Stadtgarten

Stadtgarten in Winterthur is a public park in the centre of the second-largest city in the canton of Zurich. Its roots go back to the 18th century, and today it combines lawns and shade with outdoor sculpture and an art museum next door.

How did the Stadtgarten come about?

The starting point was the Bürgergärten, citizens' gardens laid out in the 18th century outside the town fortifications. One building from that era survives: a small Baroque pavilion, once a summer house called Haus zum Balustergarten. It is the park's oldest witness.

The city bought the land in 1901. In 1902 landscape architect Evariste Mertens designed the public green space, and the name "Stadtgarten" first appears at that point. The eastern section was laid out to his plans that year.

The park was reshaped after the Second World War. A second design competition ran in 1947–1948, and Walter Leder reworked the layout between 1949 and 1951. It reopened in 1951 and was extended west to Merkurstrasse in 1957. Its present layout is a heritage monument of cantonal importance.

What is there to see?

• A Baroque pavilion from the 18th century, left over from the old citizens' gardens.
• Sculpture: bronzes by Hermann Haller (1930) and Gerhard Marcks (1942), plus a newer work by Oscar Tuazon.
• Mid-century design: lawns, trees and paths from Leder's redesign, still easy to read today.
• A museum next door: Reinhart am Stadtgarten, one of the three sites of Kunst Museum Winterthur. It occupies a boys' school built by Leonhard Zeugheer in 1842.

How to fit it into your day

The park sits downtown, so access is free and unrestricted. Combine it with a walk through the old town; Gottfried Semper's Stadthaus (built 1865–1869) is a short distance away. In summer it works well for a picnic or a break between museum visits. If art is on your list, pair the stroll with Reinhart am Stadtgarten.

Does the park need renovation?

After more than 70 years of heavy use, the city concluded that the park needs a comprehensive renovation. A trial planning process in 2009 was followed by a development concept in 2011. Check the City of Winterthur website for current work and timing before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the Stadtgarten free? Yes. It is an open public park.

Who designed it? The original 1902 layout is by Evariste Mertens; the current form comes from Walter Leder's 1949–1951 redesign.

Is there a museum nearby? Yes. Reinhart am Stadtgarten, part of Kunst Museum Winterthur, stands next to the park.

Is the park a listed monument? Yes, its layout is protected as a monument of cantonal importance.