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At last you can escape the confines of your own four walls and enjoy the great outdoors – for spring is well and truly on the way! And where better to watch the spring awakening than at the zoo? Whether in Zürich, Rapperswil-Jona or the Sihl forest – the choice of animal parks is broad.

Zürich Zoo covers an area of around 27 hectares and is divided up into the various regions of the world. This enables visitors to familiarize themselves with animals such as snow leopards, Asian elephants, Amur tigers and Mongolian wolves in a setting resembling their natural habitat. A very special attraction is the Masoala Hall, an indoor Madagascan rainforest, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. A treetop walkway is scheduled to open at the end of March, allowing visitors to view the rainforest from the perspective of a flying fox at a height of 60 feet above the ground. The Madagascar Days on April 6 & 7, 2013 also offer a special jubilee program of culinary and cultural events.

Visitors of all ages can also view animals at close quarters at Knie’s Children's Zoo in Rapperswil-Jona. There are countless activities on offer – from exploring the park by horse-drawn tram, to having a ride on an elephant or camel, right through to the animal feeding times and the sea lion show.

The Wildnispark Zürich (Zürich Wildlife Park), comprising the Sihl Forest, the Langenberg animal park and a visitor center, offers a unique combination of forestland, wilderness and animals not far from the city. Here, visitors can experience animals almost as if they were in the wild, observe their behavior, and admire the beautiful natural surroundings. The Wildnispark is also home to a self-service restaurant, a Stübli dining room and guest rooms, enabling animal lovers to spend the night surrounded by nature.

Guild houses enjoy a long tradition in Zürich. The city of Zürich has a total of 26 guilds; 12 were founded back in the 14th century, while another 14 were formed during the second half of the 19th century. Originally they were tied to specific trades. To this day, the highlight on the guild’s calendar of events is the traditional Sechseläuten event in spring.

Around 3,500 guild members parade through the streets of Zürich to Bellevue, where at 6.00pm precisely the «Böögg» – an effigy of a snowman filled with fire crackers and perched on top of a huge pyre – is set on fire. It is said that the faster the head explodes, the finer the summer will be.

Another traditional Zürich event is Knabenschiessen (lit. «boys’ shooting contest»). Each year, on the second weekend in September, around 5,000 boys and girls aged between 13 and 17 take part in a rifle shooting contest to compete for the title of King or Queen of the Marksmen.

However, Zürich also has more modern traditions. Among the best known is the world-famous Street Parade, where up to one million people party around the lake basin to the rhythms of techno music.

Top sporting events, too, are celebrated in Zürich, including the Zürich Marathon, Ironman Zurich Switzerland and World-Class Zürich. Besides the Zürich Festival, which this year is devoted to Richard Wagner, high on the list of cultural highlights is the Zurich Film Festival. And every three years – including in 2013 – the Zürich Fäscht takes place, lasting three whole days.

• Zürich Marathon: Sunday, April 7, 2013
• Sechseläuten: Monday, April 15, 2013
• Züri Fäscht: Friday, July 5–Sunday, July 7, 2013
• Ironman Zurich Switzerland: Sunday, July 28, 2013
• Street Parade: Saturday, August 10, 2013
• World-Class Zürich: Thursday, August 29, 2013

Fresh fruit and vegetables, prime-quality cheeses, beautiful flowers and crusty breads: Zürich’s markets are full of temptations. Here shoppers can buy wonderfully fresh produce all year round amidst a lively market ambiance. There are six different grocery and flower markets spread throughout the city, which are held a total of 11 times a week.

The flea market at Bürkliplatz, held between May and October, enjoys cult status. Between 400 and 500 stallholders present their merchandise, which is anything but old and dusty relics; indeed, here many a treasure can be picked up cheaply. Equally popular is the Kanzlei flea market, which operates all year round. Every Saturday, up to 300 market vendors stand behind their counters and ply their wares. The Monday market at the Rimini is particularly hip and trendy – and the relaxed ambiance of the Badi-Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing beer after a shopping spree.

All Markets on a map:

The weekly markets in Zürich and region:

Altstetten: Wednesday 6.00–11.00am/Saturday 6.00–12.00am (map)
Bürkliplatz: Tuesday & Friday 6.00–11.00am (map)
Helvetiaplatz: Tuesday & Friday 6.00–11.00am (map)
Milchbuck: Tuesday & Friday 6.00–11.00am (map)
Oerlikon: Wednesday, 6.00–11.00am/Saturday 6.00–12.00am (map)
Rathausbrücke: Saturday 6.00–12.00am (map)
Bürkliplatz flee market: May–October, Saturday 6.00am–4.00pm (map)
Kanzlei flee market: Saturday 8.00am–4.00pm (map)
Rosenhof market: March–December, Thursday 10.00am–8.00pm/Saturday 10.00am–5.00pm (map)
Monday market at the Rimini: Monday 7.30–12.00pm (map)
Rapperswil weekly market: March 15–November 29, 2013, Friday 7.30–11.00am (map)
Baden weekly market: Tuesday, 7.00–11.00am, Saturday 7.00–11.30am (map)
Baden annual market: May 1, 9.00am–8.00pm/November 6, 9.00am–8.00pm (map)
Winterthur weekly market: Tuesday & Friday 6.00–11.00am (map)
Zug old town market: Saturday 7.30–12.00am (map)

These days, the Sternen Grill at Bellevue, with its legendary bratwursts and hot, spicy mustard, is almost as much a part of Zürich as the lake or the River Limmat. Since June 2011, guests have been served from a temporary stand while its permanent location, the Vorderer Sternen restaurant, is undergoing renovation. The reopening took place mid-March. That being said, the cult snack bar will not change much in appearance. The bar has remained the same, although there are a few more tables where people can stand or sit. New to the menu are currywurst with home-made sauce, a kebab and Sternen beer.

The main attraction is, however, the new Sternen Restaurant on the first floor. Three long tables, together with a number of individual seats, invite guests to tuck into down-to-earth Swiss fare. The menu features such favorites as meat loaf, Vienna-style schnitzel and seasonal sausages, as well as a large selection of salads and vegetarian dishes – and all at reasonable prices. Another attractive aspect of the new Sternen Grill Restaurant is the opening hours; hot meals are served Monday to Thursday throughout the day until 11.30pm – at weekends even until 1.00am.

Dine at long tables and allow your taste buds to be pampered by top chefs at Zürich’s food festival, «il Tavolo», which this year is held for the second time. From June 27–30, 2013, Swiss elite chefs will be cooking up a storm and creating mouthwatering culinary delights.

New this year is that celebrities will also be demonstrating their skills in the kitchen: Dieter Meier, Carolina Müller-Möhl, Samih Sawiris, Clifford Lilly, Andreas Homoki, Luisa Rossi and Sandra Bauknecht will create their favorite menus, ably assisted by the head chefs of the six five-star hotels that are hosting the Festival.

The Festival will take place at Bärengasse and at various hotels in Zürich, and features numerous special events. Whether at the Opening Night, the Dashing Cook, the Mercato Lunch, the Long Night of the Tavolata followed by an after-party with Yello singer Dieter Meier and his band Out of Chaos, or the Family Brunch, culinary dreams of every kind are guaranteed to come true.

This year, one of the locations is a highlight in itself: the Mercato Lunch, Long Night of the Tavolata and Family Brunch will be held at Zürich's wholesalers’ market. Guests sit at 650-feet long tables and tuck into gastronomic delights prepared at open cooking stations. Tickets for the spectacular Zürich food festival, «il Tavolo» go on sale soon!

Along Zürich's Langstrasse, flair for design and original ideas are flourishing more than in any other part of the city. Furniture, home accessories, jewelry, shoes and fashion – here creative minds are hard at work. Over 80 shops and ateliers are joining forces to showcase their innovative products at Kreislauf 4+5 from Friday, May 24 – Sunday, May 26, 2013. Over a period of three days, visitors are given an insight into the creative work that is going on in the trendy quarters of Kreis 4 and 5. This year's event starts on Friday at after-work drinks time. Under the motto, «Now or Never: Object of Desire», each store will single out one particular product that is only on sale between 5.00 and 9.00pm – and at a ridiculously low price.

In addition, well-known celebrities, including Hannes Hug, Play Hunter, Koni Frei and Monika Schärer, will be conducting guided tours through the district and showing participants their favorite stores. On Friday evening, the shops are open until 9.00pm, and on Sunday from 11.00am until 6.00pm.

Sunday, May 12 is Mother’s Day, the day we should spend pampering our mothers. For this special occasion is a fitting opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks for everything they do for us. One way to do this is to enjoy a leisurely walk up on the Üetliberg, followed by a lavish buffet brunch at the Restaurant Uto Kulm. Brunch is served between 11.00am and 2.00pm and costs CHF 55 per person, including local public transport (ZVV). The restaurant also serves an exclusive five-course Mother’s Day menu (CHF 89 per person, including ZVV ticket and pre-dinner drink).

Mothers are also bedded on roses at the Dolder Grand: its Mother’s Day package includes one night's accommodation, a Mother’s Day brunch including a glass of champagne, a facial or body ritual of your choice, a Mother's Day surprise, and a bouquet of spring flowers in the room, as well as free use of the spa (from CHF 810 per person/CHF 1'150 for 2 people). It is also possible just to book a Mother's Day brunch (CHF 120 per person, including a glass of champagne) or a Mother’s Day at the Dolder Spa package, where you can luxuriate in a Caviar Firming Facial and Body Ritual, as well as use the Spa facilities (CHF 420 per person).

The LakeSide restaurant, situated directly at the lake, invites you to celebrate Mother's Day with a wonderfully lavish brunch. A rich selection of beverages, breads, eggs, cereals and fruit, a choice of salads, a hot and cold buffet serving a variety of culinary delights, as well as a dessert buffet are guaranteed to set your taste buds tingling. The brunch costs CHF 69 per person, including a glass of champagne and a Mother's Day gift. Younger guests aged up to 14 pay CHF 3.50 per year of age, and can also amuse thems lelves in the special play area.

From February 11–15, a 15-member TV crew from China shot part of the new TV series «Remembering Lichuan» in Zürich. Various locations, including Bahnhofstrasse, the Münsterbrücke, the lakeside promenade, Zürich Airport and the Sternen Grill at the airport served as film sets. «Remembering Lichuan», is a romantic drama that centers on the complicated love affair between an architect (Godfrey Gao) who was raised in Zürich and a young woman (Jiao Junyan) who comes from a suburb of Kunming. She travels to Zürich to visit with her sweetheart his favorite places in Zürich.

The TV series will be aired in China mid-2014 and is expected to attract several hundred million viewers. The project has been made possible thanks to the support of the Zürich Film Office, which operates in collaboration with Zürich Tourism and the City of Zürich. Founded in 2011, in 2012 the Zürich Film Office handled around 50 enquiries.

For the TV crew, filming in Zürich went off without a hitch. Due to the frosty temperatures, however, the screenplay suddenly had to be changed to play out against a wintry backdrop. Originally, the storyline was set in summertime. The Chinese actors were enthralled by the atmosphere of the city and were full of praise for Zürich.