Käferberg
Encyclopedia
Käferberg and Waidberg (el. 601 metres (1,972 ft)) are the summits
Summit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
of a wooded mountain respectively chain of hills overlooking the inner city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
of Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. It is also known as Lake Zürich and Lake of Zürich. It lies approximately at co-ordinates ....
, Albis
Albis
The Albis is a chain of hills in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, stretching for some 19 km from Sihlbrugg in the south to Waldegg near Zurich in the north. The chain forms, among others, the border between the Affoltern and Horgen districts. The best known point is Uetliberg at 870 m,...
chain and Uetliberg
Uetliberg
The Üetliberg is a mountain in the Swiss plateau, part of the Albis chain, rising to 873 m . The Uetliberg offers a panoramic view of the entire city of Zurich and the Lake of Zurich. There is also a hotel in the name of "Uto Kulm" on this small mountain...
, as well as the Limmat Valley
Limmat Valley
The Limmat Valley is a river valley and a region in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau in Switzerland.- Geography :Limmat is the name of a long river located in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau...
and the Zürcher Unterland
Zürcher Unterland
The Zürcher Unterland comprises the northwestern part of the canton of Zurich, including the districts of Bülach and Dielsdorf....
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Geography
Käferberg (Swiss GermanSwiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
: Chäferberg meaning mountain of beetles) and Waidberg (mountain of meadows) are the peaks of a longish mountain in the north of the Limmat
Limmat
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. It is the continuation of the Linth river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich, in the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km reaching the river Aare...
valley. It is located in the Zurich quarters Höngg
Höngg
Zürich is a quarter in the district 10 in Zürich.It was formerly a municipality of its own, having been incorporated into Zürich in 1934.The quarter has a population of 21,186 distributed on an area of 6.98 km²....
, Wipkingen
Wipkingen
Wipkingen is a quarter in the district 10 in Zurich.It was formerly a municipality of its own, having been incorporated into Zurich in 1893.The quarter has a population of 15,446 distributed on an area of 2.11 km².- Transportation :...
and Affoltern
Affoltern (Zürich)
Affoltern is a quarter in the district 11 in Zurich, located in the Glatt Valley .- History and demographics :Affoltern was first mentioned in 870 as Affaltrahe, and in the 9th century it was reigned by the St...
, between Bucheggplatz and ETH-Hönggerberg, known as Science City, and the western Hönggerberg heading on the northern border of the Limmat valley
Limmat Valley
The Limmat Valley is a river valley and a region in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau in Switzerland.- Geography :Limmat is the name of a long river located in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau...
to Würenlos
Würenlos
Würenlos is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It lies north of the river Limmat, next to the canton of Zürich, located in the Limmat Valley .-Geography:...
. In the east, Käferberg is bordered by a small mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
between Bucheggplatz (472 metres (1,549 ft)) and Milchbuck (476 metres (1,562 ft)) at Zürichberg
Zürichberg
The Zürichberg is a wooded hill rising to 679 metres , overlooking Lake Zurich and located immediately to the east of the City of Zurich in Switzerland, between the valleys of the Limmat and the Glatt rivers...
, leading from the city of Zurich to the Glatt valley
Glatt Valley
The Glatt Valley is a region and a river valley in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- Geography :The River Glatt is a tributary of the River Rhine in the Zürcher Unterland area of the Canton of Zurich...
. In the north, the region is bordered by the Glatt and Furt
Furttal
Furttal is the name of a valley region in Switzerland between Laegern and Altberg in the Dielsdorf district of the canton of Zurich.The area's name stems from the German word for ford, or furt, and is named after the crossing over the Limmat river in the community of Würenlos on the west side of...
valleys.
Its highest point (Waidberg) is about 200 metres (656 ft) above the Limmat valley. From northwest to southeast, Käferberg-Waidberg is part of a chain of peaks respectively mountains: Hönggerberg (541 metres (1,775 ft)), Käferberg-Waidberg, Zürichberg (676 metres (2,218 ft)), Adlisberg
Adlisberg
Adlisberg is a wooded mountain overlooking the Zürichsee , neighboored in the northwest by the Zürichberg.- Geography :Adlisberg mountain is located to the east of the city of Zürich, between the Glatt river valley and Lake Zürich. Its highest point is about above the Lake Zürich...
(701 metres (2,300 ft)), Öschbrig (696 metres (2,283 ft)), Wassberg (715 metres (2,346 ft)), Forch
Forch
Forch is a village and a mountain pass located in the municipalities of Küsnacht and Maur in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland.- Geography :Forch is located approximately in the southeast of Zürich, nearby Zumikon and Maur...
mountain pass, Guldenen (778 metres (2,552 ft)) and Pfannenstiel (873 metres (2,864 ft)).
Points of interest
It is a picturesque location, and the upper southwestern side is also the location of restaurantRestaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s overlooking the city of Zurich and the Limmat valley
Limmat Valley
The Limmat Valley is a river valley and a region in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau in Switzerland.- Geography :Limmat is the name of a long river located in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau...
. The upper area of the mountain is mostly woodland and a popular recreational area with picnic sites, in addition there are hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
routes heading from Bucheggplatz to the canton of Aargau and a Vita Parcours
Fitness trail
A fitness trail consists of a path or course equipped with obstacles or stations distributed along its length for exercising the human body to promote good health. The course is designed to promote physical fitness training in the style attributed to Georges Hébert...
. Rarely to find in the urban area of Zurich are Centaurea
Centaurea
Centaurea is a genus of between 350 and 600 species of herbaceous thistle-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Members of the genus are found only north of the equator, mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere; the Middle East and surrounding regions are particularly species-rich...
, Salvia pratensis
Salvia pratensis
Salvia pratensis is a herbaceous perennial in the family Lamiaceae, native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. The specific epithet pratensis refers to its tendency to grow in meadows...
, Knautia
Knautia
Knautia is a genus in the family Dipsacaceae. The common names of these flowers are a variant of "widow flower." Others are given the name "Scabious," although this word belongs to a related genus .Species include:...
and Sand Lizard
Sand Lizard
The sand lizard is a lacertid lizard distributed across most of Europe and eastwards to Mongolia. It does not occur in the Iberian peninsula or European Turkey. Its distribution is often patchy....
s on the southwestern upper hill. Schrebergärten
Allotment (gardening)
An allotment garden, often called simply an allotment, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundreds of land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families...
are typical for the southern and northern upper parts, too. The Wärmebad Käferberg is located in the south nearby the city hospital Waid (Waidspital) and a Deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
inhabit.
Another restaurant, a Tennis club and a small TV tower are situated within the woodland at Waidberg summit, nearby the former Freibad (public open air bath) Waidbad which is now a popular pic-nic site, too. The area is used for recreation and sport on a clearing not far from the ETH-Hönggerberg. There was a project to renew the Waidbad as a site of wellness, to integrate the area in a so-called "forest spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
" including indoor baths, sauna, cafeteria, complete infrastructure and attractive outdoor grounds.
ETH Zurich "Science City"
Science City is a campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
of the ETH Zurich located on the eastern Käferberg slope respectively on western part of the Hönggerberg hill (officially the campus is named "ETH Hönggerberg", too). ETH Zurich declares it as vision of a university campus and a "City district of brainstorming culture" which will transform the ETH site into a place with greater quality of life through a variety of measures. It is also declared as a platform that will make it possible for the ETH Zurich to realize future projects that are based on the pioneering and symbolic development of future living and cognitive space.
Transportation
The tram numbers 11 and 15Zürich trams
Trams make an important contribution to public transport in the city of Zurich in Switzerland. The tram network serves most city neighbourhoods, and is the backbone of public transport within the city, albeit supplemented by the inner sections of the Zurich S-Bahn, along with urban trolleybus and...
to Bucheggplatz, tram 13 alongside the southern area to Frankental as well as the bus line 80
Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich
Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich is a public transport operator in the Swiss city of Zurich, and is wholly owned by the city. Previously known as the Städtische Strassenbahn Zürich , the organisation was founded in 1896 and adopted its current name in 1950...
Oerlikon
Zürich Oerlikon train station
Zürich Oerlikon is a railway station located at Oerlikon in the city of Zürich, Switzerland. It is a major nodal point and junction for both the Zurich S-Bahn network and the Swiss rail network as a whole. Trains on 7 lines of the S-Bahn serve the station, as do frequent inter-regional trains...
–Altstetten
Altstetten (Zürich)
Altstetten is a quarter in the district 9 in Zurich.It was formerly a municipality of its own, having been incorporated into Zurich in 1934 together with Albisrieden.The quarter has a population of 28,278 distributed on an area of 7.47 km²....
–Triemli, bus line 38 (Höngg), trolley bus line 46 (City–Rütihof) and bus line 69 (Milchbuck–Hönggerberg) run up to different parts of the mountain area.
Käferbergtunnel (2119 metres (6,952 ft)) is a node of the S-Bahn Zürich on the lines S5
S5 (ZVV)
The S5 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich, St...
, S6
S6 (ZVV)
The S6 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich and Aargau.- Route :...
, S7
S7 (ZVV)
The S7 is a regional railway line of the Zürich S-Bahn on the ZVV and is one of the network's trunk lines.- Route :...
and S16
S16 (ZVV)
The S16 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich and Schaffhausen.- Route :...
.
History
In addition to a total of 15 bastionBastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
s and Letzinen (palisades) outside of the Fortifications of Zurich
Fortifications of Zürich
Zurich was an independent city or city-state from 1218 to 1798. The town was fortified with a city wall from the 13th to the 17th century, and with more elaborate ramparts constructed in the 17th to 18th century and mostly demolished in the 1830s to 1870s.-First wall:There had been a first city...
, in the 17century the area was part of the so-called third fortifications of the city of Zurich. Since 1907, the houses "Zur Waid" served as Krankenheim, a small public hospital. The so-called Waidgut was rebuilt in 1918 as an urban nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
which is since 1962/3 the care center Käferberg. As part of the incorporation of the former municipality Höngg
Höngg
Zürich is a quarter in the district 10 in Zürich.It was formerly a municipality of its own, having been incorporated into Zürich in 1934.The quarter has a population of 21,186 distributed on an area of 6.98 km²....
, the forest area on Käferberg owned by the citizens was sold in 1934 to the city of Zurich as well as the other areas of the former urban forest
Urban forest
An urban forest is a forest or a collection of trees that grow within a city, town or a suburb. In a wider sense it may include any kind of woody plant vegetation growing in and around human settlements. In a narrower sense it describes areas whose ecosystems are inherited from wilderness...
located there. Even today, there are large, contiguous agricultural land in the immediate neighborhood of the "Science City".
Literature
- Hochbaudepartement der Stadt Zürich, Amt für Städtebau: Affoltern, Oerlikon, Schwamendingen, Seebach. Baukultur in Zürich, Band I, Verlag Neue Zürcher ZeitungNeue Zürcher ZeitungThe Neue Zürcher Zeitung is a major German language Swiss daily newspaper based in Zurich.One of the oldest newspapers still published, it originally appeared as Zürcher Zeitung, edited by Salomon Gessner, from January 12, 1780, and was renamed to Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1821...
, Zürich 2003. ISBN 3038230340 - Martin Bürlimann, Kurt Gammeter: Wipkingen - Vom Dorf zum Quartier. Wibichinga Verlag, Zürich Wipkingen 2006. ISBN 3952314900