{"id":2404,"date":"2016-06-07T09:15:09","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T13:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=2404"},"modified":"2016-06-08T18:19:02","modified_gmt":"2016-06-08T22:19:02","slug":"the-munsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=2404","title":{"rendered":"The M\u00fcnsters"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

After returning from our \u00dcetliberg expedition, my son and I ventured out from the Hauptbahnhof into the city. \u00a0Zurich, relatively quiet on a Sunday, was perfect for a walk\u00a0along the River Limmat toward two of Zurich’s well-known churches.<\/p>\n

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Fraumunster clock tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First on our list was Zurich’s Fraum\u00fcnster Church, (The Church of Our Lady) founded in 853 by Louis the German. \u00a0Built on the remains of a former abbey for aristocratic women, it now belongs to the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich and is one of the four main churches of Zurich, the other’s being Grossm\u00fcnster, Prediger and St. Peter’s church.<\/p>\n

Easily visible for its slender green peak and clock tower, the Fraum\u00fcnster stands out along the River Limmat. \u00a0 While the interior is not as ornate as other churches throughout Europe, visitors flock to this world famous church to see the five large stained glass windows designed by Russian-born artist Marc Chagall.<\/p>\n

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Three of Chagall’s stained glass windows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Installed in 1970, in the choir of the abbey, each window has a dominant color and depicts a Christian story. \u00a0The five works are,\u00a0Prophets,\u00a0<\/strong>showing Elijah’s ascent to heaven,\u00a0Jacob,\u00a0<\/strong> depicting his combat and dreams of heaven,\u00a0Christ,<\/strong> displaying various scenes of Christ’s life,\u00a0Zion,\u00a0<\/strong> illustrating an angel trumpeting the end of the world and\u00a0Law,\u00a0<\/strong>with Moses looking down upon the suffering of his people. \u00a0Also worth noting is the impressive stained glass in the North transept created in 1940 by Augusto Giacometti, nephew of the famous Swiss abstract artist, Alberto Giacometti. \u00a0A sign near the entrance advises visitors that no pictures are allowed inside the church, however, a few were taken discreetly.<\/p>\n

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Church interior<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Church interior<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Stained glass by Augusto Giacometti<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Grossm\u00fcnster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just across the river, the 12th century Romanesque \"image\"<\/a>ex-cathedral, Grossm\u00fcnster was next on our list. \u00a0Located in the Grossm\u00fcnsterplatz, its\u00a0twin towers soar\u00a0above the other buildings in this area of Zurich. \u00a0The Grossm\u00fcnster, much like the Fraum\u00fcnster, is not very ornate and quite bare. \u00a0No statues and paintings decorate its interior, only a few faded frescoes. \u00a0The pulpit was added in 1851 and the organ in 1960.<\/p>\n

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Church interior<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Stained glass by Augusto Giacometti<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not to be outdone by the Fraum\u00fcnster, stained glass windows were commissioned\u00a0by Augusto Giacometti and Sigmar Polke. \u00a0Giacometti’s window depicting the Three Magi bearing gifts to the Virgin and child has reigned in the choir since 1933. \u00a0 In 2009, German artist, Sigmar Polke, crafted seven windows in the nave from thinly sliced agate. \u00a0 The brilliantly colored result was then expanded with five glass windows featuring Old Testament figures. \u00a0The scapegoat, Isaac, the Son of Man, Elijah and David all move in the direction of the birth of Christ and thus toward the window created by Giacometti.<\/p>\n

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Stained glass by Sigmar Polke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Stained glass by Sigmar Polke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A trip down\u00a0to the Grossm\u00fcnster’s crypt is also recommended as it is the largest in Switzerland. \u00a0 Here, you can now see the 15th century stone statue of Charlemagne, whom legend tells us is the founder of the church. \u00a0The statue\u00a0once stood atop the south tower and is now replaced by a replica. \u00a0As with the Fraum\u00fcnster, photos were not allowed in the Grossm\u00fcnster.<\/p>\n

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Crypt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a frequent church “tourist”, I must say that these two churches were nice to occupy a couple of hours on a Sunday, when there is not much else to do in downtown Zurich. \u00a0Not bowled over by extraordinary beauty as I have experienced in other cities, they are mostly to be appreciated for their architectural prevalence. \u00a0If you respect and value art, however, time should be taken to behold the artistry of the world famous stained glass in both churches.<\/p>\n

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Fraum\u00fcnster<\/strong><\/p>\n