Photography - Ivan Andrejic WWW.SECRETSEDITION.COM
Winterthur - city of art and nature Winterthur is a treasure trove of art, history and nature. The medieval heart of the city is full of life no matter what the time of day. Shops, restaurants, markets and festivals bring the charming Old Town to life and provide a meeting place for locals, visitors and businesspeople alike. Being a city small enough to get around conveniently while also having a big-city atmosphere makes Winterthur a popular destination. The pedestrian zone in the charming Old Town is considered to be Switzerland’s largest. Venerable mansions in and around the Marktgasse, the City Church, the Fisher Maiden’s Fountain and the famous Town Hall Passage are great attractions. Culture has a long tradition in Winterthur. The city boasts 17 museums, including the Oskar Reinhart collection “Am Römerholz” with its masterpieces of European art from the 14th to the 20th century. This tradition continues with the internationally renowned Centre for Photography, the Casino Theater, which has become a centre of the German-language cabaret scene, and the Swiss Science Center Technorama, which makes technology and science an accessible experience.
The extremely diverse cultural agenda also comprises a series of festivals – Afro-Pfingsten, the International Short Film Festival and the Winterthurer Musikfestwochen festival as well as the performances by the Winterthurer Musikkollegium. With the city’s regular fare of exhibitions, films, concerts, readings and theatre – it is clear that Winterthur’s residents are well catered for when it comes to matters cultural. Despite its industrial tradition, Winterthur is also a “garden city” with a large number of parks and gardens. There is even a city tour dedicated to “Villas and Gardens”. The city’s delightful environs are home to castles and fortresses set in the woods, in the wine country, and on the Töss and Rhine rivers, and to which the locals have long felt a special relationship. Winterthur is also an ideal base for excursions to the Rhine Falls, Lake Constance and to the nearby metropolis of Zurich.
Old Town Located in the heart of Winterthur is the Old Town, the largest connected pedestrian area in Switzerland, with its colourful mix of specialist shops, boutiques, cafés and restaurants. The Old Town is a magnet for fascinating discovery tours with many sights such as the Stadtkirche (City Church) with its twin towers or the Stadthaus (City Hall) designed by famous architect Gottfried Semper. The houses, alleys and fountains of the Old Town testify to the ancient and modern history of the city. Marktgasse is the lively alley stretches in a straight line through the entire Old Town. Here shop sits beside shop, interspersed with usually fully occupied cafés and restaurants. Street musicians perform their skills and the young and beautiful promenade in order to see and be seen. “Schluuch” – this is what the people of Winterthur affectionately call Marktgasse.
City Hall The monumental stone structure, built between 1865 and 1870, counts among the epochal examples of European historicism. A perron leads to a facade reminiscent of an antique temple. Its famous architect is Gottfried Semper, who at the time lectured at the Polytechnikum in Zurich. Johann Jakob Sulzer, the mayor at the time, had made contact with Semper through his friend Richard Wagner. Until 1934 the city hall (Stadthaus) housed the common hall, whereas today concerts are held here.
Collection Oskar Reinhart ,,Am Roemerholz,, Oskar Reinhart came from a wealthy Winterthur family and he shaped the artistic life of the city like no other. Already at an early age Reinhart committed himself to establishing his collection. One thing was clear: his art treasures were to be made accessible to the public. Oskar Reinhart’s passion for art is still noticeable today when you wander through the rooms of the museum. Collection Oskar Reinhart ,,Am Roemerholz,, is jewel of the Swiss museum scene - located in an elevated position above Winterthur: one of the most distinguished private collections of the 20th century awaits you in a villa hidden away behind old trees in an idyllic garden. Already in his lifetime the Winterthur art collector Oskar Reinhart turned his residential house “Am Römerholz” into a museum. He had an imposing picture gallery added on. After his death in 1965 his beneficiary, the Swiss Confederation, opened the doors to Reinhart’s treasures, (after a five year refurbishment of the building) The Museum was opened 5 years later, in 1970. The Impressionist works of 19th-century French painters such as Renoir, Cézanne and Monet stand out, to name but a few. In addition these are joined by individual exquisite paintings by the old masters such as Rubens, Goya and Bruegel.
Kunst Museum Winterthur The museum will pursue its traditions in regard to content, intensify the exchange between the collections and present them in changing constellations. Ferdinand Hodler – Alberto Giacometti. An Encounter was the main exhibition of 2018 and illustrates this development. For the first time ever, the two prevailing icons of Swiss modern art met one another in a special exhibition. At the same time, works from the two Winterthur collections were engaged in dialogue. The collection starts with the Golden Age of Dutch art, continues to the Age of Enlightenment with important groups of work by Jean-Etienne Liotard and Anton Graff. The art of the 19th century focusses on German, Austrian and Swiss landscape paintings, climaxing in the early Romanticism with the most important collection of Caspar David Friedrich’s work outside of Germany. Proceeding to realism the museum takes you also to the fantasy world of Arnold Böcklin and a comprehensive work group by Ferdinand Hodler. Opposite to them one can look at the French plein-air artists and impressionists, represented by artists like Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley. Vincent van Gogh stands for the post-impressionists, as well as Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, Felix Vallotton and Ker-Xavier Roussel. The development to the classic modernism can be retraced with excellent paintings and sculptures by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Sophie Taeuber Arp, Piet Mondrian and many more. Alberto Giacometti and Giorgio Morandi are excelent representatives for the European post-war art. Further areas of focus are formed by minimal and post-minimal art as well as the Arte Povera of the 1960’s.
Centre for Photography In 2003 Fotostiftung (Swiss Foundation for Photography) moved its extensive collection from Zurich to Winterthur. Today, together with the Fotomuseum (Museum of Photography), it constitutes a highly regarded international photography centre of excellence for photography. Whilst the Fotomuseum focuses on international photography, the Fotostiftung administers the estate of Swiss photographers. It looks after an extensive collection of original photographs, presents exhibitions and releases publications on Swiss photography. The Centre for Photography, established on a former industrial site, comprises among other things a public reference library, seminar rooms, a lounge showing films on the topic of photography and the museum bistro “George”. 1’300 sqm in total are available for temporary exhibitions.
Swiss Science Center Technorama Switzerland’s only Science Centre is a tactile Museum: here science becomes an experience of the senses. The curious can experiment to their heart’s content at more than 500 interactive stations. At Technorama the “wow effect” fully kicks in, no matter whether you are a professor or whether changing a light bulb is as far as your technical capabilities will go: suddenly you realise that natural science and technology are incredible fun. Whilst you explore, marvel, try out and understand you soon turn into a scientist yourself - and the initial “wow” often turns into a contented “aha” experience. Temporary special exhibitions at Technorama provide forever new “aha” experiences. Besides the interactive exhibits you will also find shows and presentations on the daily schedule. The spacious self-service restaurant provides you with refreshments. If you prefer to bring your own sandwiches, you may use one of the picnic areas in the building or take a stroll in the park, where barbecue areas are also available.
Sulzerareal The large machines have been shut down but it is far from quiet here. Whether students, designers, entrepreneurs or residents – between modern spirit and nostalgia they all find this the perfect place to realise their ideas. The former workshops, laboratories and stores of the Sulzer engineering company in the heart of the city have found new life as home to around 100 organisations and companies – in association with the Abendrot Foundation, whose goal is to provide a sustainable future for the site. The Lagerplatz (“warehouse district”) has evolved into a cultural hotspot, and is fascinating to explore – on a guided tour, if you wish. Find information and refreshments at Portier, the former porters’ lodge.
Rosengarten This beautiful rose garden is located directly above the town on the Heiligberg. This garden is a real insider’s tip for rose lovers - and an oasis of calm with some 300 varieties of roses in a beautiful setting. The lookout point on the Heiligberg is a real gem among the public green areas of the city. Only a few steps from the Old Town, this is a heaven of peace and tranquility. The garden is home to some 2,900 rose bushes and also affords magnificent views over the Old Town, the Neuwiesenquartier, the TÜss district as well as the Goldenberg opposite.
Kyburg Castle High above the River TÜss with an extremely broad view, the Kyburg sits on its throne and symbolises the power of those who once ruled over this region: the Kyburgers, Habsburgers and Zurchers. Kyburg is Eastern Switzerland’s most important feudal castle and now home to a lively, newly arranged museum. The internationally awarded museum offers fascinating insights into the daily life long ago. You can take part in a court of justice, look around the cellar, the attic and the torture chamber, sniff at spices of the medieval kitchen. Kyburg Castle was the home of the counts of Kyburg, one of the greatest noble houses in South Germany. The castle passed into the hands of the Habsburgs in 1264. In 1424 the City of Zurich bought the castle and its seignory. Until 1798 a Landvogt resided in the castle, administring the bailiwick, as a judge and collector of taxes.
Excursions from Winterthur There are a lot of interesting places near Winterthur, where you can make excursions and day trips from the city. From Rhein Falls, to Lake Konstanz there are a lot of possibilities. One of the medieval gem is the town of Stein am Rhein, just north of the Winterthur, on the border with Germany. Stein am Rhein, an architectural jewel with its medieval houses in theCanton of Schaffhausen, seems like a welcoming oasis of peace and contemplation in restless times. This small town with its pretty facades, abundance of oriel windows, quiet corners, fine half-timbered houses and inviting promenade along the river bank, is the place where the River Rhine flows outof Lake Constance. In 2007 Stein amRhein celebrated a thousand years of its existence. Today 3200 inhabitants live in the town.
Discovering Winterthur by Interrail Founded in 1972, Interrail has since become a symbol of unlimited rail travel throughout Europe. Providing access to more than 250.000 km of interconnected railways, Interrail now offers its customers the opportunity to travel in 30 different countries with an even greater number of transport organisations. Over the last 40 years Interrail has established itself as a provider of a unique travel experience associated with adventure, freedom and flexibility. Interrail provides a gateway to the geographical, historical and cultural richness of Europe, giving both new and seasoned travellers the chance to immerse themselves in the different cultural fabrics that make Europe such an exciting place to explore. All of this is accomplished with just one Pass, which also offers additional benefits such as discounted ferry travel, attractions and accommodation. Interrail Passes are aimed at European and Russian residents and are available as a Global or One Country Pass. Non-European residents can use Eurail passes. After originally being aimed at young adventurers, the Interrail Pass has evolved into an accessible, and unique tourism product used by over 250,000 European travellers of all ages each year.
Offering unlimited travel in either first or second class across 30 different countries, the Global Pass provides an extensive amount of choice to any traveller. This Pass is perfect not only for people who want to travel around several countries, but also for those who have not yet defined their itinerary. From the awe-inspiring landscape of Scandinavia to the secluded beaches of Greece − with the Interrail Global Pass the possibilities are endless! The Interrail Global Pass is available as a ‘Continuous’ Pass or a ‘Flexi’ Pass. Continuous Passes offer unlimited travel for 15 days, 22 days or 1 month and are suitablefor those, who wish to travel widely but with maximum flexibility.
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