St. Peterskirche, Zurich 
Tower of the Peterskirche from the Grossmünster across the river.
For many more views, see our Peterskirche Photo Gallery.
The Peterskirche has the largest clock face in Europe.
Cozy square surrounding the stairs to the Peterskirche.
Interior, looking towards pulpit and apse.
Baroque decoration with German verse and the name of God in Hebrew.
Medieval murals in the choir.
View of the gallery and pulpit from the choir.
Location map and aerial view of St. Peterskirche. For a larger interactive view, see our Zurich Map.
Built in the 9th century, the St Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church) is the oldest church in Zürich. It also boasts the largest clock face in Europe and contains some old wall paintings.
History
The Peterskirche was originally built in the 8th century but was much altered in the 13th century and again in 1705.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the short spire with the windows was the home of the town watchman, whose duty was to look out the windows every 15 minutes for a fire. If he saw one, he would sound an alarm and hang a flag out of the window facing the fire. It seems to have worked - unlike so many European cities, Zürich never suffered a major fire.
In the 18th century, the Peterskirche's minister, Johan Kaspar Lavater, was so popular that people reserved seats for Sunday Mass. The priest was a friend of Goethe, and the two had long conversations over wine in the nearby Reblaube Gastube, which still has a "Goethestube." Lavater's grave is outside the door of the church and his house is across the square.
What to See
The record-sized clock face of St. Peterskirche is 9m (28.5 ft.) in diameter. The minute hand alone is almost 4m (12 ft.) long.
The interior consists of a three-aisled Baroque nave and a Romanesque choir, the latter with some faded medieval murals including a glimpse of a saint.
Another interesting sight in the St Peterskirche is the name of God in Hebrew above the pulpit, reflecting the Reformation emphasis on the original biblical languages.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | St. Peterskirche; St Peters Kirche; Kirche St. Peter Zürich ; St. Peter's Church |
| Dedicated to: | St. Peter |
| Location: | Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Category: | Churches |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Original/Primary: Catholic Current/Secondary: Presbyterian |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 8th century; 13th century; 1705 |
| Architecture: | Romanesque, Baroque |
| Features: | Gothic Murals |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 47.371058° N, 8.540781° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | St. Peterhofstatt 1, Zürich, Switzerland |
| Phone: | 01/211-25-88 |
| Website: | www.st-peter-zh.ch |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm; Sat, 9am-4pm |
| Cost: | Free |
| Photography: | Permitted |
Travel Resources for Zurich
- Zurich Map - our detailed interactive map of Zurich, plus hand-picked links to more
- Zurich Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Zurich
- Zurich Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Zurich Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Zurich Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Zurich Flight Search - compare multiple travel sites to find the lowest airfare to Zurich
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visit (December 18, 2006).
- Rick Steves' Switzerland
- Frommer's Switzerland
.
- The Rough Guide to Switzerland.
Article last updated: 10/07/2009.
