What if Wollishofen had remained independent? Imagine a Zurich where Wollishofen still proudly waved its own flag.
Wollishofen is now a neighborhood in Zurich’s 2nd district. It sits in the eastern foothills of Uetliberg. But it wasn’t always part of Zurich.
Let’s step back in time. Before 1893 Wollishofen was its own municipality. It even fought hard to stay that way.
In the 19th century Zurich grew. Nearby communes wanted to join the city. Aussersihl was particularly eager. In 1885 a motion was made to incorporate ten communes including Wollishofen.
Wollishofen protested. It wanted to keep its independence. The Cantonal Council still passed the law in 1891. This law incorporated Aussersihl Enge and others into Zurich.
A referendum stirred strong emotions. Supporters spoke of solidarity. Opponents invoked tradition. The law passed but Wollishofen and Enge voted against it.
Wollishofen argued that forced incorporation was unconstitutional. The Federal Supreme Court disagreed. Zurich’s constitution didn’t protect communes.
Why did Wollishofen resist? It was largely rural. It had a strong sense of identity. Members of the Wollishofen Guild pledged to preserve the village’s character. They wanted to protect it from the expanding city.
Over time Wollishofen came to terms with being part of Zurich. The tram line extended. This connected it to the city. Relocating the orphanage to Wollishofen also helped. It gave residents a sense of belonging.
Today almost no one remembers the fight for independence. Wollishofen is a vibrant part of Zurich.
Wollishofen is located between the Sihl River and Lake Zurich. It marks the city’s southern boundary on the lake’s left bank. The lake covers a large part of the district.
You can explore the Werkbundsiedlung Neubühl. It is a New Objectivity estate built in the early 1930s. Famous architects like Max Haefeli and Alfred Roth worked on it.
Getting around Wollishofen is easy. It sits on the A3 motorway. Tram route 7 connects it to the city. The Wollishofen railway station is on the S-Bahn line. Bus Line 72 also serves the area. The Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft and its shipyard are in Wollishofen.
Culturally Wollishofen offers much. The Zürcher Theater Spektakel is held annually in August. It is a major European performing arts festival. The Rote Fabrik cultural center is here too. You can also visit Lydia Escher’s former home Villa Belvoir.
Sports fans can cheer on FC Wollishofen. Their stadium Sonnau is on Zürichstrasse. The team plays in the 2. Liga Region Zürich.
Wollishofen has changed. Once a rebellious village it is now a vital part of Zurich. It enriches the city with its history culture and community spirit.