Bürgli

Bürgli in Zurich is a historic manor house with its own vineyard on a hillside in the Enge district, on the left bank of Lake Zurich. It is a quiet corner where a city known for banking shows rows of vines, a calm lane and views over the neighbourhood rooftops.

What is the Bürgli in Zurich?

"Bürgli" is a common place name in Switzerland, so it is easy to mix up. This one is the former manor (Herrenhaus) in Enge on Bürglistrasse, together with the vineyard on its south-facing slope. It is not the Restaurant Bürgli in Wollishofen, a building dating from 1864 on Kilchbergstrasse, which lies elsewhere in the city.

What will you see?

The main draw is the vineyard. Local accounts describe it as the only vineyard within today's city limits of Zurich that has been farmed without interruption and never abandoned. Riesling-Sylvaner is among the grapes grown here. The site sits just behind the Reformed church of Enge, built in 1892-1894 on a moraine hill. You see the manor from the outside; it is private property, so do not plan on going inside.

Why is the place known to literature fans?

The writer Gottfried Keller lived in the Landolt family's house nearby, today Bürglistrasse 18. He nicknamed it the "Windmühle" (windmill) because the exposed hilltop caught so much wind. It was his longest stay in one spot in Zurich, before he moved to Zeltweg 27 in Hottingen. Keller readers can combine the visit with the "Der grüne Heinrich" art route through his Zurich.

How do you get there?

Enge became part of Zurich in 1893 and is well served by public transport. The easiest approach is on foot from the Enge church, uphill along Bürglistrasse. It fits naturally into the popular walk through Enge, Rieterpark, Belvoirpark and Bürkliplatz, which takes about half a day with stops.

When should you go?

The vineyard looks best from late summer into autumn, when the vines are in full leaf and harvest approaches. Spring brings fresh shoots, winter bare rows. On a clear day pick the afternoon, when the south slope gets the most sun.

What else is nearby?

• Rieterpark and the Rietberg Museum of non-European art
• Belvoirpark by the lake
• Bürkliplatz and the Lake Zurich promenade
• The Gottfried Keller monument with a lake view near Enge harbour

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the Bürgli manor? No. It is private property and viewed from the outside and from the surrounding paths.

Is it the same as the Bürgli restaurant in Wollishofen? No. That restaurant is in an 1864 building at Kilchbergstrasse 15; the Enge Bürgli is a manor with a vineyard on Bürglistrasse.

Is the vineyard open to visitors? It is visible from nearby roads and lies on walking routes through the district. Tastings or entry onto the grounds may need the owner's permission.

How long does a visit take? Around 20-30 minutes at the vineyard itself, or 2-3 hours with the full Enge walk.