Fraumünster Church
The Basics
Fraumünster Church was originally founded in 1853 as a women’s monastery, and was remodeled and augmented multiple times over the following centuries. While the outside of the church is attractive, the inside is the real draw: Visit to admire the stained-glass windows created by Swiss artist Augusto Giacometti and Russian-Jewish artist Marc Chagall, then head to the crypt (which was sealed until 2016), and enjoy the gardens, courtyards, and fountains that surround the church.
Fraumünster Church offers organ music on some mornings and a variety of concerts in the evenings. Guided tours of Zurich often stop at the church along with other sights, such as the medieval Old Town, the National Museum, and St. Peter’s Church.
Things to Know Before You Go
There is a small fee to enter the church, and it includes the use of an audio guide.
Taking photos in the church is prohibited.
There is a small gift shop that sells postcards depicting the famous windows and other parts of the church.
Church services take place on Sundays at 10am.
How to Get There
You can easily walk to Fraumünster Church from many locations in central Zurich; the spire is easy to spot on the western shore of the Limmat River, near Lake Zurich. To reach the church via public transportation, take tram numbers 6, 7, 10, 11, or 14 to the Paradeplatz stop.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The church is open to visitors daily, from late morning until early evening, all year round, except during services and special events. Services are held in German on Sundays at 10am, and the church reopens to visitors at noon.
Visit the Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich)
To see and learn more about Swiss and European art, head to the Museum of Art (Kunsthaus Zurich), one of Switzerland’s most important art collections. The museum displays the largest group Chagall’s works in the country, as well as works by artists like Rembrandt, Rubens, Monet, Picasso, Warhol, Rothko, and Twombly. A ticket to Fraumünster Church gets you discounted admission to the museum.
- Limmatquai
- St. Peter Church (Kirche St. Peter)
- Grossmünster Church
- Lindenhof
- Paradeplatz (Parade Square)
- Bahnhofstrasse
- Lake Zurich (Zürichsee)
- Kunsthaus Zurich
- Zurich Opera House (Opernhaus Zürich)
- National Museum Zurich (Landesmuseum Zürich)
- Museum Rietberg
- Dolderbahn
- Zurich Chinese Garden (Chinagarten)
- Botanical Garden (University of Zurich)
- Zurich Old Town (Altstadt)