Both Zurich’s government and Huldrych Zwingli were against the practice of mercenary soldiers, which is why Zwingli was chosen to be the minister of Grossmünster Church. This brilliant orator persuaded Zurich’s council and population to accept his ideas – and published the first Reformation writings in 1522, inciting the ire of the bishop and the Pope. The Reformation spread from Zürich across the entire German-speaking area of Switzerland.

The Zwingli monument at the Wasserkirche (water church) was created by sculptor Heinrich Natter and officially unveiled in 1885.