Urania-Sternwarte – That Bit Closer to Heaven

In the heart of central Zurich, astronomy fans can reach for the stars. In the 50m (164ft) high round tower of the Urania observatory, visitors can observe the heavenly bodies through a telescope that allows magnifications of up to 600 times. Whether you want to take a closer look at the craters on the moon, the bands of clouds surrounding Jupiter, or the church tower of the Fraumünster: a guided tour to the non-profit public observatory is always a memorable experience. The tours are offered in German.

The Urania observatory, which opened in 1907, was the first building in Zurich to be made from concrete. It is still one of the most distinctive buildings in the historical Old Town, and has been listed as a protected monument since 1989. The 12-ton Zeiss telescope underwent extensive renovation on the occasion of the observatory’s centenary in 2007.