Old Botanical Garden

Hemmed by the historic Schanzengraben, the Old Botanical Garden lies at the site of the former Bollwerk zur Katz - part of the city's Baroque fortifications. From 1837 to 1977, the garden was maintained by the University of Zurich as a botanical preserve until the new botanical garden was established at Zollikerstrasse. Today, the Old Botanical Garden is a public park that invites all to linger and marvel at the exotic plants on display. The 19th-century Palm House and the Gessner Garden are the highlights of the park; the former a historic edifice that is now used as a venue for live theater and concerts, while the latter is an intriguing collection of herbs that chronicles the use of such plants for medicinal purposes in the 17th Century. With its scenic surrounds and historic allure, the Old Botanical Garden of the University of Zurich remains a popular tourist attraction.