich is divided by the Limmat River into the following two general areas:

West or Left Bank–This district is dominated by Bahnhofplatz, center of rail connections, and Bahnhofstrasse, which is the main commercial and banking thoroughfare.

East or Right Bank

Opposite Fraumünster, on the other side of the river, rises Grossmünster, on Grossmünsterplatz; its two Gothic towers are an east-bank landmark. The historic guildhalls of Zurich, such as the Zunfthaus zur Saffran, rise on the east bank of the river. So, too, does the Rathaus, the city’s town hall, completed in 1698. On the east bank you can explore the eastern part of Altstadt (the old town), and stroll along Neumarkt, one of the best preserved of the old streets.

Altstadt (Old Town)

Tram 4,6,7,15

Both sides of the Limmat River.

Zurich’s Old Town is one of Europe’s great old quarters. Houses and squares here date back to the 13th Century. Delightful shops & restaurants abound.

Bahnhofstrasse

Called the “most beautiful shopping street in the world”. Begins opposite Zurich’s Central Station and continues to the Lake.

Stiftung Sammlung E. G. Bührle (Foundation E. G. Bührle Collection)

Zollikerstrasse 172

01/4220086

Admission charged.

Take Tram 11 from Bellevueplatz, then Bus 77 from Hegibachplatz.

Tues., Fri., and Sun. 2-5, Wed. 5-8.

One of Switzerland’s best private art collections is owned by the E. G. Bührle Foundation. Though it’s known especially for its Impressionist and post-Impressionist works, the collection also includes Spanish and Italian paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries. There is a limited but very special section of 24 religious sculptures from the Middle Ages.

Friedhof Fluntern (Fluntern Cemetery)

Zurichberg district

James Joyce, the author of Ulysses, lived in Zurich from 1915 to 1919, at Universitatsstrasse 38. In 1941 he returned to Zurich from Paris, only a month before his death. Near his tomb is a statue depicting the great Irish writer sitting cross-legged with a book in his hand. Elias Canetti, winner of the Nobel Prize for literat ure in 1981, died in August 1994; his grave lies to the left of Joyce’s. The grave of Johanna Spiri (1827-1901), who wrote the famous story Heidi, is in the Central Cemetery.

Fraumünster (Church of Our Lady)

Stadthausquai.

May-Sept., Mon.-Sat. 9-6; Oct., Mon.-Sat. 10-5; Nov.-Feb., Mon.-Sat. 10-4; Mar.-Apr., Mon.-Sat. 10-5.

The delicate Fraumünster church spires are Zürich’s signature. Its Romanesque choir is a peaceful spot for meditation beneath the ocher, sapphire, and ruby glow of stained glass windows designed by the Russian-born Marc Chagall, who loved Zürich. Augusto Giacometti, executed the fine painted window in the north transept.

Grossmünster

Grossmünsterplatz

01/252-59-49

This Romanesque and Gothic cathedral was, according to legend, founded by Charlemagne, whose horse bowed down on the spot marking the graves of three early Christian martyrs. Despite the legend, construction actually began in 1090 and additions were made until the early 14th century. The choir contains stained glass windows completed in 1932 by Augusto Giacometti. In the crypt is a weather-beaten, 15th-century statue of Charlemagne, a copy of which crowns the south tower.

The cathedral was once the parish church of Huldrych Zwingli, one of the great leaders of the Reformation. He urged priests to take wives (he himself had married) and attacked the “worship of images” and the Roman sacrament of Mass. In 1531, Zwingli was killed in a religious war at Kappel. The site of his execution is marked with an inscription: “They may kill the body but not the soul.” In accordance with Zwingli’s beliefs, Zurich’s Grossmunster is austere, stripped of the heavy ornamentation found in the cathedrals of Italy. The view from the towers is impressive.

Kunsthaus Zurich (Fine Arts Museum)

Heimplatz 1

01 251 67 65

Tue-Thu 10-21 Fri-Sun 10-17

Mon closed

Paintings, sculpture and drawings, predominantly 19th and 20th centuries.One of the most important art museums in Europe, the Zurich Kunsthaus is devoted mainly to the 19th and 20th centuries, although the range of paintings and sculpture dates back to antiquity. The museum was founded in Victorian times and was renovated in 1976. It is one of the most modern and sophisticated museums in the world, both in its lighting and its display of art.

Schweizerisches Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum)

Museumsstrasse 2

01 218 65 11

Tue-Sun 10.30-17 Mon closed

Museum of Swiss culture, art and history. This museum offers an epic survey of the culture and history of the Swiss people. Its collection, housed in a 19th-century building behind the Zurich Hauptbahnhof, contains works of religious art, including 16th-century stained glass from Tanikon Convent and frescoes from the church of Mustair. Some of the Carolingian art dates back to the 9th century. The altarpieces are carved, painted, and gilded.

The prehistoric section is also exceptional. Some of the artifacts are from the 4th millennium B.C.. A display of weapons and armor shows the methods of Swiss warfare from 800 to 1800. There’s also an exhibit tracing Swiss clockmaking from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Mühlerama

Seefeldstrasse 231

01 422 76 60

Tue-Sat 14-17 Sun 13.30-18

Working mill from 1913; exhibition of mills and the miller’s craft, grain and bread, slide-show with commentary.

Museum Rietberg Zürich

Gablerstrasse 15

01 202 45 28

From the city center follow Seestrasse south about 13⁄4 km (1 mi) until you see signs for the museum; or take Tram 7 to the Rietberg Museum stop.

Tues.-Sun. 10-5. Mon closed

Many fine works of non-European art from India, China, Africa, Japan, and Southeast Asia are displayed in the neoclassical Villa Wesendonck, once home to Richard Wagner.

Gathered from the South Sea islands, the Near East, Asia, Africa, and pre-Columbian America, the rich collection ranges from Cambodian Khmer sculptures and jade Chinese tomb art to Japanese Nô masks and Tibetan bronzes. It was was assembled by Baron Eduard von der Heydt and donated to the city of Zurich in 1952.

Paläontologisches Museum

Karl Schmid-Strasse 4

01 634 38 38

Tue-Fri 9-17 Sat and Sun 10-16

Free admission

Aquatic dinosaurs and fishes from Monte San Giorgio, and other Swiss fossil finds

Rathaus (Town Hall)

Limmatquai 55

no phone.

Free. Tues., Thurs., and Fri.10-11:30.

Zürich’s striking baroque town hall dates from 1694-98, and its interior remains as well preserved as its façade. There is a richly decorated stucco ceiling in the Banquet Hall and a fine ceramic stove in the government council room.

St. Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church)

St. Peterhofstatt

no phone.

Weekdays 8-6, Sat. 8-4.

Dating from the early 13th century, Zürich’s oldest parish church has the largest clock face in Europe. A church has been on this site since the 9th century. The existing building has been considerably expanded over the years. The tower, for example, was extended in 1534, when the clock was added; the nave was rebuilt in 1705. Keep an eye out for inexpensive or even free classical concerts.

Schauhäuser der Stadtgärtnerei

Sackzelg 25-27

01 492 14 23

Daily 9-11.30, 13.30-16.30

Free admission

Tropical and sub-tropical plants

Sukkulenten-Sammlung

Mythenquai 88

01 201 45 54

Daily 9-11.20,

13.30-16.30

Free admission

Cacti and other succulents from all over the world

Urania Observatory

Uraniastrasse 9

01/211-65-23

The observatory is halfway between Bahnhofstrasse and the Limmat River on Uraniastrasse. Call in advance for hours (based on weather). The observatory has been at this site since 1907. Because of its central location, it offers a panoramic view not only of Zurich but of the lake and the distant Alps. You can see the stars, planets, and galaxy through a 20 ton Zeiss telescope.

Winterthur

Haldenstr. 95, Winterthur

052/2692740

Admission charged.

Tues.-Sun. 10-5.

Winterthur is a half hour from Zürich by train, on the main rail route to St. Gallen; fast trains depart daily from the main train station, about every half hour. From the train station, take Bus 10 to Haldengut or Bus 3 to Spital and follow the Römerholz sign up the hill. By car, follow the autobahn signs for Winterthur-St. Gallen. Take the Winterthur-Ohringen exit onto Schaffhauserstrasse into town, then left on Rychenbergstrasse to Haldenstrasse.

A wealth of fine art was donated to the textile town Winterthur by prosperous local merchants. One of these was Oskar Reinhart, whose splendid home on the hill overlooking the town now contains the huge Am Römerholz collection of paintings from five centuries, including works by Rembrandt, Manet, Renoir, and Cézanne.

Zoologisches Museum

Karl Schmid-strasse 4

01 634 38 38

Tue-Fri 9-17 Sat and Sun 10-16

Free admission

Swiss fauna from the ice age to the present day

Zoologischer Garten (Zoological Garden)

Zurichbergstrasse 221

01/254-25-00

Mar-Oct daily 8am-6pm; Nov-Feb daily 8am-5pm

Tram 6 from the Hauptbahnhof;

Admission charged

One of the best-known zoos in Europe, Zurich’s Zoological Garden contains some 2,200 animals of about 260 species. It also has an aquarium and an open-air aviary. You can visit the Africa house, the ape house, and the terrariums, along with the elephant house and the giant tortoise house. There are special enclosures for red pandas, otters, and snow leopards, and a house for clouded leopards, tigers, Amur leopards, and Indian lions.

D- Family Fun Attractions:
There are 80 playgrounds in Zurich. For the nearest one, inquire at your hotel. Most boat trips leave from the end of Bahnhofstrasse on the right. You might also combine a train ride with a trip to an attraction outside Zurich.

Select theaters also offer changing programs for children. Check a copy of Zurich Weekly Official, available at most newsstands.

Zürcher Spielzeugmuseum (Zurich Toy Museum)

Fortunagasse 15

01/211-93-05

Mon-Fri 2-5pm, Sat 1-4pm

Tram 13

Free admission

This museum, in one of the oldest parts of the city, contains more than

1,200 antique toys from all over Europe. The collection is displayed on the fifth floor of a house.

Alpamare

It lies at Churstrasse 111, in the village of Pfdffikon on Lake Zurich,

daily 10am -10pm. Mon-Fri

Admission charged. Children under 6 enter free, but children 2 and under are not allowed in the water.

055/415-15-87

Europe’s largest water park as certified in the Guinness Book of World Records. offering year-round fun in and around the water on four body flumes and both indoor and outdoor tube slides. There’s also an indoor swimming pool with breakers, a bubbling hot spring, an open-air pool with underwater music and massage jets, as well as 300 feet of lazy river and an outdoor thermal pool.

Zoologischer Garten (Zoological Garden)

Zurichbergstrasse 221

01/254-25-00

Mar-Oct daily 8am-6pm; Nov-Feb daily 8am-5pm

Tram 6 from the Hauptbahnhof

The zoo is in the eastern sector of the city, called Zurichberg, on a wooded hill

Admission charged.

Botanischer Garten

Universität Zurich

Zollikerstrasse 107

01/634-84-61

Park: Mar-Sept Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Sat-Sun 8am-6pm; Oct-Feb, Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm.

Greenhouses: daily 9:30-11:30am and 1-4pm

Tram 11 to Hegibachplatz, or 2 or 4 to Höchsgasse. Bus: 33 to Botanishcer Garten

Free admission

The gardens contain 15,000 living species, including some rare specimens from New Caledonia and Southwest Africa. The herbarium contains three million plants. The gardens, owned by the University of Zurich, were laid out on the site of a former private villa. Adults and children enjoy the beauty of the lush and colorful gardens.

Swiss Technorama

Technoramastrasse 1. Winterthur

052/243-05-05.

Admission charged. free for children 5 and under.

Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Dec 25.

Take motorway N1, exit at Oberwinterthur, and drive a mile toward Winterthur. Or take a train to the Winterthur main station and switch to bus no. 5 marked technorama.

Technorama is the Swiss National Center for Science and Technology. Its permanent exhibition is divided into eight areas, with many interactive experiments:

Physics, Energy, Water/Nature/Chaos, Mechanical Music, Mathe-Magic, Materials,Textiles, and Automation. In the hands-on Youth Laboratory, children can learn from some 100 experiments about science, mathematics, and biology. A self-service restaurant is at the site, and a big park features a steam train and manually powered flying machines.

Franz Carl Weber

Bahnhofstrasse 62

01/211-29-61

The largest toy shop in Europe is named for the famous toy collector.

Pastorini

Weinplatz 3

01/228-70-70).

This is a specialist toy shop, Pastorini specializes in wooden toys and is one of the largest toy stores in Zurich. It is spread over five floors.

Kinderbuchladen Zurich

Oberdorfstrasse 32

01/261-53-50

The best-stocked children’s bookstore in Switzerland is, which carries many English-language books.

Family Sightseeing Near Zurich

Zurich is surrounded by some of the most interesting sightseeing areas in Switzerland.

The Dolderbahn

Take the Dolderbahn for a short aerial cable ride to the

Dolder Recreational Area, 1,988 feet above the city.

Trains leave every 10 minutes from Rvmerhofplatz, ( reached by tram no. 3, 8, or 15).

Admission charged.

The recreational area is open year-round and has restaurants, nature trails, rustic taverns, a path to the zoo, a miniature golf course, and from October to March, an ice-skating rink.

Dolder Schwimmbad

01/267-70-80

A swimming area carved into a hillside with a stunning view of Zurich. It is a 5-minute walk along a forest trail from the end of the cable-car line;

The Forchbahn

01/918-01-08

The Forchbahn is a short-haul railway line originating in downtown Zurich at the Stadelhofen Bahnhof, (at the junction of the Bellevueplatz and the Limmatquai)

Trains on the Forchenbahn run without conductors. Buy a ticket from a machine at whatever point you get on.

The area is noted for its sunlight and beautiful homes and gardens.

You can get off the train at the stops of your choice and walk any of the signposted trails to nearby points of scenic interest.

Felsenegg

Frequent (every 25 minutes) trains from Zurich’s Hauptbahnhof make the 14-minute run to the residential suburb of Adliswil, 6 miles south;

From Adiswil, ride for a 10 minute uphill climb to an aerial cable car,

the Luftseilbahn Adliswil-Felsenegg (LAF)

01/710-7330

Then enjoy a 6-minute uphill ride to the top of Felsenegg, at 2,650 feet above sea level.

From there, it is a 10 minute hike to an alpine restaurant with a spectacular view. Call for prices and schedules.

Kilchberg

4 miles from Zurich along the southwestern shore of the lake.

Train S8 departs from Zurich Hauptbahnhof station every half hour for an 11 minute ride to the village.

By car: proceed along the southwestern shore route of Lake Zurich following the signposts to Kilchberg.

Thomas Mann spent the last years of his life in this village and was buried on the south side of the small church in 1955. His wife died there in 1980. Locally, Kilchberg is associated with the 19th-century Swiss author Conrad Ferdinand Meyer.

Uetliberg

Southwest of Zurich, Uetliberg, the northernmost peak in the Albis ridge

01/206-45-11.

This popular excursion from the city takes only 15 minutes. Take the mountain railway, Uetlibergbahn, from the Selnau station in Zurich. The round-trip takes half an hour and arrives near the Sihl River, at an elevation of 2,800 feet .

From the station, hike 10 minutes to the summit, where there is a cafe and restaurant. The tower is a climb of about 170 steps. From the lookout, on a clear day, it is possible to see as far away as the Black Forest.

Rapperswil

Exploring Rapperswil

A lake steamer from Zurich travels to the “town of roses,” on the northern shore of Lake Zurich, 19 miles away, in about half an hour.

Another option is to travel to Rapperswil from Zurich, on the conventional train, S-5, from the Hauptbahnhof to Rapperswil. It is a 30 minute ride.

This is an unforgettable experience and many recommend it as “not to be missed” for short-term visitors to Zurich. Rapperswil is a charming, ancient Swiss town. It has kept its medieval appearance in its upper town, and is an ideal place for walks and drives around the north shore of Lake Zurich.

Rathaus (town hall)

in the main square, dates from 1471. It has a richly embellished Gothic portal. Many of the town’s streets date from the Middle Ages.

Heimatmuseum.

Herrenberg, 40.

055/210-71-64

Admission charged. free for children under 6.

Mid-March- Oct only. Sat 2-5pm, Sun 10am-noon and 2-5pm; July-Aug also Wed 2-5pm.

Located east of the parish church, this museum is devoted to local history. The museum reflects the history of Rapperswil from the time knights in armor passed through the town to the present. The museum is located in the former residence of a noble family. It contains Roman artifacts, a weapon collection, paintings, and antiques.

Knie’s Kinderzoo (Children’s Zoo)

Strandweg.

055/220-67-60.

Admission charged. Free for children under 4.

Daily 9am-6pm.

Closed Nov to mid-Mar.

On the north side of the castle hill is a children’s zoo, run by the Knie National Circus. Trained dolphins and other acts perform there. Children are offered pony rides and a ride on a miniature railway. Nearby is the Hirschgarten (or deer park).

Rapperswil Castle.

055/210-18-62.

Castle and museum

Admission charged.

Apr-Oct, daily 1-5pm. Closed Nov-Mar.

Built by the young Count of Rapperswil when he returned from the First Crusade in about 1200, Rapperswil Castle is an imposing medieval stronghold on a rocky hill above the town. In 1875, it became the home of Graf Plater, exiled leader of the resistance against the 19th-century occupation of Poland by the Russian tsars. From Rapperswil, Graf Plater continued to play an active role in Polish politics for another 40 years. Today, the castle contains a museum devoted to mementos of 19th and 20th century Polish political life, including portraits of Chopin and Kosciuszko. Occasionally, the castle shows art exhibits on temporary loan from museums in Warsaw or Crakow.

Winterthur

From Zurich’s Hauptbahnhof, trains depart about every 20 minutes throughout the day (trip time: 20 to 26 minutes).

This industrial town in the Toss Valley, 12 miles northeast of Zurich, is also a music and cultural center, with an outstanding art collection.

Winterthur was once a Roman settlement and became the seat of the counts of Kyburg. It later was a stronghold of the Hapsburgs, until it was sold to the city of Zurich.

Winterthur is best explored on foot.

The skyline of Winterthur is dominated by the twin towers of its parish church, the Stadkirche, built from 1264 to 1515 (the towers were added later).

Museum Oskar Reinhart am Stadtgarden

Stadthausstrasse 6.

052/267-51-72.

Admission charged.

Wed-Sun 10am-5pm, Tues 10am-8pm.

Bus: 1,3 or 6.

Oscar Reinhart, a famous art collector who died in 1965, willed many of his treasures to the city. Displayed in this gallery are works of Austrian, German, and Swiss artists, with a representation of the Romantic painters, including Blechen, Friedrich, Kersting, and Runge. There are some 600 works in all, from the 18th to the 20th century.

Kunstmuseum. Museumstrasse 52.

052/267-51-62.

Admission charged.

Tues 10am-8pm, Wed-Sun 10am-5pm.

Bus: 1, 3, or 6 to Stadthaus.

Located a 10-minute walk north of the Stadthaus on Stadthausstrasse and Lindstrasse, this fine-arts museum contains an impressive collection of European and American art and sculpture from the late 19th century to the present. Giacometti and such French artists as Bonnard and Vuillard are well represented. Highlights are works by van Gogh, Mirs, Magritte, Mondrian, Kokoschka, Calder, and Klee. There are sculptures by Rodin, as well as works by Medardo Rosso and Maillol. The permanent collection is on display from June to August; temporary exhibits are presented the rest of the year.

Schloss Kyburg

Kyburg 8314.

052/232-46-64

Admission charged. free for children 5 and under.

Feb-Nov, Tues-Sun 10:30-5:30. Closed Dec-Jan. From Zurich

take the Winterthur rail line, get off at the Fretekon stop, and transfer to a bus for the 10-min. ride to the castle; buses depart every hour throughout the day.

The castle is not on a street (or road) map.

Four miles from Winterthur, Schloss Kyburg is the largest castle in eastern Switzerland, dating from the Middle Ages. It was the ancestral home of the counts of Kyburg until 1264, when the Hapsburgs took over. It was ceded to Zurich in the 15th century and is now a museum of antiques and armor. There’s a good view from the keep. You may also visit the residence hall of the knights, parapet, and chapel.

Swiss Technorama

Technoramastrasse 1. Winterthur

052/243-05-05.

Admission charged. free for children 5 and under.

Tues-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed Dec 25.

Take motorway N1, exit at Oberwinterthur, and drive a mile toward Winterthur. Or take a train to the Winterthur main station and switch to bus no. 5 marked technorama.

Technorama is the Swiss National Center for Science and Technology. Its permanent exhibition is divided into eight areas, with many interactive experiments:

E- Events & Entertainment:
Events

February

The Zürich Carnival

Mid-April

Zürcher Sechseläuten (Spring Festival)

For information: 01 853 17 77

Zürich’s traditional spring festival – begins on a Sunday with a big parade featuring more than 2,000 children. The actual festival takes place on Monday. Guild members have an early start with a lunch at their own guildhall, and follow it with the big Parade of the Guilds. Thousands of spectators will line the streets along the parade route in the Old City. The highlight is Burning the Böögg, an effigy of winter, on the Sechseläuten field near the Zürich Opera. The Böögg woodpile is lit when the bells of St. Peter sound at 6 o’clock. The Böögg turning to ashes signals winter’s final departure.

Late June-Mid-July

The Zürich Festival hosts dance, opera, theater, and more in several venues throughout the city.

During the Züri Fäscht, held once every three years at the start of July, a huge fairground is set up in central Zürich. Festivities are topped off with a lavish fireworks display.

August 1

Swiss National Holiday celebrates the confederation’s birth in 1291 with fireworks and bonfires.

on August 1, the Swiss national holiday, while spectacular displays of fireworks explode in sizzling colors over the cities and towns, the mountain folk build the bonfires that glow quietly, splendidly, on every hillside of every Alp, uniting Swiss citizens as they celebrate their proud independence, their cultural wealth, and above all their diversity. It’s that diversity and those quirky contradictions that make Switzerland a tourist capital – the folksy, fiercely efficient innkeeper to the world.

Street Parade, a large-scale electronic music event with international DJs.

During late August and early September the Theaterspektakel takes place, with circus tents housing avant-garde theater and experimental performances as well as theater troupes from around the world on the lawns by the lake at Mythenquai.

September

Züri Jazz Woche (Jazz Festival) takes the stage in early September.

Knabenschiessen

For information: 01 462 99 55, Fax 01 462 99 65 or

One of Zürich’s oldest festivals is the prize-shooting on the Albisgütli for 12 to 17 year old boys and girls. A marksman king or queen is chosen every year. A colorful three day market accompanies the event; the largest of its kind in Switzerland.

November

Expovina, held on boats on the Bürkliplatz, offers samples of international wines, and food.

Fasnacht brings lively musicians and a large, costumed procession.

Late November/early December

Zürich Six Day Race

December

New Year’s Eve Race

Arts & Entertainment

Zürich supports a top-rank orchestra, opera company, and theater. Check Zürich News, published weekly in English and German, or “Züri-tipp,” a German-language supplement to the Friday edition of the daily newspaper Tages Anzeiger for weekly events throughout the year.

Zurich Opera House

Falkenstrasse 1

01/262-0909.

Opernhaus

Theaterpl.,

01/2686666

is widely recognized and booked well ahead, but single seats can often be had at the last minute. The season is from September through July.

Tonhalle

Claridenstrasse 7

01/2063434

The Zürich Tonhalle Orchestra, which was inaugurated by Brahms in 1895, enjoys international acclaim. There are also solo recitals and chamber programs here. The season runs from September through July; and tickets sell out quickly.

Theater

Schauspielhaus

Rämistr. 34, 01/2655858.

has a long history of cutting-edge performances. During World War II, this was the only German-language theater in Europe that remained independent. Today, its main stage presents German-language works in addition to experimental works produced in the Keller (cellar).

Year Round Organized Tours

Tram (Trolley) Tours

The quickest and most convenient way to get acquainted with Zurich is with a two hour trolley tour through neighborhoods of interest. Riders are given a headset, which provides commentary in seven languages. Between May and October, for a fee per person, there are tours daily at 10am and 2pm. The tour covers the commercial and shopping center and Old Town, and goes along the lakefront for a visit to Fraunmünster or one of the historic guildhalls beside the Limmatquai.

Boat Tours

Full tour and shorter versions are offered

For more information contact the Zürichsee Schiffahrtsgesellschaft by calling 01/487-1333.

To take a lake steamer for a tour around Lake Zurich.: Walk to Bahnhofstrasse’s lower end and buy a ticket at the pier anytime from late May to late September. Most of the steamers contain simple restaurant facilities, and all have two or three levels of decks and windows designed for wide-angle views of the Swiss mountains and shoreline.

During the summer, boats depart every thirty minutes.

A full-length, round-trip tour of the lake from Zurich to Rapperswil will require two hours travel each way. Travelers may leave the boat to explore towns en route. Shorter boat rides cover the northern third of the lake with the total trip taking about 90 minutes.

Walking Tours

Meet the tour in the main hall of Zurich’s railway station for a two hour guided walk through the Old Town. Telephone 01/215-4000 for prices and times. Tours are offered in English daily.

Barcelona, Spain

A- Overview:
Barcelona is the most cosmopolitan and economically active city in Spain, and has always managed to stay ahead or abreast of the latest international trends. This is evident in the architecture, which so accurately reflects the zest for life of this city of vivid colors and boundless energy.

Barcelona is stretched out on a plain next to the Mediterranean sea in the very north of the Spanish coast, bordering France, between the rivers Llobregat and Besos and between two mountains, Collserola and Montjuïc.The result is scenic beauty beyond measure.

Barcelona is steeped in history, as witnessed by the grandeur of its architectural treasures from the Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods. During the last century, Antoní Gaudí, led his contemporaries in adding new and exciting strokes to the pallatte as Modernist themes were blended with those of the past. Modernism is characterized by the predominance of curves over straight lines, the richness and detail of decoration, the frequent use of floral motifs, the taste for asymmetry, the use of a refined aestheticism and the dynamism of forms. Checking this list against any building designed or built by Gaudí will have the viewer nodding vigorously in agreement!

Barcelona is a progressive, commercially sophisticated, upper middle class European city, while at the same time being traditionalist and typically Mediterranean. This dichotomy between tradition and progress is a characteristic of the city and of its nearly two million inhabitants. In preparation for the 1992 Olympics 250 acres were cleared along the commercial waterfront, and a total transformation took place. The result was a spectacular five mile long beach and promenade that are now enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. As usual, this ultimate designer city, again reinvented itself.

Wherever you stay in Barcelona, the excellent public transportation system gives easy access to the entire city. A visitor might choose to stay in the old town near the bustling boulevard known as La Rambla within walking distance of centuries old, architecturally splendid buildings. Another choice would be the spacious Eixample district with its wealth of shopping opportunities and fine restaurants. Whatever the choice, Barcelonians will be delighted to have you sharing the beauty of their city.

English is not widely spoken and all signs are in Catalan and also in Spanish. However, there are many guided tours of the city and its sights that are available with English speaking guides. Barcelona has over 50 museums and galleries, many parks and a wide selection of waterfront noteworthy attractions. Modern art lovers shouldn’t miss the Contemporary Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum. Barcelona hosts some of the world’s greatest classical musicians including Montserrat Caballé and José Carreras. Many contemporary theater and dance companies perform year round. Modern music fans will enjoy the rock, jazz and salsa clubs. The tradition of dance halls also lives on in Barcelona.

Sports enthusiasts will find plenty of action in Barcelona. Sea fishing, hiking, water sports golf and cycling are some of the favorite forms of recreation. Soccer is the national sport and is almost elevated to a religion in Barcelona. Basketball, hockey and handball are also popular team sports that fill the local arenas.

Catalonia is a society, with deep-rooted relationships, in which great importance is given to the family. Children are loved and welcomed. When traveling with children, visitors may prefer a slower pace. One way to spend a relaxing and refreshing family day is to visit The Parc de la Ciutadella which is located near the Old Town and the waterfront. It has shade trees, acres of lawn, a boating lake and Spain’s best zoo with over 7,000 animals. Beautiful beaches are within easy reach, and Barcelona also has many fine swimming pools. The weather is mild and sunny most of the year. Gaudí’s fairy tale-like buildings, the 200 foot statue of Christopher Columbus pointing out to sea, much of what makes Barcelona so appealing to adults is also inherently appealing to children.

In the shopping districts, the windows display the latest fashions for the very slim, but extravagently delicious culinary delights are everywhere. Hundreds of restaurants and cafés in every price range are conveniently located in all parts of the city and surrounding area. Crafts, antiques, ceramics, art objects, fashions, books: there is no limit to the wide array of offerings at the shops, markets, and stalls throughout the city.

Festivals and carnivals brighten every season. There is always something to celebrate in Barcelona from the grape harvest in the Fall to the Feast of Santa Eulalia in the winter and the marvelous Terrassa Jazz Festival in the Spring, followed by the summer arts festival and many more.
There is no question that Barcelona seems to have discovered the secret to eternal youth!

B- City information:
Population:
1,505,581 in the city and a total of over 4,000,000 in city and suburbs.

Elevation:
On the plain the elevation is only about 12 feet, but the city’s highest point, in the Collserola Hills at Tibidabo Amusement Park, is 1,680 feet above sea level.

Time Zone:
Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour: Time in Lisbon is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York. (7 hours ahead of central time in Chicago, etc.) Barcelona uses the 24 hour clock, so the numeral 1 on a US watch would be read as 1in the early morning or 13 in the afternoon, etc. Transportation timetables and schedules will use this method of representation of time. (designations of am and pm are unnecessary)

International Dialing Code:
All numbers for Barcelona begin with 93 and have 7 additional digits. The country code is 34. (use the country code only when calling Barcelona from another country).
Phone booths take coins. Some take credit cards and phone cards.
To call the US from Barcelona using your telephone calling card, please check with your card issuer as each company has its own codes.

Emergency:
General: 112 police: 346 61 41;
fire: 080;
ambulance 061
Tourist Police 93 301 9060
Lost Property 93 402 3161
Directory Assistance/Operator: 1003

Accessing email and the internet:
El Cafe de Internet Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 656 Tel.(+343) 4121915 / or 93 302 1154

Currency:
Throughout Spain the medium of currency is the euro. The notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro. The denominations of coins are 2 euro, 1 euro, 50 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 10 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2 euro cent, and 1 euro cent. The easiest method of securing cash at the best exchange rate is to make withdrawals using a US credit card from the ATM machines found at the major banks and stores. As in the U.S., some banks charge a fee and a transaction tax, so check with the banks to find the best value.

Customs Regulations:
Telephone Tourist information in New York City (212) 265-8822 for information.

Average Temperatures (In Fahrenheit):
High Low
January – March 59 41
April – June 75 50
July – September 82 66
October – December 70 46

Winter evenings in Barcelona can be chilly. From mid April through mid June and from September through mid October, the weather is mild and pleasant. August often becomes so hot and humid that many businesses close for vacations. Rainfall is moderate throughout the year.
Useful Measurements:
Equivalent Weights and Measures
1 cm – 0.39 inches
1 meter – 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards
1 km – 0.62 miles
1 liter – 0.26 gallons
1 inch – 2.54 cm
1 foot – 0.39 meters
1 yard – 0.91 meters
1 mile – 1.60 km
1 gallon – 3.78 liters

National Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year’s Day
January 6 Feast of the Epiphany (Els Reis)
March 19 Feast of St. Joseph
Good Friday (date varies – March or April)
Easter Monday (date varies – March or April)
June 24 Feast of St. Joan
June Midsummer’s Eve
August 15 Feast of the Assumption
September 11 La Diada: Catalan National Day
September 24 La Mercé Festival
October 12 Hispanitat: Spanish National Day
November 1 All Saints’ Day
December 6 Constitution Day
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 St. Stephen’s Day

Religious Services:

Roman Catholic: tel. 93 204 4962 (at Paroisse Françoise (Mass in French and English)

Anglican:
tel. 93 417 8867 (St. George’s Church)

Jewish:
tel. 93 200 6148 (Sinogoga de la Communidad)

Public restrooms:
Public restrooms are difficult to find in most places. It is best to ask for els serveis (Catalan) or los aseos (Spanish) in a café, hotel or department store and be directed to the employee rest rooms. Always carry toilet tissue, as that is usually not provided.

Smoking:
Many people in Spain smoke and very few restaurants have no smoking areas or tables.

Electricity:
The electrical current in Spain is 220 volts, 50 cycle AC, and outlets have openings for two round pins. Some older buildings still have 125v systems, but plugs look the same for either system. The difference is that appliances such as heaters which require higher voltage should not be plugged into the 125v system. American appliances will need a plug adapter and will require a three tier standard travel converter if they do not have a dual voltage capability.

Visitors with disabilities:
Spain is attempting to accommodate the needs of travelers with disabilities, but so far progress has been slow. Telephone Federació at 93 451 5550 for additional information.

Post Office:
Spain’s postal service is called Correos. it is quite slow, but express (urgente) mail is available. Stamps can be purchased from tobacconists (estanc) Main Correos are open from 8-9 Mon.-Fri. and 9-7 on Saturday. In Catalan addresses, the street name is written first, followed by the number. Zip codes have 5 digits.

How to get around:
Barcelona has an excellent bus and Metro system. A map of the city and transportation systems is essential for ease of travel.

Metro:
There are 5 color coded metro lines which are also numbered 1-5. Tickets are inexpensive. The best value is a T-1 card which gives 10 rides for the price of 5 1/2 and can be used on all forms of public transport (bus, Metro, and FGC lines)

Bus :
Service is efficient and regular.

Trains:
Estacío de Sants is the city’s main train station, for national and some international arrivals. The Estació de França (or Estació Terminal), next to the Parc de la Ciutadella, is the terminal for long-distance Spanish and European express and inter-city trains.
FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Cataluña) travels into the hill country and around the city.

Ferries:
Ferries Tickets for Balearic ferries from Transmediterránea, at the Estacío Maritima tel. 93 443 2532. Book in advance in July and August.

Taxis:
Black and yellow Barcelona taxis are metered and fares are reasonably priced. Luggage is extra. A small tip is appreciated.

Air Travel:
The airport, 12km southwest of the city, is linked by a half-hourly train service. Many trains from the airport also run on to Plaça de Catalunya, a more direct way of reaching the Barri Gòtic. Alternatively, there’s the efficient Airbus (Aerobus; Mon-Fri every 15min, Sat-Sun every half-hour; 6/6.30-11; 450ptas), which departs from outside the terminals on a circular route and runs into the centre via Plaça España, Gran Vía, Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Grácia.

Note:
Traffic drives on the right side of the road in Spain. Driving in the city center is not advised. There are approximately 400,000 parking spaces for the daily infusion of 600,000 cars. The public transportation system is excellent and a car is not necessary.

C- Attractions / Things To Do:
Barrio Gótico (Old Town)
Metro lines 1,3 and 4 Jaume I Station is in the heart of the district The Gothic Quarter is one of the oldest and most interesting parts of Barcelona. The square of Sant Jaume was the site of the Forum in the days of the Roman Empire, and there are many remnants of old fortification walls still standing. Also.located in the square are the Palacio de la Generalitat and Palacio del Ayuntiento (Townhall).
In Calle Paradis, on top of the mountain Táber, there is old millstone. Iberian tribes lived here long before the time of the Roman empire. At Plaza del Rei can be found the Palacio Real Mayor, Iglesia de Santa Agata and Palacio del Archivo de la Corona de Aragón. The Gothic cathedral and the medieval palaces of Casa dels Canonges, Pia Almoina and Ardiaca are close by.

Casa de l’ Ardiaca
Carrer de Santa Llúcia 1
93 318 1195
Metro Jaume 1
Mon-Fri 9-8:45
Standing beside what was the Bishop’s gate in the Roman wall is the Archdeacon’s house. It was built in the 12th century, but its present form dates from around 1500 when it was remodeled and a colonnade added. In 1870 this was extended by the addition of a Gothic patio around the fountain. A Modernista architect, Domenech I Monrtaner added a fanciful marble mailbox, carved with three swallows and a tortoise which stands beside the Renaissance portal. The city archives are housed upstairs.

Cathedral de Barcelona
Plaça de la Seu
93 315 1554
Built between 1298 and 1450, the cathedral is an excellent example of Catalonian Gothic architecture. It was begun in 1298 under Jaume II on the foundations of a Roman temple and a Moorish mosque.Its large bell towers blend medieval and Renaissance styles. Beautiful cloisters, the high altar, the side chapels, the sculptured choir and Gothic arches are among the features that make this one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe. A garden of magnolias is surrounded by vaulted galleries in the cloisters. The cloister is illuminated on Sundays and feast days and contains a museum displaying medieval art. Among the works displayed is Bartolomé Bermejo’s La Pietat. A plaque near the baptismal font records the baptism of six native Americans of the Carribean brought to Spain by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Every Sunday noon passersby join in dancing the sardana, a Catalonian folk dance, in front of the cathedral.

Frederic Mares Museum
Plaça Sant Iu 5
93 310 5800
Daily except Mondays from 10 – 5
Sundays and Public Holidays from 9 – 2
The sculptor Frederic Mares I Deulovol (1893-1991) was a traveler and collector. This building is part of the Royal Palace complex and was occupied by 13th century bishops, 14th century counts, 15th century judges and 16th century nuns. Mares had a small apartment in the building and opened the museum in 1948. It is a fasscinating place and boasts a fine collection of Romanesque and Gothic religious art. Exhibits range from clocks, crucifixes and costumes to antique cameras, pipes, tobacco jars and postcards. There is also a room full of antique children’s toys.

Museum of the History of the City of Barcelona
Casa Calriana Padellas. Plaça del Rei.
93 315 11 11
July, August and September 10 – 8 Sun 10 – 2 p.m. Rest of the year 10 – 2 and 4 – 8 Sundays and Holidays 10 – 2 . Closed on Mondays all year.
The museum occupies a Gothic building that in 1931 was brought stone by stone from its original location in Carrer dels Mercaders. During the excavation at this site, the remains of Roman water and drainage systems, baths, mosaic floors, and a road were found. The basement now contains these treasures of some of the ancient construction of Roman Barcelona. The three other floors have exhibits relating to local history and post Roman development..). There are many documents, prints, paintings, sculptures and ceramics.

Palau Reial Major (Royal Palace)
Plaça del Rei
93 315 1111
Originally the palace of the counts of Barcelona, this later became the residence of the kings of Aragón. During the Inquisition, the accused were tried in this square.
Of particular interest are the Salon de Tinell, a 14th century banquet hall with a wood paneled ceiling, the Mirador del Rei Martí containing a gothic chapel of 14th century design and the ceremonial hall of the counts of Barcelona, where Christopher Columbus is said to have been received by the king and queen after returning from America.

Palau de la Generalitat (Parliament Building)
Plaçe de Sant Jaume
93 402 4600
Catalonia’s parliament building constructed in gothic and renaissance styles, has a superbly designed chapel and stone staircase that rises to an open air, arcaded gallery.

Palau del Ayuntiento (Townhall)
The facade is of neoclassic, the inner court of gothic style.

The Palau de la Música Catalana
At the corner of Carrer adeu Vives stands this fascinating building: the work of the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a follower of Gaudí. The Palau de la Música dates from 1908, and its interior is the most typical of the modernist style. Polychrome materials (tiled mosaics, stained glass); floral themes and the figures with the body in mosaic and the bust in relief were created by Eusebi Arnau. To the left of the stage there is a willow tree in stone, sculpted by Pau Gargallo, evoking Catalan folk song in the person of Anselm Clavé and the girls of the song Les Flors de Maig. The right-hand side depicts international music, with the bust of Beethoven and the ride of Wagner’s Valkyries. The Palau de la Música was created as the home and the concert hall of the Orfeó Català, a great choral society founded a few years earlier by the composer Lluís Millet. It should be noted here that the Orfeó Català has had great importance in the development of Catalan popular music.

La Rambla
This boulevard is about 1 1/2 miles in length and is situated between Plaza de Catalunya and the port in the Barrio Gótico section of Barcelona. It is the main artery of Barcelona’s street system. People of every age and social class can be found here. Shoe shine boys, small stands selling flowers and vegetables, street theater, commercial galleries, cafeterias, terraces as well as some of the great theaters of the city.

Postal Museum
Palace of La Virreina La Rambla, 99.
93 301 7775.
Monday to Friday from 9:30- 2 by prior arrangement.

Wax Museum
Pasaje de la Banca, 7 (at the end of La Rambla)
93 317 2649
Contains a collection of wax figures representing famous people from the world of the arts, science, history, etc.

The Mercado de La Boquería
This is the most important and most visited market of Barcelona, while Pla de la Boqueriawas the old center of town. In Palacio de la Virreina, today seat of the culture department of the regional government, frequently you can see expositions of art. Impressive is Casa Bruno Cuadros with its dragon at the front. You arrive to Plaça Reial, a beautiful square with arcades, palms, fountains and luxurious shops. Here lived in former times the bourgeoisie, but today it is the heart of an artists district and offers charming ambience with its pubs and cafés. Sundays are a popular market day for coin and stamp collectors.

Museum of Geology
La Ciutadella Park. Passeig Tillers.
93 319 6895.
daily except Mondays from 10-2.
This is Barcelona’s oldest museum. It was opened in 1882. It has a large collection of fossils and minerals, including specimens from Catalonia and around the country.

Museum of Modern Art
La Ciutadella Park. Plaça de Armas.
93 319 5023
Metro: Arc de Triomf
daily except Mondays 10 -7
Has paintings and sculptures from the end of the 18th century up to the present day. There are paintings by Fortuny, Rusiñol, Casas, Nonell, Regoyos, Zuloaga, Sunyer, Sotomayor and Solana as well as sculptures by Llimona, Gargallo, Hugue, Clara and Rebull. there are also some bold pieces of Modernista furniture acquired from the houses in the Eixample.

Palau Güell
(1886-1889)
Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5
Gaudi’s first major building in the center of the city was commissioned by his life long patron, Eusebi Güell in 1889. The mansion stands on a small plot of land in a narrow street. Inside Gaudí created a sense of space by using carved screens, recesses and galleries. Furniture designed by him is also on display. With its cupola, stairways and impressive windows the house seems to be of giant dimensions, but its base is only 40×60 feet.

La Llotja (Commodity Exchange)
Carrer del Consolat de Mar 2
Metro: Jaume I
Built in the 1380’s as the headquarters of a guild of Catalan sea traders, it was remodeled in neo classical style in 1771 and housed the city’s stock exchange until 1994. The upper floor housed the Barcelona School of Fine Arts where the young Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró both studied. The building is now being used as a public library and as local government offices.

Picasso Museum
Montcada, 15 – 19
Metro: Jaume I
Tuesday – Saturday and Holidays 10 – 8 , Sunday 10 – 3 , Monday closed. The collections are housed in three adjoining medieval palaces on Carrer Montcada.
The works are divided into three sections: paintings and drawings; engravings and ceramics. The most valuable exhibit is the 3,000 piece collection of Picasso’s early drawings and paintings. These show that even at the age of 15 and 16 he was painting major works. Picasso arrived in Barcelona when he was 13. He was admitted to the upper school where all the other pupils were at least 20 years of age.

Zoological Museum
La Ciutadella Park.
93 319 6912
daily except Mondays from 9 – 2
Built as a restaurant for the 1888 Universal Exhibition and inspired by the Gothic style Llotja (commodities exchange), it has housed the museum since 1937. Exhibition of stuffed animals and interesting zoological study collections.

Thyssen Bornemisza Collection Foundation
Baixda Monestir, 9
93 280 1434
Daily: 10 – 2 . Saturday 10 – 5 . Closed Mondays 71 paintings and 8 sculptures from the most representative areas of the whole collection: Italian and German painting. It takes you on a journey through the history of art from the 13th century to the 18th, with examples of Italian Renaissance, European Baroque, northern European painting and late Venetian Baroque.

Barcelona and the Sea
La Barceloneta
Located just below the City center on a triangle of land jutting into the sea. Originally this was a district of fishermen, but during the last years this has changed dramatically. The ambience of a maritime village is still present, but young business people have discovered the excellence of the seafood and restaurants have renovated to accommodate the crowd The offerings range from a fashionable harbor-tavern to moderately priced and more expensive restaurants and cafés.

Maritime Museum
Located in the medieval Reales Atarazanas (Royal Arsenals). Av. Drassanes. 93 318 3245.
Open daily except Mondays from 10-7.
Contains objects and documents relating to the history of navigation, as well as the Llibre del Consolat de Mar (the oldest legislative book on maritime law in existence). The Cartography and Scale Model sections are of particular interest.

Nao de Santa Maria del Mar
An accurate replica of Columbus’ ship Santa Maria, on which he was sailed to the Americas.

Montjuic
The mountain of Montjuic, rising to 699 feet above the port on the south side of the city is Barcelona’s largest recreation area. The Romans called it Mons Jovis and built a temple to Jupiter there. A Jewish cemetery on the hill probably inspired its name (Mount of the Jews). Until 1640 when the castle was built, there were few buildings due to the lack of water. This trend was reversed in preparation for the World’s Fair of 1929 when a building boom occurred. Huge exhibition halls lined the avenue and the Font Mágica (Magic Fountain) sprang up in the center. The fountain is now illuminated in color. Another building surge took place prior to the 1992 Olympic Games. This has left Barcelona with world class sports facilities. On top of the mountain, surrounded by beautiful parks, there is a 17th century fortress. As in other districts of Barcelona, the old and the new reside together.

Archeological Museum
Montjuic Park. Paseo de Sta. Madrona.
93 423 2149
9:30 – 1:30 and 3:30 – 7 (except Mondays). Sundays and Public Holidays from 10 -2.
Exhibits from Prehistoric times to the 7th century, with some rooms reserved for interesting artifacts from Balearic cultures. Magnificent collection of Roman mosaics.

Bullfighting Museum
Located in the Monumental Bullring
245 5803.
Open during the bullfighting season from 10:30 – 2 and 4 to 7.
On bullfighting days the museum is open in the morning from 10 – 1 only. It consists of two large rooms and exhibits the branding-irons and emblems of famous stock farms, the heads of famous bulls, a collection of posters from the past, old tickets, the suits of famous bullfighters and rejoneadores (mounted bullfighters), photographs, documents, documents, a library and other objects relating to bullfighting in general.

Calrá Museum
Calatrava, 27.
93 203 4058.
Open daily except Mondays from 9:30-1:30.
Contains a collection of sculptures by Calrá.

Ethnological Museum
Avinguda Santa Madrona Montjuic Park
93 424 6807
Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (24 September to 24 June) Wednesday, Friday Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Contains objects from the American Civilization before Columbus; also artifacts from the Philippines, Asia and Africa.

Footwear Museum
Plaça de Sant Felip Neri.
93 301 4533.
Open daily except Mondays from 11-2.

Gallery of Famous Catalans
Calle Bisbe Caçador, 3. Requesens Palace
93 315 0010.
Visits by prior arrangement Monday to Friday from 9 – 2
(Telephone for reservation: Museum of the City of Barcelona 315 1111). Contains a collection of portraits of the great figures of Catalan history.

Gaudí House and Museum
Next to the Carretera del Carmel.
93 284 6446.
Open daily except Saturdays.
Located in the house where Gaudi lived. Guëll Park.

Holographical Museum
Jaume I, 1 (next to the Plaça de Sant Jaume)
93 310 2172.
Monday to Saturday from 10:30-1:30 and 5:30-8:30. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Contains holograms and demonstrates holographic techniques.

Miró Foundation
Centre of Studies of Contemporary Art.
Located on the hill of Montjuic. Montjuic Park.
93 329 1908.
Open daily except Mondays from 11- 7. Sundays and Public Holidays from 10:30 – 2:30.
This private, cultural foundation was set up by the painter Joan Miró and has exhibition rooms, an auditorium, a library, a prints archive and areas set aside for artistic and other exhibits. There are three courtyards, gardens and upper terraces for outdoor exhibitions, as well as a permanent exhibition of the works of Joan Miró. The white, luminous building was the work of the architect J.L. Sert.

Montjuic Castle Military Museum
Montjuic Castle.
329 8613
Open daily except Mondays from 9:30 – 1:30 and 3:30 – 7:30.
Has a valuable collection of weapons and historical documents.

Museum of Catalan Art
Montjuic Palace
93 423 7199
daily except Mondays 10 – to 7 Thursday 10-9 Sun. 10-2:30
Contains collections of Romanesque and Catalan-Gothic art:; 11th and 12th century murals (perhaps the best collection in the world), altar pieces and carvings. Spanish and European Baroque art are also well represented.

Museum of Funeral Carriages
Sancho de Avila, 2
93 484 1720.
Monday to Friday from 9 – 2. Saturdays and Sundays: Visits by arrangement.

Museum of the History of Medicine
Pasaje Mercader, 11
93 216 0500
Open Monday to Friday from 10-1.
Contains a collection of some 2,500 exhibits showing the evolution of medicine, as well as the personal effects of the great masters of Catalan medicine.

Textile and Costume Museum
Montcada, 12.
93 310 4516
Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 5 Sundays and Holidays 10 – 2 Closed on Mondays. Palace of the Marquis of Llio. Rocora collection. Embroidery section.

Vedraguer Museum
Vila Joana.
93 204 7805.
Open daily except Mondays from 10 -2.
The home of the Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer.

Buildings designed or enhanced by Gaudí

Bellesguard
(1900-1909), C. Bellesguard
Landmark of Catalonia. This gothic building, formerly summer-residence of King Martí I., was modified by Gaudí in genial harmony with the original.

Casa Batllo
(1904-1906) , Passeig de Gracia 43
Another futurist work, with no single straight line at its front. Even the walls are curved and seem to be covered by leather.

Casa Calvet
(1898-1900) , Carrer de Casp
Perhaps the most traditional work of this master of extravagance. That might be the reason why Gaudí received for this building his one and only honorable mention by the city of Barcelona.

Casa Mila
(1906-1910) , Passeig de Gràcia 92
The irregularly curved walls of this building remind of dunes in the desert. When it was made, this building was too futurist for most people, and gained the nickname La Pedrera, the quarry. Today it is considered a landmark work of modern architecture.

Casa Vincens
(1883-1888)
Carrer de les Carolines 18-24
Gaudí’s first architectural work, and a milestone in his career. The building resembles the palace of an Arabian prince, but was made for the owner of a tile factory – material of which Gaudí made ample use.

Colegio Teresiano
(1888-1889)
Ganduxer, 87
When he built this school, Gaudí evidently was inspired by gothic style and created a masterpiece of simple and clear lines.

Finca Güell
(1884-1887), Av. de Pedralbes 77
Through a narrow portal the visitor enters a fantastic world of forms and colors, which the genial architect created for his friend and sponsor, industrialist Eusebi Güell.

The portal of Finca Miralles
Passeig Manuel Girona
Only a small work for another friend of his, in an interesting contrast to Casa Calvet, which was made during the se period of time.

El Ensanche (Eixample) The Expansion
The modern center of Barcelona, built between 1870 and 1936, was planned by civil engineer Ildefons Cerdá I Sunyer (1815-1876), who wanted to create an luxurious district for the bourgeoisie and to enlarge the city to five times its original size. His goal was achieved. All the streets in the area cross rectangularly, an unusual thing in European town planning. The best known monuments in El Ensanche are the works of Antoní Gaudí, e.g. the great cathedral Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and Palacio Güell, together with Casa de los Punxes and Casa atler de Puig i Cadalfach, all of them masterworks of modernistic style. The central square is Plaza de Catalunya, whose dimensions are comparable to those of the Vatican in Rome. Regularly this square is modified, most recently in 1986.

Passeig de Gràcia
Along this boulevard, between the streets Consell de Cent and Aragó on the southwestern side, stands the famous city block popularly known as l’illa de la discòrdia , due to the contrast in the architecture of its buildings, all from the first decade of the 20th century. The building at the seaward end of the block is the Lleó Morera mansion, by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, built in modernist floral style. This is followed by two buildings of a modernized Louis XV type, by Enric Sagnier, and a neo-Gothic mansion decorated with polychrome tiles, designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Next door is the Batlló house , with a mosaic façade and a tiled roof, by Antoni Gaudí. A little farther up the street, on the right-hand side on the corner of Carrer Provença, is the Milà mansion ‘La Pedrera’, designed by Gaudí shortly after the completion of the Batlló house . The uniqueness of La Pedrera is not limited to the sculptural forms of its façade, but also extends to the interior of the building.

The one hundred city blocks centering on the Paseig de Gràcia,are known as the Quadrat d’Or (Golden Square) as they contain so many of the buildings constructed in the best Modernista style. Stained glass, ceramics and ornamental ironwork abound. The area is a showcase of highly original buildings and smart shops.

Sagrada Familia (The Temple of the Holy Family)
(1883-1926)
Plaça de la Sagrada Filia
Situated to one side of the Plaça de la Sagrada Fília, between the streets Marina, Provença, Sardenya and Mallorca, stands the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, which was initially a neo-Gothic project designed by the architect Francesc de Paula del Villar. Gaudí was commissioned to continue the work in 1891, and replaced the existing project with a much more ambitious one which resulted in the enormous present-day structure.
Sagrada Familia was designed to convey religious symbolism. It has three monumental facades: the east front, dedicated to the Birth of Christ; the west front, dedicated to the Passion and Death; and the south front, the facade of the Glorification, which is the largest of all. The four towers of each of the three facades jointly symbolize the twelve apostles. The dome shaped tower which crowns the apse is the symbol of the Mother of God, and the four large towers dedicated to the evangelists encircle the central spire, which symbolizes the Savior.
This great cathedral, inspired by the Gothic style, yet a landmark of modern architecture, is in reality not much more than a facade. Gaudí died unexpectedly before he could finish his grandest and most beloved project. Gaudi had sold everything he owned to contribute to the cathedral’s construction and lived as a pauper in a shack on the site while he oversaw the building process. The plans for its completion were locked in his head when he was run over by a tram in 1926. There should be galleries with space for 1500 singers, 700 children and 5 organs and the magnificent structure should be filled with hymns of praise. Instead, the project lies dormant. The question is whether it will ever be finished.

Hospital de la Santa Creu I de Sant Pau
Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167
93 291 9000
Grounds open daily. Call to see interior.
Hospital of 15th and 16th century, together with a church of 15th century and an archive building. Luis Domenech Montaner believed that patients would recover more rapidly in a beautiful setting. Thus, he envisioned a hospital with 26 attractive pavilions set in large gardens. He hoped to get patients out of wards and into the out of doors where there were fresh air and trees. The pavilions were decorated lavishly in bright colors to cheer those who were ill. The turreted roofs were tiled with ceramics and the reception pavilion embellished with mosaic murals and sculptures. After his death, the project was completed by his son, Pere.

Perfume Museum
Passeig de Gracia, 39
93 216 0146.
Open Monday to Friday from 10:30 -1:30 and 4:30 to 8. Closed on Saturdays afternoon, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Contains a valuable collection of scent bottles and cosmetics jars dating from antiquity to the present day.

Museum of Music
Avinguda Diagonal 373
93 416 1157.
daily except Mondays from 9-2. Wednesday 5 – 8
Contains string and wind instruments, manuscripts and personal effects of the great musicians.

Attractions in the Area Just Outside the City Center

Note: Much of this area was developed in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. Sants, the city’s main station was rebuilt and the neighboring Parc de l”Espanya Industrial and Parc Joan Miró were created containing futuristic sculpture and architecture. Close to the Poblenou the city has a national theter and concert hall. In the west the streets climb steeply toward the Royal Palace and Monastery of Pedralbes and Parc Güell. Tibidabo, the highest point in Barcelona has an amusement park and is reached by funicular.

Museum of Barcelona Football (Soccer) Club
Avinguda Aristides Maillol. (Stadium).
93 330 9411
Open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10-1 and 3-6. Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from 10-2 (closed on match days).
April to October: Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Holy days from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
Explains the club’s history and displays its trophies. Special video shown on five screens. Includes visit to the presidential box.

Museum of the Monastery of Pedralbes
At the end of the Paseo de Reina Elisenda
Baixda Monestir 9
93 203 9282
Open Tuesday – Friday and Sunday 10 – 2 Saturday 10 – 5 Closed on Mondays. This building, which is of great architectural value, contains personal property which shows the history of the monastery.

Museum of the Arts, Industry and Popular Traditions
Poble Espanyol
93 423 6954. Call for times.
The streets and roads built for the 1929 World Exhibition give a glimpse of the country’s many architectural styles. Reproductions range from the gleaming white houses of Andalucia to the flat granite facades of Galicia, all blended to form one “village.” The buildings house restaurants, cafés, and workshops where crafts and artifacts from all over Spain are displayed. In the evenings dinner is served accompanied by live music and flamenco dancing.

The Palau de la Música Catalana
At the corner of Carrer adeu Vives stands this building, the work of the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a follower of Gaudí. The Palau de la Música dates from 1908, and its interior is the most important testimony of the modernist style. Here we find polychrome materials (tiled mosaics, stained glass); the floral themes and the figures with the body in mosaic and the bust in relief are by Eusebi Arnau. To the left of the stage there is a willow tree in stone, sculpted by Pau Gargallo, evoking Catalan folk song in the person of Anselm Clavé and the girls of the song Les Flors de Maig. The right-hand side evokes international music, with the bust of Beethoven and the ride of Wagner’s Valkyries. The Palau de la Música was created as the home and the concert hall of the Orfeó Català, a great choral society founded a few years earlier by the composer Lluís Millet. It should be noted here that the Orfeó Català has had great importance in the revaluation of Catalan popular music.

Parc Güell
(1900-1914)
Carrer d’Olot
A fascinating scenario of gardens and overdimensional architectonic forms which seem to be born by the ground. Gaudí created an equilibry that usually only exists in nature, but never in architecture. The Parc Güell.
The Parc Güell is situated on the Carmel hill, which, along with that of La Creueta and the Muntanya Pelada, separates the district of Gràcia from that of Horta. The financier Eusebi Güell decided to construct a garden city on the old estate of Can Montaner, and commissioned the project to Gaudí. Only two houses came to be built within the enclosure of the Park, which was conserved as such and which is now a municipal garden. The whole of the urban development part was realized between the years 1900 and 1914.

Science Museum
Teodor Roviralta, 55
Tibidabo Station.
93 212 6050.
10 – 8 (except Mondays).
Planetarium shows. Weekdays at 1 and 6. Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays every 30 minutes (Children under 4 not admitted to planetarium shows)). Scientific film shows. Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays in the morning and the afternoon.

Ceramica Museum
Palace of Pedralbes.
93 280 1621
daily except Mondays from 10 – 5
Fine collection of Spanish and Foreign ceramics

Museum of Ceric
Palacio de Pedralbes
Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 2 , Monday closed.

Museum of Decorative Arts
Av. Diagonal, 686
Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 2 , Monday closed.
Outrageous collection of tapestry and other objects of art.

Tibidabo
Visitors arrive at the top of this mountain by the only tramway that still exists in Barc

D- Family Fun Attractions:
Children’s attractions are concentrated around Montjuïc, Tibidabo and the Port Vell, and reaching them is part of the fun! Among the transportation choices are: funiculars, trams, cable cars and golondrines (swallow boats), as well as the open-top Bus Turístic.

The Poble Espanyol
The Poble Espanyol is popular with children, with a resident glass-blower, arts and crafts demonstrations and magic and circus shows most summer weekends. On a rainy day a good, though expensive, standby can be the IMAX giant-format cinema on premises.

L’Aquàrium de Barcelona
Open Sept-August. Admission charged. One of the most attractive of its kind, the aquarium reproduces Mediterranean habitats in 21 tanks. The highlight is the 80 meter glass tunnel through a shark tank, allowing the visitor to walk through with scary sharks’ teeth inches from the face. Little ones may prefer the upstairs area which features a touching pool.

New Park
This is on the order of a video arcade similar to those found in shopping Malls in the US. Floors of video games and high-tech simulation games all wait to receive the visitor’s coins!

Nits hípiques a Barcelona (Horse shows)
Performances late June-Sept. Tickets tourist offices & Tel-entrada Admission charged.
Every Friday during summer the city police’s ornately-uniformed display team presents an exhibition of dressage on their Andalusian horses, which strut their fancy footwork to music.

Tibidabo Funfair
Admission charged.
Make a day of it by catching the Trvia Blau up the hill to the Funicular, which takes you through the woods to the top of the mountain and the funfair. Few amusement parks can compete with this spectacular mountaintop view. The park has bumper cars, Ferris wheel, as well as the infamous house of horrors, Hotel Krueger.
Museu d’Automates, a collection of old fairground machines. If you still have some energy at the end of the afternoon, consider a walk through the beautiful woods to the tram stop on the well marked path.

Catalunya en Miniatura
Apparently the largest model village in Europe, with over 170 miniatures of Catalonian monuments and buildings, and a mini train to take you around.

Zoo de Barcelona
Parc de la Ciutadella
93 225 67 80
Admission charged. Children enjoy the green, shady picnic areas, meeting the animals, watching the regular shows at the Dolphinarium, petting the animals in the farm area, and the chance to meet Copito de Nieve (Snowflake), the only albino gorilla in captivity.

Aqualeón Safari
An all-in-one water and safari park between Barcelona and Tarragona, with tigers, birds of prey and parrots as well as giant water slides, fun pools and wave machines. Captive dolphins too.

Parc de Cervantes
On the very edge of the city, this is one of Barcelona’s most beautiful parks. The grass is always green, and it has a children’s play area, a picnic site and lovely shaded lawns for relief from the heat of the afternoon.

E- Events & Entertainment:
January:
In January the main celebration is the arrival of the Three Kings from the Orient on the 5th accompanied by a parade, and on the 6th when both children and adults receive toys and gifts.

Santa Eulalia January 12. the feast of the patron saint of Barcelona is celebrated in the old town. There is dancing and many people dress up as giants.

February:
The Carnivals, held in February, are becoming more and more popular ( after having been forbidden during the years of the Franco dictatorship), and St. Valentines Day (February 14th) is also increasing in its popularity.

1st Sunday in Lent is the date of the Internacional de Cotxes d’ Epocha, a veteran car rally that runs from Barcelona to Sitges.

March:
On March 3rd the popular festival of Sant Medir is held in Grácia. There is a parade and singing by choirs. Holy Week begins with the palm fair which is held on Palm Sunday. It continues with the accompanying religious festivities and ends on Easter Monday ( the celebration of which is pagan in origin).

Throughout March there is the Terrassa Jazz Festival when musicians gather in Barcelona from all over the world. Free outdoor concerts are given on weekends.

April:
The most spectacular festival is held on April 23rd. This is the celebration in honor of Sant Jordi (St. George), the patron saint of Catalonia. It coincides with the rose and book festivals.

May:
In May a flower show is held, and on the 11th there is the festival of Sant Ponç held in El Hospital street by the city’s herbalists.

June:
A book Fair is held in the Passeig de Gracia in June and during the same month there is a Trade Exhibition in Montjuic. The Corpus Christi celebrations with processions of giants and cabezudos, and the l´Ou com Balla (the dancing egg) take place in the fountain at the Cathedral cloister.

The most popular celebration during the month of June is the Eve of Sant Joan (St. John). This is celebrated both in private homes and in public places, and there is dancing bonfires in some streets and squares and fireworks.

The Eve of Sant Pere (St. Peter), on June 28th, brings with it festivities associated with the arrival of the summer solstice.

From the end of June onwards, the Festival of el Grec begins. This consists of a series of theatrical performances as well as dancing, concerts, and other cultural events. These take place either at the Greek Theatre in Montjuic, in the open air, as well as in other locations in the city. There are also many sports tournaments and competitions and several trade fairs at the Exhibition Center.

July:
July 24th marks the Feast of Sant Jaume (St. James) and is celebrated in much the same way as the Eves of St. Joan and Sant Pere.

August:
The Feast of the Assumption (August 15th), is another popular festival which is held in the district of Gracia.

September:
The last great summer celebration is that of the Onze de Setembre (September 11th). This is a national holiday in Catalonia when various official and political ceremonies are held.
However, there are many more celebrations throughout the year in the city and in its different districts. Every district has a Saint’s Day which it celebrates with a festival.

The popular festival of La Mercé, the patron saint of Barcelona, take place around September 24th when there are folk dances such as the sardanas, parades through the streets, important sporting events (e.g. sailing, regattas, judo, swimming, walking races), religious celebrations, etc. Other events held in conjunction with the festival are fashion shows, food tasting and wine sampling.

October:
In October a Second-Hand Book Fair is held in the Passeig de Gracia and there is also a Music Festival, the Autumn Fair in El Tinell and several other fairs at the Trade Exhibition Center.

November:
In November All Hallows Day is celebrated on the 1st and All Souls Day on the 2nd. This is the time when special cakes, known locally as panellets are baked and eaten.

December:
At the time of Santa Llucias Days (December 13th) the crib fair begins in the vicinity of the Cathedral, and continues until Christmas. The opera season opens at El Liceu and the the concert season at the Palace of Music (Palau de la Musica).

Christmas is traditionally celebrated at home with the family and with the newly revived custom of fer cagar el tio (this consists of putting an object similar to a tree trunk into the fire from which presents then burst out). Christmas dinner includes escudella turkey, and torrons (a kind of nougat dessert).

The start of the New Year is celebrated in bars, restaurants, and in the street where people wear the fancy dress usually seen at street carnivals. As the clock strikes twelve they eat twelve grapes in time with each chime, a custom which is said to bring good luck if done properly!