Zurich

Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is situated in the north-central part of the country, at the northern end of Lake Zurich and along the Limmat river. The city combines a compact historic core with modern districts, and its metropolitan area is home to about 1.5 million people.

Historically, Zurich was founded as Turicum, a Roman settlement, in the 1st century CE. It grew in the Middle Ages as a free imperial town and became a leading city in the Swiss Confederation. The city was central to the Swiss Reformation under Huldrych Zwingli, and its Altstadt retains many medieval and early modern structures.

Economically, Zurich is a global financial center with a high concentration of banks, insurance companies, and financial service firms. It is also an important center for research and higher education, with the University of Zurich (founded 1833) and ETH Zurich (founded 1855) among its institutions. The city is served by Zurich Airport and Zurich Hauptbahnhof, one of the world's busiest railway stations.

Culturally, Zurich offers a large collection of museums, galleries, operas, and theaters. Notable landmarks include the medieval churches of Grossmünster and Fraumünster in the Old Town, and the Bahnhofstrasse, a broad shopping thoroughfare.

The city hosts events such as the Sechseläuten festival and the Street Parade.

Geographically, Zurich lies at the northern end of Lake Zurich and along the Limmat river and has a temperate climate with distinct seasons. The official language is Swiss German, with standard German used in writing.