Kindli (Haus zum Kindli) is a historic building and inn located at Pfalzgasse 1 in the Old Town of Zurich, Switzerland, in the Lindenhof quarter near Bahnhofstrasse. It is among the earliest documented hospitality establishments in Zurich and has been attested in historical sources since the late Middle Ages.
The house known as the Kindli is first mentioned by name in documents dating to 1409. According to the Zurich historian Salomon Vögelin, an inn at this location may have existed as early as 1357.[1]
Around 1460, the building was expanded into a hostel accommodating affluent travellers and pilgrims. One of the earliest surviving descriptions of a stay at the Kindli comes from the travel journal of the Saxon pilgrim Hans von Waltheym, who recorded his lodging there during a pilgrimage in 1474. This account is considered one of the earliest references to an inn in Zurich resembling later hotel establishments.[2]
After a forced auction in 1484, the building gradually lost its hospitality function. In 1618 it was converted into a residential property and remained in private use for approximately 250 years. In 1876, Emilie Tribelhorn restored the tavern rights, and the house again became accessible to the public.[3]
A major renovation in 1913 under tenant Jacky Wolf altered the facade and added a relief by the German sculptor Otto Münch. Further renovations during the 20th century preserved significant elements of the medieval and early modern structure while adapting the building to contemporary use.[4]
Architecture
The Kindli is a multi-storey townhouse incorporating architectural elements from the late medieval and early modern periods. Despite multiple renovations, the building retains key features of its historic fabric and contributes to the architectural character of Zurich’s Old Town.
Present use
Today, the Kindli operates as a boutique hotel and restaurant. The restaurant serves traditional European cuisine, including Swiss regional dishes such as Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with Rösti.[5]
Cultural significance
The Kindli is regarded as an important example of Zurich’s historical inns and hostels and reflects the city’s long tradition of hospitality. Due to its documented medieval origins and continuous presence in the urban fabric, it is considered part of Zurich’s cultural heritage.[6]
References
↑Vögelin, Salomon (1858). Das alte Zürich (in German).
↑Krüger, Birte; Krüger, Klaus, eds. (2014). Ich, Hans von Waltheym. Bericht über eine Pilgerreise im Jahr 1474 (in German). Mitteldeutscher Verlag.
↑Enderli, J. (1896). Zürich und seine Gasthöfe (in German). Orell Füssli.
↑"Das Haus zum Kindli in Zürich". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). 26 August 1928.
Bohli, Edi. Zürcher Hotellerie – heute und damals. Vol. 1. Zurich, 1985. German
Gasthöfe und Wirtshäuser im alten Zürich. Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 11 and 18 May 1930. German
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