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LisaLii (Atlas Obscura User)

The walls underneath Lindenhof hold evidence of Zurich’s past. These walls include remnants from the Gallo-Roman, and Carolingian periods, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the city’s history.

During the Roman occupation, the area known as Turicum was fortified with a castellum (a small Roman fort), parts of which still exist today. These fortifications were part of a broader network of Roman military sites intended to secure the region. The walls from this period are visible in the Lindenhofkeller.

The Lindenhofkeller also houses remnants of structures from the Carolingian dynasty, specifically from a time when the site served as a royal palace (Königspfalz). This period highlights the transition of Lindenhof from a Roman outpost to a medieval epicenter of power and governance.

Know Before You Go

The Lindenhof cellar requires a key to get access. This key can be requested at the Stadthaus security counter "S" ( Schalter "S" Sicherheit) which is open every weekday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The key requires a valid ID to be left with the clerk and will be returned to you after handing the key back.

There are other interesting landmarks that can be "unlocked" with this key, namely an ancient sewage ditch (Eh Graben) and the Stadtmauer Keller (city wall cellar) behind Predigerkirche.