Who says a visit to Switzerland is expensive? Why, there’s all kinds of cultural goodies around to trip over, almost literally. Imagine, finishing my beer one afternoon at the Hotel Storchen, a friend and I were wandering toward Paradeplatz, when she directed us to the right into a tiny pass next to a toy store. About 3 meters from the entrance there’s is a metal grate in the floor and under your feet are the remains of ancient Roman baths. Just like that. There’s even a glass display with some artifacts and descriptions.
Originally from the 1st century, the baths were upgraded after 160 A.D. and extended to an estimated 500 sq m., or four times larger than before. The heated baths were a public meeting place until the Romans withdrew from Zürich in 401 A.D.
The ruins were unearthed during renovation work on the toyshop in 1983, and subsequently excavated, are on 24 hour exhibition in Thermengasse. They were situated directly next to the bridge and to Weinplatz, where transported goods were transferred from seagoing to river vessels to continue north on the then turbulent Limmat River.
Römische Thermen
Thermengasse
8001 Zürich
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