Lindenhof, A City Recreation Area
Following the demolition of the former royal residence, the hill – the only public place and park within the city walls – turned to an area of public life and relaxation, with dense tree vegetation, stone tables, crossbow stands, bowling and chess, which is still very popular in our days. According to a chronicle, in 1474 52 tilias (lime tree) have been planted. Bow and crossbow-shooting next to the beverage was probably one of the most important leisure activities on the Lindenhof. In August 1526, guests coming from St. Gallen were invited by the city councils and all the Guilds of Zurich for a dinner, among them the prominent Zurich cleric, as Ulrich Zwingli, Leo Jud, Konrad Pelikan, Friedrich Myconius and the Kappel abbey's abbot. Each Zurich guild had its own stone table, and the costumed guild members met on Sechseläuten for dinner, described by Gottfried Keller in his poem Ein Festzug in Zürich (a procession in Zurich, 1856).
The Hedwig fountain (1688) recalls the legend of the siege of Zurich (1292) by Duke Albrecht I. of Habsburg. The helmeted sculpture of the leader of the courageous Zurich women reminds us of this incident. Under baroque influence, Lindenhof was in 1780 converted in a strictly geometrical park.
1851, the Masonic lodge Modestia cum Libertate (MCL) bought the Paradies building and converted it to their lodge building with its distinctive gables. At this time, coins, stove tiles and other artefacts from the Roman and medieval times were found. 1865, severe storm damage resulted in a redesign: Instead of Lime trees, dominated for some year chestnut, acacia and gods trees. The redesign was not accepted by the population: 1900, its present appearance was given to the Lindenhof square.
In addition to the historical guild dinner, there are numerous public events and festivals. The square ist one of the most famous places and recreational areas in the heart of Zurich's city, has an impressive view about the historic core of the city, and is one of Zurich's tourist attractions. Cars are not allowed in the narrow streets to the Lindenhof hill.
Among the prominent historical visitors are Casanova, Goethe, Johannes von Müller, Herzog Charles Augustus, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Anne Louise Germaine de Staël, Schlegel, Johann Ludwig Uhland, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner und Brahms.
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