Zünfte of Zürich explained

There are fourteen historical Zünfte (guilds, singular Zunft) of Zürich, under the system established in 1336 with the "guild revolution" of Rudolf Brun. They are the 13 guilds that predated 1336, plus the Gesellschaft zur Constaffel, originally consisting of the city's nobles.

Guilds founded in 1336

There have been two mergers of historical guilds since, so that there are 12 contemporary Zünfte continuing the medieval guilds:

NameCoat of armsDescriptionGuild houseWebsite
Gesellschaft zur ConstaffelOriginally members of the nobility. From 6 December 1490 ("Constaffelbrief") until 1798, all adult Zürich citizens (including women), not belonging to another guild.Haus zum Rüden
Website
Zunft zur SaffranOriginally merchants of textiles and spicesZunfthaus zur Saffran
Website
Zunft zur MeisenOriginally innkeepers, saddle makers and painters [1] Zunfthaus zur Meisen
Website
Zunft zur SchmidenOriginally blacksmiths, silver- and goldsmiths, clockmakers and physiciansZunfthaus Zur Schmiden
Website
Zunft zum WeggenOriginally bakers and millers Restaurant Weisser WindWebsite
Vereinigte Zünfte zur Gerwe und zur SchuhmachernFormerly two guilds, tanners and shoemakers, united in 1877 Hotel SavoyWebsite
Zunft zum WidderOriginally butchers and cattle merchants Widder Hotel
Website
Zunft zur ZimmerleutenOriginally carpenters, builders, wainmakers Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten
Website
Zunft zur SchneidernOriginally tailors Zunfthaus Zum Königstuhl
Website
Zunft zur SchiffleutenOriginally fishermen and boatmen Hotel zum Storchen
Website
Zunft zum KämbelOriginally food dealers, wine merchants Zunfthaus zur Haue
Website
Zunft zur WaagTwo separate guilds, the linen weavers (Zunft der Leinenweber) and the wool weavers (Zunft der Wollweber), united in 1440. The new guild took the name of its house and became the Zunft zur Waag (= balance). Since then it brought together the wool and linen weavers, the hatters and the linen merchantsZunfthaus zur Waag
Website

19th century guilds

In the 19th century, with the expansion of Zürich, incorporating various formerly separate villages, a number of new "guilds" were established to represent these. By this time the old guilds had ceased to be tied to specific trades and had acquired a mostly folkloristic and societal function, uniting the upper strata of old and well-to-do clans of Zürich and Ägeri.

Coats of armsDescriptionFounded inGuild houseWebsite
StadtzunftGuild of the City of Zürich (Altstadt)1867Hotel Marriott (Zunftstube)Website
Zunft RiesbachGuild of Riesbach quarter 1887Restaurant Zum Grünen GlasWebsite
Zunft FlunternGuild of Fluntern quarter 1895Kunsthaus Restaurant while SechseläutenWebsite
Zunft zu den Drei KönigenGuild of Enge quarter 1897Kongresshaus, Dreikönigsaal
Zunft HottingenGuild of Hottingen quarter 1897Zunfthaus Am Neumarkt
Website
Zunft zu WiedikonGuild of Wiedikon quarter 1897Gasthof zum Falken/FalconeWebsite
Zunft WollishofenGuild of Wollishofen quarter 1900Restaurant Belvoirpark
Zunft HardGuild of the Aussersihl and Hard quarters1922Restaurant WerdguetWebsite
Zunft OberstrassGuild of Oberstrass quarter 1925Taverne zur LindeWebsite
Zunft St. NiklausGuild of the Affoltern, Oerlikon and Seebach quarters1933Restaurant CarltonWebsite
Zunft HönggGuild of Höngg quarter1934Restaurant Mülihalde/DesperadoWebsite
Zunft zur LetziGuild of the Altstetten and Albisrieden quarters1934Restaurant Letzistube / Zum TurmWebsite
Zunft SchwamendingenGuild of Schwamendingen quarter 1975Gasthof Hirschen,
Hotel Glockenhof while Sechseläuten
Website
Zunft WitikonGuild of Witikon quarter 1980Restaurant Elefant (Zunftstube),
Hotel Schweizerhof while Sechseläuten
Website

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hochzeiten und Geburtstage im Zunfthaus in Zürich feiern .