Two days to discover Zurich

On our first day in Zurich, we head straight to the heart of the city, to Augustinergasse, an old medieval street that is known as "the place to be". In fact, this pedestrian zone is one of the most pleasant in the city. It's packed with colourful houses with pretty wooden shutters, souvenir and craft shops, and numerous cafés and restaurants.

As soon as we entered the street, we noticed the profusion of windows in relief on the houses. Known as "oriel windows", these date back to the Middle Ages and served a specific purpose. Oriels were used as peepholes, in addition to illuminating rooms. They were not placed above the front door, but next to it. In this way, unwanted visitors could be spotted from a distance and repelled if necessary.

Another thing we noticed was the large number of shops. This can be explained by the history of the street: in the Middle Ages, Augustinergasse was already home to most of Zurich's craftsmen. After the 17th century, the street became a coveted location for the owners of the largest factories, who battled it out for the most prominent facade on the street.

Today, the street is home to a large number of luxury boutiques (haute couture clothes, watches), which are often overpriced. However, if you want to feel the "Zurich atmosphere" without breaking the bank, you can stop off at Café Augustin, located at number 42 Augustinergasse. From 8am to 6pm, you can enjoy delicious home-cooked food and drinks. Tasty porridge, homemade Birchermüesli, a variety of soups, stuffed jacket potatoes, unique quiches and tarts made from spelt flour... there's no shortage of choices for lunch, afternoon tea or breakfast!

To round off our stroll with a historical visit, we'll be stopping off at the Augustinerkirche. This former Augustinian abbey, whose church, Augustinerkirche, still remains, gave its name to the street Augustinergasse. During medieval times, the Augustinerkirche was one of the city's most important churches, but with the arrival of the Reformation, worship was suspended and the church took on a simpler, more unadorned appearance. Even today, it is a precious piece of history that bears witness to the consequences of the Reformation. It features a simply designed choir, a baptismal font by Franz Fischer and glass paintings by August Wanner.

For our second day, we're moving away from the hustle and bustle of the city to Rapperswil, a picturesque spot on the shores of Lake Zurich, known as a haven of peace populated by thousands of roses. There are two ways to get there: for those who want to admire the scenery, we recommend taking the boat from Bürkliplatz in Zurich. The journey takes around two hours, leaving you plenty of time to contemplate Zurich's natural beauty. The second, simpler option is to take the train from the station. You'll reach Rapperswil in 40 minutes.

We recommend starting the excursion with a visit to the Capuchin convent in Rapperswil (Kloster Rapperswil). Founded in 1606, it is renowned for its superb rose garden. This ubiquitous flower is also the source of the town's coat of arms. All the species and colours of this magnificent plant flourish in public and historic spaces. For this reason, the ideal time to visit Rapperswil is definitely from May to October.

We continue our historical tour in the afternoon with a visit to Rapperswil Castle, the town's landmark, enthroned on a hill with an exceptional panoramic view over the Glarus Alps to the Zurich Oberland. Built around 1230, it has remained in a perfect state of preservation. The castle is not fully accessible, as some of the rooms are reserved for weddings and corporate events. However, you can go up to the first floor, which houses a Polish museum. Created in 1970 by Polish emigrants who had come to Switzerland as refugees, the museum deals with Polish history and relations with Switzerland over the years.

On leaving the château, on its southern flank, you can admire an exceptional view of the hill and spot some fallow deer! Their presence is not insignificant, and has even given rise to a legend. According to the story, the wife of the Count of Rapperswil objected to the killing of a doe during a hunting trip to Herrenberg. Out of gratitude, the doe laid its head on her lap. An auspicious omen that inspired the royal couple to build a castle.

To round off a day of beauty, head to the Hotel Restaurant Rossli. Its magnificent terrace overlooking the lake usually impresses gourmets. Located just 1 minute from the castle, this top-class establishment offers highly refined cuisine inspired by Switzerland and Iran, using only the finest produce. You will find many dishes from the nearby lake, as well as excellent cuts of meat and vegetarian menus.