Beautiful Zürich, Switzerland in 1914 in color! [A.I. enhanced & colorized]

Zürich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. The city is located in North-central Switzerland near Lake Zürich.
There are many museums and art galleries in this city, including the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus. The Schauspielhaus Zürich is considered to be one of the most important theatres in the German-speaking world.
Zürich is among the world's largest financial centres despite having a relatively small population. The city is home to many financial institutions and banking companies.
For more information, see the time line below.
The original B&W film has been motion-stabilized, speed-corrected, enhanced and colorized by means of A.I. video software.
Music: Trevor Kowalski & Erasmus Talbot.
00:00 Zürich in Switserland

[@AdrianvonZiegler]

I didn't realize how well preserved Zürich is until I saw this and realized I can still recognize many of the places that are shown. That's really amazing, thank you for uploading this little treasure!

[@QTUG4E]

Wiso schribsch du uf englisch?

[@AdrianvonZiegler]

@@QTUG4E Git recht vill Lüüt wo wahrschinlich internationals Publikum sind, drum tueni amigs automatisch Englisch schribe uf YT.

[@QTUG4E]

@@AdrianvonZiegler das lömmer jetzt mal durregah 👍 witter so!!

[@davidwilliamgay4821]

@@AdrianvonZiegler viele von uns sprechen auch Deutsch oder Schweizer Deutsch. Finde es aber gut das Englisch hier als Amtssprache benutzt wird. Übrigens ich wohne sehr lange in Berlin. Zürich ist aber eine sehr schöne Stadt, und eine Reise wert

[@freestate74]

De Paradeplatz isch ja sweet (völlig entschlünigt).

[@gedankenexperiment4596]

Every single person in the video is now gone, but the ship "Stadt Rapperswil" is still in service. Absolutely midblowing.

[@edwardmclaughlin7935]

Gedankenexperiment People die, inanimate objects don't. Your mind is blown by that fact?

[@gedankenexperiment4596]

@@edwardmclaughlin7935 No, my mid is blown. Learn to read lol.

[@Eeagli]

This is insane. I live in Zurich. I recognise so much. Unlike London, Zurich hasn't change much at all. It's weird to see the Zuri crowd more than 100 years ago. I wonder what they were like.

[@JoeLikesTrains]

Say, do you recognize the building at 4:49? I don’t know if it still exists, I’ve never seen it before despite having visited the city several times a year Edit; Found it out to be the Tonhalle, sadly ofcourse demolished

[@jurggreuter3306]

The ship "Stadt Rapperswil" is still in operation, unbelievable. It was launched in 1914. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadt_Rapperswil_(ship,_1914)

[@whenmoonsir]

Omg... I was a passanger last year and did not realize how special it was. Looking at the end of the video and knowing about this fact gives me chills. Thanks for this info!

[@davidwilliamgay4821]

Funny enough i noticed that ship "Stadt Rapperswil" whilst in Zürich back in 2010. I was invited down for an interview in Rapperswil, whilst working in Ulm. Took the train to the Bodensee and then on the Schweizer Bahn to Zürich. Didnt get the job(i live in Berlin) but it was certainly wonderful travelling around the sea from Zürich Hauptbahnhof to Rapperswil 😂

[@qba2499]

Stadt Zürich has been watered in 1912... also still in operation

[@yaronsteinbuch3956]

Looking at these hauntingly beautiful images, I’m struck by how everyone - likely even the youngest - are gone, but the shadows around them are cast by the same star that shines on Earth now.

[@S44BBOI]

Relax

[@fayereaganlover]

Gay

[@saraleasmith6457]

@@fayereaganlover you must be a sad little man

[@javiergonzalezlopez10]

Not only are they all dead, but also many of their children and even quite many of their grandchildren, even those of the children in the footage. Not everyone lives to be 90.

[@ktxed]

the sun is in a way a museum exhibit

[@kimfucku8074]

Very nice trip back in history! Just to give you some ideas where this places are. Main train station. The big arrival hall isn't there yet but the building in the back still exists. 0:46 Square in front of the main train station. Still looks the same. If you walk right, you get into Bahnhofstrasse. 1:17-2:48 Main train station and the building that looks like a medival castle is the Swiss National Museum built in 1898. Looks pretty much the same today. There is a modern extension to the trainstation to the right now. 3:16 Still the same shop at Paradeplatz. Grieder, if you have too much money. 4:09 Looks completely different today. It's also Paradeplatz. Building right is the Credit Suisse building at Paradeplatz (still exists). The two buildings to the left, behind the tram, are gone and have been replaced by the UBS head quarter. 4:27 Pavillion still exists at Bürkliplatz 4:48 Tonhalle. Still exists but the front was changed in 1937. Was recently reopened after renovation. 5:01-5:34 looks pretty identical 6:56 this is interresting! The houses over the river Limmat to the left are gone! The view over the city is almost unchanged. 7:02 Big building in the back is the brand new University of Zurich building. Built in 1914! Paddle steamer "Stadt Rapperswil" is still in operation. The boat was launched on City of Rapperswil was launched on 29. Mai 1914. The second vessel is probably "Stadt Zurich", also still operational and was launched in 1909. Very popular in Summertime!

[@Rick88888888]

Thank you for your very informative comment

[@kisnpisn4919]

7:40 - 8:15 not to be forgotten: lindenhof. a beautiful park on roof level, great view over the right side of the old town and the river limmat. in the back the three big churches grossmünster, st.peter and fraumünster (from left to right)

[@Inazuma68]

Guet gmacht 👍

[@GoldenLion8]

2:50 Uraniastrasse with view of the University of Zurich in the background. On the right is the Urania observatory, built in 1905, still functional today. 3:16 The Grieder building is made of stones from a quarry in Würenlos, where today the Emma Kunz center is located. Emma Kunz was a renowned Swiss healer and painter. 4:27 Pavillon is in regular use today for dance nights, and in the winter for the yearly candle dipping event. 6:53 A nice view of the ETH (left, built from 1858 to 1864) and University of Zurich (right, as mentioned built in 1914, however the university was established in 1833, therefore older than ETH, which was established in 1855).

[@Harry_Stylus]

Zurich looks fairly similar even today! My great grandmother's family came to the USA around this time. Strange feelings for me that this is the Switzerland she knew.

[@TriStarIII]

04:52 it's a shame the old "Tonhalle" building fell victim to the hideousness some people call modern architecture, a marvelous edifice

[@patrislemair1754]

Uglification has its glory years indeed

[@clochebell]

Beautiful Zurich is my favorite city in Europe!

[@darrell1829]

Colour adds so much to a video. To think that the world was just about to change so much. What you see in this video really is a moving photo, capturing the calm before the storm

[@SirSpinach]

That's super poetic! Also, perhaps people will one day say the same about footage from our times.

[@charlescrawford7039]

At the beginning of the film, it’s interesting to see some Swiss steam locomotive power. The outbreak of World War I accelerated the electrification of Swiss railways since the supply of coal had become costly and unreliable.

[@badbotchdown9845]

And the development of reliable powerful electric motors and turbines from BB Brown Bovery and the build up of the first dams in alps.

[@mikatu]

Amazing how little the city center changed in 100 years! Lovely!!

[@UgurEker]

after so many years, Zurich looks still the same but with extra in detail improved things.... the railways are still in use, and places look the same but with new colors and a little bit of styling, like the old one used in 1914... How could we not love Zurich?

[@Metalmania1984]

Each of your videos are like a timecapsule. Absolutely amazing! Thanks for posting this!!

[@Dora-Jakovina-Fratric]

What an amazing world without cars! Well, almost without cars. Two or three cars can be seen. Those were just the beginnings. It must have been much more quiet and peaceful than nowadays. Zürich ❤

[@elias7748]

And less pollution!

[@austincromwell]

What a beautiful city.

[@ritahorvath8207]

It is, indeed. I moved there 25 years ago and still loving it . . . . 🇨🇭

[@jimmorrison2657]

@@ritahorvath8207 I lived there for a year. Awesome city!!

[@SuiSSe-Torture-Prisonniers-CH]

Watch the quadrilogy "The Swiss Beast - Home of the Devil".

[@Braun30]

@@SuiSSe-Torture-Prisonniers-CH in your head

[@JP-yw4wx]

Going back is like time travel. All have been long gone but we can still see them as if it was yesterday. Thank you much.

[@ocitemafortuna3507]

Schöni Altstadtbesichtigung. Chasch hüt au so mache. D Rapperswil fahrt immer na. Danke fürs Teile 👍❤️

[@grandcru5690]

Ja cool, bi sogar scho mit ihre mitgfahre 😜

[@Sabine_Kienast]

Ha grad dur'd Kommentar glueget und mich gfröget, öb sich niemert "getraut" het, uf schwiizerdütsch z'schriebe 😅 , aber jetzt hani dine gfunde 😌 Uf hochdütsch chönnt sich en Engländer de Kommentar na übersetze lah, ... Aber mit Schwiizerdütsch wird de Übersetzer bestimmt nöd klar cho 😂

[@PatrickSchraner]

Makes me appreciate our city even more. Now I just want to go out and film similar places and just document every day life, just to see how it's changed.

[@kalumarjuna80]

0.35 Alfred Escher's statue in front of southern entrance of Zurich Hb.

[@messidhoni6822]

All are in well dresses Watch from Calcutta, India 🇮🇳

[@chriscarswell450]

Another awesome time traveling video. Much appreciated Rick. Thank you. 😊

[@TheKerker60]

güzel bir şehir ve güzel bir ülke.onlardan biri değilim ama burda yaşadığım için mutluyum.teşekkürler isviçre ve teşekkürler isviçreliler.

[@neilthomas9244]

Wonderful. Superbly restored film. Hauntingly beautiful music.

[@ranarafay9366]

Golden age ♥️

[@geowidman]

You have done great work here, Thank You!

[@KaisaMachinimas]

woooow my homecity! What a beautiful video thank you so much🙏

[@a.z.5552]

Fantastische Zeitreise durch Zürich von 1914 und das in Farbe unglaublich.

[@grandcru5690]

What fantastic Shots. Thanks very much👍🏼

[@Rick88888888]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DJSondberg]

Forever Beautiful 🇨🇭

[@hallodu7067]

A world without social media

[@Swisshost]

Time without "Hey give a like, follow me and subscribe"

[@schwabenwurttemberg5916]

But more Social between the people in real

[@justsomeguy1141]

Honestly it still looks 90% the same today! Still amazing

[@ritahorvath8207]

🤔 80 % 🇨🇭

[@Rudis_Garage]

Sind ja auch keine bomben gefallen

[@Slithermotion]

@@Rudis_Garage Naja in Amerika gabs auch Städte die für die Autokultur abgerissen wurden. Bombem waren nur ein kleiner Grund warum im 20Jahrhundert so viele Städte kaputt gingen. Oftmals haben Architekten weitaus mehr Schaden angerichtet.

[@linajurgensen4698]

@@Slithermotion 98% aller hässlichen Städte in Europe, speziell in Deutschland wurden zu Grund und Boden gebombt.

[@Slithermotion]

@@linajurgensen4698 Ja. Aber dann gab es zwei unterschiedliche Ansätze. Wiederaufbauen wie zum Beispiel München, alte Architektur. Oder Neubau wie z.B. Frankfurt. Das war eine Bewusste Entscheidung und die meisten Städte haben sich damals dafür entschieden eine "moderne" Autofreundliche Stadt zu bauen. Die Allierten haben die Deutschen nach dem Krieg nicht dazu gezwungen Autobahnen durch eine ehemalige historische Innenstadt zu bauen das waren die Deutschen selber. Und das ist kein Vorwurf an die Deutsche Nachkriegszeits Generation sondern ein Trend der Weltweit stattfand leider zum Teil auch in der Schweiz. Zu sagen das heutige Deutsche Städte wegen den Bomben so aussehen ist nur ein kleiner Teil der Wahrheit.

[@trush_0544]

Wunderschön Züri

[@janp.monsch3383]

Thanks for sharing. Amazing how the core of the city is still recognizable after 100+ years.

[@mirrormonkey2]

As a local, it's eerie how little the city has physically changed...

[@Ammar-ju1qr]

Very cool, thank you for making colorful videos♥️♥️💯

[@Rick88888888]

My pleasure 😊

[@tanjabruggmann134]

So schön gmacht! Danke🏆

[@CityScapesYT]

Absolutely beautiful video, thx for sharing!

[@carolineschmid1381]

😍🤩🥺 so hübsch! gseht meistens immer na so us, krass und schön wie sich gwüssi sache nid gänderet hend!

[@Lardenoy]

Sauf pour les villes bombardees...Varsovie, Berlin ou, en France, Beauvais, Reims ou Amiens...

[@shaunwest3612]

Amazing work rick, amazing footage, very beautiful city👌👍😀

[@mikhaylov62]

Impressive! It's like being in a time machine back in time! It's beautiful! Thank you!

[@Archimedes250966]

Wenn Zeitreisen möglich wäre, würde ich 100 Jahre zurück.

[@elinavtithanos6270]

So much nice video thank you 👏

[@SaintSeja]

There were 195 867 people living in Zürich in 1914. In June 2023, there are 445 492 people.

[@KS-yn5zw]

nice slow growth

[@ivannaslobojanska2738]

Надзвичайно цікаво і пізнавально - дякуємо!👍👍 Історичні факти,архітектуру,традиції,моду,ритм життя того часу дозволяють побачити відеоролики на Вашому каналі👍👍👍

[@MarinMikelin]

Amazing!! Thanks for sharing this gem!

[@Rick88888888]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Kiwi-pd9up]

All people wore hats :) wow this nostalgia, next time I walk through Zurich I will have these pictures in my head and see Zurich with different eyes 💗

[@youmike60]

Wow! I am a Zürich Citizen. My aunt was born in 1914. The camera moves look a little too smoove for these times. Did I realize a zoom move? Anyway: beautiful! Thank you for these pictures of a brautiful city!

[@marcweiss7928]

Fantastic ! Thank you

[@MrsGiddydiddy]

Beautiful Zurich, after watching this film I feel time stood still!

[@tomfu6210]

It still amaze me how much was done in 100 years of 19th century.

[@bofibofinger2946]

The 19th century ended on 31 December 1900. Did you mean the 20th century or the time that lead to the status of 1914?

[@tomfu6210]

@@bofibofinger2946 Just imagine, 1814 was time of Napoleon. Dusk of Baroque. What was invented, created, built, produced during that 100 years.

[@Impaled_Onion-thatsmine]

Brutal, free?

[@ganiwala376]

I was just 20 years, old young boy at that time, I went to Paris from here. What a lovely time it was.

[@misspuppa]

this channel deserve more than 100k subs

[@Rick88888888]

Thanks! We are going up in number by about 8000 subscribers a month, so hopefully 200,000 subs by the end of next year.

[@angelonero2963]

Sehr eindrücklich. Wunderschön. Vielen Dank 👍🏻

[@anthony.f99]

Great music selections… again :)

[@tslater2005]

KZbin is a time machine, im speechless!

[@rococo9342]

素晴らしい映像をありがとうございます。貴重な映像ですね。

[@petarmalbasic6996]

And how clean it looks like...fantasic

[@ceciliab6417]

Euses schöne Züri isch vom Krieg verschont worde. Sogar de Grieder isch no am glieche Ort :-) Danke für de schöni Film und Musik.

[@Newtonlopez07]

Smile, your pro looks cute and decent... Smile, you are beautiful, your beauty is unimaginable

[@nApucco]

Amazingly, a lot still looks the same today. The city (and country) is very fortunate to have survived two world wars unharmed.

[@oldmanhuppiedos]

I like your vlogs to follow, lots of history.

[@leandrodeandradezurichsuic5773]

Wunderschönen ! Ein Charme ,,, Rückblick auf die Geschichte einer schönen Stadt! Charmantes Zürich ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🙇🏻🙇🏻🙇🏻

[@Lardenoy]

Magnifique locomotive ! 0'2) Et pas ces bagnoles envahissantes dans les rues...Très belle ville !

[@duartefx5437]

This Channel is a time travel.👏👏👏👏

[@aq043]

It would be amazing if you could go back there now and film the exact locations for a side by side then and now.

[@swissarmyknife7670]

They look nearly the same. I recognized all the places and dont even life in the city. But there are alot more things to block the view now. Like cars, trams, street signs, advertisements etc.

[@chnoxis]

You can not go back, but you can film the exact same places today, and compare it with the take from the past. A similar idea had another person in the city St. Gallen. He takes old postcards with pictures from the city and searches the exact same place in the city today and takes a current photo. After he upload the two pictures on his webside.

[@DexM47]

@@DEEPESTKZbin Yes!

[@ddtrader1755]

Die Menschen hatten Stil.

[@haraldtoepfer233]

Wow, was really beautiful then.

[@Enchiladathekid]

Traumhaft. Vielen Dank🖤

[@seandelap6268]

It looks like such a beautiful city.

[@SevanStick]

I live in Zurich. Seeing this was mindblowing. It literally looks almost the same now. Almost scary.

[@lichtundsalz411]

Wow! Eso faszinierend! Danke für das Video! Grüessli usem Kanton Züri

[@janisburgisser9247]

Please more about Switzerland 🥰

[@badbotchdown9845]

Try to find the trains trips in Switzerland here on YT filmed by conductors

[@khaterehlunden5136]

Thank you very much

[@Newtonlopez07]

Smile, your pro looks cute and decent... Smile, you are beautiful, your beauty is unimaginable😊

[@ejayrencel721]

OMG🤭 "Stadt Rapperswil Schiff" where still exist and where I work during every November for" Expovina Wein Schiff" in Burkiplatz.. This video is unbelievable❤️❤️❤️

[@MC-jw7ny]

a very nostalgic and distortingly beautiful documentation, but be reminded that it portrays only the very wealthy population; there was a lot of poverty back then. In the second half of the 19th century Switzerland was one of the poorest countries in Europe, where thousands of Swiss citizens were forced to emigrate to North and South America (many of them were literally expelled from Switzerland by the municipalities with a one-way ticket). Dankjewel en groetjes uit Zürich! Marco

[@Romatisa]

Geen dank

[@grandcru5690]

But this Film shows Zurich in 1914. By then, Switzerland was no longer such a poor Country. In addition, a large Number of People who are doing very well emigrated in the previous Centuries.

[@badbotchdown9845]

@@grandcru5690 you're wrong the wages were low for 95% of people and a general strike was made in 1918 for increase workers conditions.

[@grandcru5690]

@@badbotchdown9845 but that was not just a Swiss Problem. In addition, you should still have a look at the beautiful Pictures in this great Video

[@bernhardwidmer886]

@@grandcru5690 But as Bad botch mentionned, you really see only the wealthy people. The workers and lower class people where not in that area. They lived in very poor conditions.

[@Palum101]

Love this Videos. Im Form Siwtzerland and was there many many times and recognize so many places in wich i made memorys and can now see (and feel) how many other people made memorys there :D so thx ^^

[@franzjacobi868]

Schöne heile Welt,.... der alte Schick, toll !! Danke

[@tutaphafanjumpa1429]

Good evening it very nice video ♥️

[@Newtonlopez07]

Smile, your pro looks cute and decent... Smile, you are beautiful, your beauty is unimaginable😊

[@chidachidamex128]

Wow! I recognize some places :'). Thanks for this video!

[@Newtonlopez07]

Smile, your pro looks cute and decent... Smile, you are beautiful, your beauty is unimaginable😊

[@LUIS-ox1bv]

There is nothing in the African or Asian continent's that can rival what Europe acheived, but has squandered and lost.

[@dracoii1147]

What about Ancient china

[@javierlopez-perez8231]

This is amazing - very liitle has changed in a century. Most of the buildings you see are still there, perfectly well preserved. I guess that happens when you successfully avoid two world wars. Let us hope a century hence, Zürich remains as beautiful as she is today & was in the past!

[@Rick88888888]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lucafreitag2954]

Its not only the world wars, its pretty much illegal here to destroy old buildings, even more historic ones

[@Sabine_Kienast]

Like that 😊 Greetings from Winterthur, Canton Zürich 😇🖐

[@SALE035]

Sensationell 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻✅💯

[@JoeLikesTrains]

This is actually incredible

[@josecarlosguerreros4422]

La máquina del tiempo ! Esas personas son inmortales. Graciad.

[@liubovveyde3528]

so schön!

[@a.omurbattalgazi1313]

You just close your eyes (after having watched this) and you’re there and then 🧚‍♂️. Thank you.

[@sergiomarrocco1926]

Unglaublich schoen.

[@WilderlandPlanet]

cool Video well done

[@Rick88888888]

Thanks!

[@SaKura-il8op]

I live there and a lot of the buildings still look like this! Funny! If you showed me a pic like this without the people or public transport I wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference.

[@nairolfnednilruz]

One of the both ships you see at the end is still on the lake „Stadt Rappreswil“ its called. You see that a bit unsharp in the clip. Its amazing, I grew up in Zurich and am still living here.. not much changed since 1914 in the heart of the city.. wow..

[@kisnpisn4919]

she is so beautiful! love my city and it‘s gorgeous lake and rivers

[@lillygate401]

I am a lot in Zürich and I must say how much it's the same, it is a beautiful video

[@msxy9594]

Wow, i live in Zurich and i recognized almost everything! Most of the old buildings are still there.

[@AntonioER19]

It must be a very nice country I like the video I subscribe to your friend channel

[@poom641]

Wonderful advanced culture, THIS is where 'privilege' comes from my friends. From a history of hard work and evolved minds who keep their societies clean

[@woodych]

Amazing how much of the places still exist and look quite the same today. Ai did a good job colouring. But it should learn from more recent colour images of zürich, about the colours of the zürich flags and trams which can be found all over the place. If that would work the result would be even more amazing.

[@PapaSchlumpf78]

Fascinating, are there sources where these recordings were made in Zurich?

[@peacemaker4real]

great job A.I.

[@greenockcut]

Background music well done: aids without distracting.