Zünfte of Zürich


There are fourteen historical Zünfte of Zürich, under the system established in 1336 with the "guild revolution" of Rudolf Brun. They are the 13 guilds that predated 1336, plus the Gesellschaft zur Constaffel, originally consisting of the city's nobles.

Guilds founded in 1336

There have been two mergers of historical guilds since, so that there are 12 contemporary Zünfte continuing the medieval guilds:
NameCoat of armsDescriptionGuild houseWebsite
Gesellschaft zur ConstaffelOriginally members of the nobility. From 6 December 1490 until 1798, all adult Zürich citizens, not belonging to another guild.Haus zum Rüden
Zunft zur SaffranOriginally merchants of textiles and spicesZunfthaus zur Saffran
Zunft zur MeisenOriginally innkeepers, saddle makers and paintersZunfthaus zur Meisen
Zunft zur SchmidenOriginally blacksmiths, silver- and goldsmiths, clockmakers and physiciansZunfthaus Zur Schmiden
Zunft zum WeggenOriginally bakers and millersRestaurant Weisser Wind
Vereinigte Zünfte zur Gerwe und zur SchuhmachernFormerly two guilds, tanners and shoemakers, united in 1877Hotel Savoy
Zunft zum WidderOriginally butchers and cattle merchantsWidder Hotel
Zunft zur ZimmerleutenOriginally carpenters, builders, wainmakersZunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten
Zunft zur SchneidernOriginally tailorsZunfthaus Zum Königstuhl
Zunft zur SchiffleutenOriginally fishermen and boatmenHotel zum Storchen
Zunft zum KämbelOriginally food dealers, wine merchantsZunfthaus zur Haue
Zunft zur WaagTwo separate guilds, the linen weavers and the wool weavers, united in 1440. The new guild took the name of its house and became the Zunft zur Waag. Since then it brought together the wool and linen weavers, the hatters and the linen merchantsZunfthaus zur Waag

19th century guilds

In the 19th century, with the expansion of Zürich, incorporating various formerly separate villages, a number of new "guilds" were established to represent these. By this time the old guilds had ceased to be tied to specific trades and had acquired a mostly folkloristic and societal function, uniting the upper strata of old and well-to-do clans of Zürich.
Coats of armsDescriptionFounded inGuild houseWebsite
StadtzunftGuild of the City of Zürich 1867Hotel Marriott
Zunft RiesbachGuild of Riesbach quarter1887Restaurant Zum Grünen Glas
Zunft FlunternGuild of Fluntern quarter1895Kunsthaus Restaurant while Sechseläuten
Zunft zu den Drei KönigenGuild of Enge quarter1897Kongresshaus, Dreikönigsaal-
Zunft HottingenGuild of Hottingen quarter1897Zunfthaus Am Neumarkt
Zunft zu WiedikonGuild of Wiedikon quarter1897Gasthof zum Falken/Falcone
Zunft WollishofenGuild of Wollishofen quarter1900Restaurant Belvoirpark-
Zunft HardGuild of the Aussersihl and Hard quarters1922Restaurant Werdguet
Zunft OberstrassGuild of Oberstrass quarter1925Taverne zur Linde
Zunft St. NiklausGuild of the Affoltern, Oerlikon and Seebach quarters1933Restaurant Carlton
Zunft HönggGuild of Höngg quarter1934Restaurant Mülihalde/Desperado
Zunft zur LetziGuild of the Altstetten and Albisrieden quarters1934Restaurant Letzistube / Zum Turm
Zunft SchwamendingenGuild of Schwamendingen quarter1975Gasthof Hirschen,
Hotel Glockenhof while Sechseläuten
Zunft WitikonGuild of Witikon quarter1980Restaurant Elefant,
Hotel Schweizerhof while Sechseläuten