Winterthur History, Switzerland

Winterthur is the second largest city of Canton Zurich and it is famous for its culture, unique traditions and history. In the local dialect it is also known as Winti and in the Roman Times it was known as Vitudurum. In 1264, the Habsburg family sold Winterthur to the city of Zurich.

Winterthur is recognized as an industrial center of Switzerland. Winterthur is home to many cultural venues, theatres, museums, park themes, restaurants, nightclubs and world class hotels.  It is a starting point for many nearby hills and landscapes.

Winterthur has diversified culture and it hosts many cultural events and festivals through the year. Some of the popular touristic spots in Winterthur are Art Museum, Photo Museum, Sulzerareal, Technorama and Oskar Reinhart Collection.  The museums of Winterthur showcase many monuments and collectibles from the past. Winterthur has a long history and traces of settlements from the Bronze Age have been found in this area.

The Roman City settlement was established in Oberwinterthur, which gave the city its name.  The Roman castellum Vitodurum was first mentioned in 294. The modern town of Winterthur was founded by Kyburg dynasty in the 12th century. The counts of Kyburg took control of most of the eastern Switzerland. They enjoyed many towns among Winterthur and Frauenfeld. After the death of the last count of Kyburg, the Habsburg took control of Winterthur in 1264 and ruled it for many years.

In 1415, the Swiss confederacy conquered the territories of Hapsburg. Winterthur became the free city for some time.

 The independent Winterthur enjoyed its autonomy for a few years, but later it was captured by Zurich in 1467.  It remains under Zurich's control till 1798. In the same year, French invaded this area and ruled here for many years.

In the 19th century, Winterthur became the center of industrial developments.  Mechanical industries like Rieter, SLM and Sulzer established in that age.

Winterthur is also a strong base for political activities. Switzerland has developed a strong and unique political system.

The Albani-Fest has old traditions and reminds us of the city’s history. The Albani-Fest has also become a multicultural place in Winterthur and one of the best entertainment spots. It hosts various cultural events, musical shows and live performances by various domestic and international artists.

Getting around Winterthur can be a great fun. There are many entertainment spots and landscapes that attract thousands of visitors every year.