Two elegant female figures flank the main entrance of Kantonsschule Hottingen. They stand as a testament to this institution’s history as a beacon of women’s education. Kantonsschule Hottingen wasn’t always its name. Originally, this grand building, erected in the mid-1940s, housed the Commercial School for Girls. It became Kantonsschule Hottingen in 1976, but the echoes of its past as a champion of female empowerment remain.
Kantonsschule Hottingen is more than just a place for history lessons. It is a place where history was made and continues to be made. Today, three distinct educational paths converge within these walls: the rigorous Wirtschaftsgymnasium, the practical Handelsmittelschule, and the forward-thinking Informatikmittelschule. And as if echoing the aspirations of its founding mothers, Kantonsschule Hottingen continues to push boundaries. Since 2004, it’s been home to the ‘Akzentklasse Ethik/Oekologie’, a program emphasizing ethics and ecology. In 2011, the ‘Akzentklasse Entrepreneurship’ joined the fold, instilling in young minds the spirit of innovation and business acumen. To top it off, a bilingual Matura program, offering instruction in both English and German, was introduced in the 2011/2012 school year, cementing Kantonsschule Hottingen’s place as a progressive force in education.
The building itself holds a literary significance. Notice the inscription above the entrance? It reads “Gottfried-Keller-Schulhaus,” a tribute to Zurich’s celebrated poet, Gottfried Keller. Interestingly, Keller’s former residence on Zeltweg is just a stone’s throw away from the school, making this location a meeting point of history and literature. As you leave Kantonsschule Hottingen, take a moment to stroll down Zeltweg. Imagine the clatter of Keller’s typewriter and the scent of ink and paper as he penned his masterpieces. It’s a tangible connection to Zurich’s rich literary past, woven into the fabric of this vibrant city.