"ETH = Swiss Federal Institute of Technology" Zürich Things to Do Tip by Nemorino

Photos:
1. Main building of the ETH
2. Entrance to the main building
3. Inside the main building
4. Looking up

The ETH was founded in 1855 as the Federal Polytechnical School, but in 1911 it changed its name to the Federal Institute of Technology.

The name "Polytechnic" or "Poly" had become very popular, however, and to this day the funicular railway leading up to the ETH is called the Polybahn. Also the terrace behind the main building is called the "Poly Terrace" (next tip).

As I learned from VT member german_eagle (Ingo), the main building of the ETH was designed by none other than Gottfried Semper (1803-1879), the architect of the Semper Opera House in Dresden.

It turns out that Semper lived and worked in Zürich from 1855 to 1871 as a Professor for Architecture at the Polytechnic.

Address: Rämistreet 101, 8092 Zürich
Directions: GPS 47°22'34.52" North; 8°32'53.00" East
Phone: +41 44 632 11 11
Website: http://www.ethz.ch/index_EN