Rudolf Strüssi fountain

Here in the center of the square, you’ll notice a beautiful fountain topped with a statue of a man in armor. If you’ve ever visited Bern, you might be familiar with this type of decorative fountain, which is often seen as a hallmark of the Swiss Renaissance. These fountains weren’t just sources of drinking water—they were also important meeting points for the community—and the figure chosen to stand atop each one of them always carried symbolic meaning. This one features Rudolf Stüssi, a former mayor of Zurich, known in German as the “Bürgermeister”. In his right hand he holds a long sword, and in his left, Zurich’s banner—both representing the efforts he made to expand the power and influence of his city. His ambitions eventually led to what became known as the Old Zurich War. He died in battle in 1443, defending a bridge over the Sihl river. Legend has it that he shouted for the enemy to halt, and the attacker replied, “May God strike you down, all this trouble comes from you.” So you’re face-to-face with a complex and controversial figure in Swiss history. Now, continue down Niederdorf Street as we make our way to the next stop in Zurich’s charming old town.