Neumarkt is a street and a historical area in the Rathaus quarter (Altstadt) of

Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

, Switzerland.

Geography

Neumarkt is bounded by ''Spiegelgasse'', ''Rindermarkt'', ''Froschauergasse'' and ''Seilergraben'' streets in the Rathaus quarter (Altstadt) on the right bank of the river

Limmat The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. The river commences at the outfall of Lake Zurich, in the southern part of the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, continuing a further 35 km until it reaches the river A ...

, and

Grimmenturm Grimmenturm (, referring to Johann Bilgeri the younger, nicknamed 'the grim') is a medieval tower and restaurant situated at Neumarkt in Zurich's District 1, Switzerland. Location The ''Grimmenturm'' building is situated at Neumarkt (Spiegelg ...

is a landmark seen from all location around the inner city of Zürich.

History

In the 12th century AD, the as of today ''Neumarkt'' street was built as a new suburb of the medieval city of Zürich, centered around the new city market (in German: ''Neuer Markt''). The previous ''Alte Markt'' (literally: old market) was established so far at the ''Marktgasse'' street and perhaps also towards ''Stüssihofstatt'' square. Some buildings, among them ''Grimmenturm'' and ''Bilgeriturm'', may allow the conclusion that the new district also completed the so-called first city fortifications to the west. In 1249, a

pogrom A pogrom is a violent riot incited with the aim of Massacre, massacring or expelling an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews. The term entered the English language from Russian to describe late 19th- and early 20th-century Anti-Jewis ...

against the Jewish people in Switzerland occurred among other cities in Zürich; the homes of the Jewish people were seized or destroyed and many Jewish citizens were killed by the mob. ''Neumarkt'' was first mentioned in the city archives related to the sale of a house: ''Ulrich'', the treasurer of the ''Probstei Zürich'' sealed and confirmed on 26 November 1311 that ''Mia, Gattin des'' ife of''Werner Waltersbacher sold her slip of the pen of her endowment on a house...to Mechtild, Witwe von'' idow of''Burkard Waltersbacher''. The former ''Neumarkttor'' or ''Kronentor'' gate at ''Seilergraben'' was built probably at the end of the 13th century, serving as gatetower, first mentioned in 1340 as ''Nünmargtsturm'' and since 1637 as ''Neumarktstor''. The tower was also equipped in the 16th century with a clock and an ornate dial, but was broken in 1829. The fountain in the square dates back to the 15th century. Its ''Jupiter'' stone fountain-sculpture from 1750 was vandalized in 1987 and the sculpture and its pedestal replaced in 1992 by a bronze sculpture (on a new stone pedestal) of the greek goddess of victory "

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine giv ...

". And so the former ''Jupiter Brunnen'' (fountain) is now called the ''Nike-Brunnen''.

Visitor attractions

Buildings

Grimmenturm - Neumarkt 2015-07-16 11-52-50

Being the most remarkable landmarks, the

and the neighbouring ''Bilgeriturm'' (as well a guild house) buildings are remains of the former second, even first fortification of the medieval city of Zürich, both serving as of today as well-known restaurants. Some meters nearby there are the city archives (in German: ''Stadtarchiv'') situated in the remarkable ''Haus zum Rechberg'', including a historical exhibition and a scale model of the historical city. Another point of interest is the theater situated at the ''

Bilgeriturm Grimmenturm (, referring to Johann Bilgeri the younger, nicknamed 'the grim') is a medieval tower and restaurant situated at Neumarkt, Zürich, Neumarkt in Zurich's Altstadt (Zurich), District 1, Switzerland. Location The ''Grimmenturm'' buildin ...

'', the so-called ''

Theater am Neumarkt The Theater am Neumarkt () or by its present official name Theater Neumarkt is a Theater (structure), theatre in the Swiss German language, German-speaking Switzerland situated at Neumarkt, Zürich. It is part of the building complex ''Bilgeriturm' ...

'' which also is serving as a guild house. Also remarkable are the late medieval historical houses, among them ''Haus zum Mohrenkopf'', the former home of

Katharina von Zimmern Katharina von Zimmern (1478 – 17 August 1547), also known as the imperial abbess of Zürich and Katharina von Reischach, was the last abbess of the Fraumünster Abbey in Zürich. Early life Katharina von Zimmern was born in 1478 in Mes ...

, the last abbess of the Fraumünster Abbey.

Synagogengasse

Nearly hidden, the narrow alleyway ''Synagogengasse'' marks the area of the former historical Jewish quarter of Zürich. In 2002, the building ''Froschaugasse ''4 was the location of archeological excavations. The former building ''Zur Judenschule'' ("Jewish school") was so named in the 18th century because it housed the medieval synagogue of Zürich. In 1363, it was called "Judenschuol" (a medieval term in Zürich for a

Synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

), and some remains of the interior structure date before 1423, when Jewish citizens had do leave Zürich, and the synagogue was repealed. Obscured by later layers of plaster remained a small remnant of the late-medieval room adornment was found on occasion of the surveys, including fragments of a wall painting from the 14th century in the form of leaf tendrils in red and black color. The painting adorns a ground floor room. On 25 February 1354, the citizenry of Zürich allowed to Jewish residents having "Husroeichi" (an old Swiss-German term meaning a house with a separate chimney) to live within the town walls, and they were secured by the municipal law, but there were some restrictions and additions, namely related to testimony, and loans and pawnbroking. On request of the city council of Zürich to the diocese of Konstanz, the Jewish citizens of Zürich were allowed by Bishop Heinrich to renew the Synagogue and the cemetery, under the reserve that exclusively Jews who resided (namely ''

Burgrecht A Burgrecht (''ius burgense, ius civile'') was a medieval agreement, most commonly in southern Germany and northern German-speaking Switzerland. It came to refer to an agreement between a town and surrounding settlements or to include the specific ...

'') in Zürich may be buried. At the location of the former Synagogue, a plaque was mounted; it served as a storeroom, now a bookstore, and was never re-used as a Synagogue. In 1862 the Jewish community of Zürich, the present

Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Zürich (ICZ) Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Zürich (Jewish Community of Zürich), commonly shortened to ''ICZ'', is a united Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Judaism, Jewish Jewish community, community, located in the city of Zürich, in the canton of Canton of Zur ...

was re-established, which built the

Synagoge Zürich A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as Jewi ...

at the ''Löwenstrasse'' road in 1884.

Gallery

Katharina von Zimmern - Haus zum Mohrenkopf - Neumarkt 13 2014-10-29 11-11-36 (P7800).JPG, ''Mohrenkopf'' house of

Neumarkt - Synagogengasse 2015-07-16 12-06-53.JPG, ''Synagogengasse'' Zürich - Neumarkt IMG 0585 ShiftN.jpg, Neumarkt towards ''Seilergraben'' Haus zum Rech - Nike-Brunnen - Neumarkt 2011-08-07 18-16-10 ShiftN2.jpg, ''Haus zum Rechberg'' Neumarkt - Nike-Brunnen - Froschaugasse 2015-07-16 12-07-54.JPG, ''Nike'' ''fountain'' (after the Greek goddess of victory "

" decorating it) Bronze sculpture by Swiss sculptor Barbara Roth Bilgeriturm - Nike-Brunnen - Theater am Neumarkt 2010-08-31 15-42-16 ShiftN.jpg, ''Bilgeriturm'' and ''Nike'' fountain, ''Synagogengasse'' to the left

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neumarkt Zurich History of Zurich Altstadt (Zurich) Squares in Zurich Tourist attractions in Zurich Jews and Judaism in Zurich