Bauschänzli is an artificial island, town square, and public park in Zürich, Switzerland. Bauschänzli is one of the last remains of the Baroque fortifications of Zürich which began in 1642. The neighboring Schanzengraben (moat) and the Old Botanical Garden are part of these remains. Since 1907, the island has been used as a restaurant, although it is officially a public square and park.
Bauschänzli as seen from Bürkliplatz towards Limmatquai and Grossmünster
Stadthausquai towards Münsterhof, Frauenbadi lido in the foreground, Zunfthaus zur Meisen and Lindenhof in the background
Limmat effluence downstream Lindenhof and the historical Turicum
The area towards the lake and Grosser Hafner island, showing the then neighboring Grendeltor about the 1570s
Zürich was an independent (reichsfrei) city or city-state from 1218 to 1798. The town was fortified with a city wall from the 13th to the 17th century, and with more elaborate ramparts constructed in the 17th to 18th century and mostly demolished in the 1830s to 1870s.
The city fortifications as shown on the 1576 Murerplan are coloured in yellow
1485 depiction of the 1444 siege of Zürich during the Old Zürich War (north is right)
1581 depiction of Zürich (north is left)
Schanzengraben, Enge quarter, Zürichsee and Albis chain, as seen from the «zur Katz» ramparts (as of today the "old" Botanical Garden)
