Richterswil: Lake Zurich
Few places in the canton of Zurich have a history as closely tied to silk weaving as Richterswil. On Lake Zurich’s western shore, the municipality developed from a rural settlement into a 19th-century textile centre, while the waterway linked it with Zurich and communities at the lake’s upper end. The long lake occupies a glacial basin between the Zimmerberg hills and the slopes of the Pfannenstiel. At Rapperswil, the Seedamm causeway separates the main lake from the smaller Obersee, or Upper Lake Zurich. Richterswil retains a compact lakeside centre and is known for Räbechilbi, a November procession of carved turnip lanterns.
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Richterswil lies along the southern shore of Lake Zurich, where the built-up lakeside rises into cultivated slopes and the wider Zurich countryside. The municipality is part of a chain of settlements around one of Switzerland’s largest lakes, linked to Zurich and neighbouring shores by rail and passenger boats. Its best-known local tradition is the Räbechilbi: every November, streets and the waterfront are lit by lanterns carved from turnips, a procession that brings regional folklore into public space. Lake Zurich remains central to daily life, with waterside promenades and public access to the water. Continue with other webcams around Lake Zurich to see how this part of the Zurich region connects across the lake and its shore communities.
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Built around a crossing on the Limmat River, Zurich grew into Switzerland’s largest city and one of Europe’s important financial centres. The city lies where the Limmat leaves Lake Zurich, with the wooded Uetliberg ridge rising to the west and the airport district extending northward. Its compact old town preserves lanes and guild houses on both banks of the river, while the Romanesque Grossmünster and the Fraumünster, renowned for stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall, mark the historic centre. Zurich’s museums, universities and lakeside promenades give the city a role that reaches well beyond banking. Explore additional webcams nearby to see how Zurich connects with Lake Zurich, the Limmat Valley and the Swiss Plateau.
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Switzerland stretches from the Jura Mountains in the northwest to the Alps in the south, encompassing a central plateau of cities, farms and lakes. The Rhine rises in the Swiss Alps, while Lake Geneva forms part of the country’s southwestern border. Zürich, Geneva and Basel are major urban centres, yet mountain railways and passes remain central to how many regions are experienced. Four national languages—German, French, Italian and Romansh—reflect Switzerland’s distinct cantonal identities. The Matterhorn above Zermatt is among Europe’s most recognisable peaks, and the 1291 Federal Charter is closely associated with the country’s founding tradition. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Switzerland.
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