Lindenhof of Zurich
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Lindenhof of ZurichThe World > Europe > Switzerland |
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One of the oldest quarters of Zürich is the Lindenhof quarter. Its center, Lindenhof is located on a small hill, the square opens to a beautiful view over the roofs of the old town on the other side of the river of Limmat. This view was also appreciated by the Romans, even though for military rather than scenic reasons; the high ground was perfect for a fort. The remains of the fort walls and a Roman gravestone from the second century are evidence of Roman occupation. Today, the Lindenhof is considered as one of the most famous places and recreational areas with chess parties, petanque tournaments and theater plays in the heart of Zurich, accessible only by foot through the narrow streets of the medieval city center.
This panorama was taken from the top of the fortificantion on Lindenhof hill in the Lindenhof histori...
Somebody lost their bicycle. It appears to still be in fine shape so if you're in Zurich reading this...
Europe is generally agreed to be the birthplace of western culture, including such legendary innovations as the democratic nation-state, football and tomato sauce.
The word Europe comes from the Greek goddess Europa, who was kidnapped by Zeus and plunked down on the island of Crete. Europa gradually changed from referring to mainland Greece until it extended finally to include Norway and Russia.
Don't be confused that Europe is called a continent without looking like an island, the way the other continents do. It's okay. The Ural mountains have steadily been there to divide Europe from Asia for the last 250 million years. Russia technically inhabits "Eurasia".
Europe is presently uniting into one political and economic zone with a common currency called the Euro. The European Union originated in 1993 and is now composed of 27 member states. Its headquarters is in Brussels, Belgium.
Do not confuse the EU with the Council of Europe, which has 47 member states and dates to 1949. These two bodies share the same flag, national anthem, and mission of integrating Europe. The headquarters of the Council are located in Strasbourg, France, and it is most famous for its European Court of Human Rights.
In spite of these two bodies, there is still no single Constitution or set of laws applying to all the countries of Europe. Debate rages over the role of the EU in regards to national sovereignty. As of January 2009, the Lisbon Treaty is the closest thing to a European Constitution, yet it has not been approved by all the EU states.
Text by Steve Smith.
