The Dark Side of Zurich: A Walking Tour through Old Town

Zurich is much more than just Switzerland’s financial heart. On this walking tour, you’ll be introduced to a side of the city that you won’t hear about in guidebooks. I’ll take you back 500 years to a time when executioners lived on the outskirts of the medieval city but were part of the fabric of daily life. While winding your way from Paradeplatz, where our tour starts, to Altstadt, Zurich’s Old Town, I’ll tell you about the trials and subsequent executions of people convicted of witchcraft and petty crimes. You’ll also see where people were tortured in Zurich and find out about the methods of execution that they faced. I won’t only guide you through the key places associated with this darker side of the city’s history, I’ll also share true stories from the people involved. On this tour you can expect to hear about: • The beautiful Elsbeth, suspected of witchcraft, who stoically endured her torture • The cruel methods of torture used on Adelheid, a maid, to extract a confession before she was burnt alive • Agatha who, despite her wealth, didn’t manage to escape a death sentence • How the city council decided on a method of execution for the guy who stole four bags of salt • Hans Waldmann, who lived an unusual life for a man in the 1400s and, despite his initial success in life, was beheaded in 1489 • The city’s martyrs, Felix and Regula, and their execution Along the way, you’ll also see the main sights of Zurich and a few lesser-known ones, including the executioner’s former house, and the Wasserkirche, Water Church. You’ll also see Zurich's Town Hall where death sentences were announced, and find out where a person could take their last sip of wine before being executed. Please note: This tour may not be suitable for children under the age of 16. It also involves a few steep surfaces and so isn’t suitable for people with mobility issues.

Price: £9.99 from VoiceMap