Frauenbad Stadthausquai

Frauenbad Stadthausquai is a public bath in Zürich, Switzerland, forming part of the historical Seeuferanlage promenades that were built between 1881 and 1887.[1] Situated at the Stadthausquai by the Bürkliplatz plaza, the bath was built for, and is still exclusively used by women (Frauenbad means "bath for women").

Frauenbad Stadthausquai
Frauenbad at Stadthausquai as seen from Stadthausquai.
Map
47°22′05″N 8°32′31″E / 47.368183°N 8.54194°E / 47.368183; 8.54194
LocationStadthausquai 12, Zürich, CH-8001
Opened1888
Operated byCity of Zürich
Typepublic bath; river bath; women's bath
Former name(s)Frauenbad(i)
Statusopen
Lengthabout 40 metres (131 ft)
Widthabout 30 metres (98 ft)
Depth4 metres (13 ft)
WebsiteOfficial website (in German)
Features
entrance just for women
Facilities
gym, crèche, kiosk, swimming pool
Limmatquai and Quaianlagen in Zürich: Bellevueplatz and Bürkliplatz, as well as Bauschänzli and Frauenbad, Quaibrücke, Münsterbrücke and Münsterhof, and RathausbrückeWeinplatz, aerial photography by Eduard Spelterini probably in the mid-1890s.

Geography

edit

The small river bath is situated at Bürkliplatz below the Quaibrücke, just south of the artificial Bauschänzli island, in the Limmat. Road transport on Stadthausquai towards Münsterhof is limited; the next tram stop is at Bürkliplatz or Münsterbrücke, opposite of the upper Limmatquai towards Bellevueplatz.

History and description

edit

Zürich's government decided in 1837 to build a public bath for women, so that "they are no longer forced to bath at night in the fountains" and to protect them from the eyes of men. The former structure at the Bauschänzli was replaced in 1888 by the nostalgic Laubsägeli (literally: fretsaw) bath, named for its oriental curved corner turrets. The interior was covered in the early years with a braided roof as a sun shade. Moored on the river Limmat, the small wooden bath is well arranged and is open only to women, except for special events. In the 34 metres (112 ft) pool is a non-swimming section. Free swimming in the Limmat is prohibited.[2]

Cultural Heritage

edit

The structure is listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance as a Class A object of national importance.[3]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Grün Stadt Zürich (May 2006). "Vom Bürkliplatz zur Sukkulenten-Sammlung" (PDF) (in German). Grün Stadt Zürich. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  2. ^ "Stadthausquai, das Zürcher Frauenbad" (in German). badi-info.ch. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  3. ^ "A-Objekte KGS-Inventar" (PDF). Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz. 2015-01-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
edit