Zurich - the new capital?

Medea Fleecestealer · #1 29.06.2012, 20:32

Just seen an article on the bluewin website saying that there may be a popular petition to put forward Zurich to become the capital of Switzerland instead of Bern. Good idea or not? Thoughts?

For myself, yes Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland with major air and rail links, but I feel Bern is better placed both in location (being more central to the country as a whole) and also as being near the dividing line between French and German speaking parts of the country. I think the French side would be fairly unhappy to have the capital move so deep into German "territory" as it were.

jrspet · #2 29.06.2012, 20:35

	Quote:
	I will make Zurich the defacto Capital of Switzerland ....

Why is Bern the capital of Switzerland & not Zürich?

http://history-switzerland.geschicht...tion-1848.html

http://www.capnetswiss.com/479183/245839.html

	Quote:
	History 1150: Zurich is considered the "first city in Swabia." Zurich experienced a cultural flowering. 1218: silk trade and commerce become increasingly important. 1336: Guild revolution in Zurich - Zurich became the first mayor Rudolf Brun. 1439-44 : The defeat in the Old Zurich War expansionism of Zurich initially contained one. It brings to abandon the alliance with Austria and the return to the Confederates. 1467: Zurich acquires the formerly free-ranging Winterthur. 1489: Mayor Hans Waldmann, which significantly contributes to the Zurich suburb of position (along with Bern and Lucerne) and the richest Confederates rises, is executed. 1519-25: The Grossmünster Church appointed as Huldrych Zwingli set by the Zurich Reformation. 1531: Zwingli falling in the Second Kappel War. His death puts an end to Zurich's expansionism. However, the reformation of the Church but survived. 1570: The prevailing famine, the government of Zurich leads them to settle textile industries. 1611/12: Big Pestzüge 1642-78: The city built a huge attachment ring which dominates the town until 1833. 1690 - 1700: With 120,000 inhabitants, almost overcrowded. In particular, the famine and inflation of the years from 1692 have devastating consequences. 1701: Last witch trial (Hexentritribunal) from Zurich (Wasterkingen) 1740 - 1790: Cultural flowering. 1790 - 1800: In addition to the farming still brings home the textile labor work and merit. (180,000 inhabitants, approximately 50,000 work as weavers and spinners). 1798: invasion of the French troops 1799 - 1802: Zurich is the scene of battles between the French, Austrians and Russians. 1803: Zurich gets mediated by Napoleon mediation Constitution. 1814: New worsening of the crisis between city and countryside. 1830: day of examination (22 November) - 10,000 rural residents require examination in democratic rights. 1832: Fire of Uster (22 November) - The first cotton mill is home weber stormed. 1844-68: The politician and business leader Alfred Escher characterizes the second-liberal era, railroads, banking and insurance-ups and trade relations. 1848: The new Federal Constitution was adopted. The Confederation - previously a federal state - is a federal state. 1867: Alfred Escher is overthrown. 1869: New constitution for the Canton of Zurich.

	Quote:
	History 1191: The Duke Berchtold of Zähringen founded Bern, Thun and Burgdorf. 1200: A wave of town founding Zähringen urban starts. 1218: Extinction of the Zähringer, the Kiburger (Kyburg) and Count neukiburgischen take the succession. 1220: Bern is a free imperial city. 1323: City buys Bern and Thun rule. 1353: Bern joins the Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 (the eternal covenant of Confederation). 15th century: participates in the expansion of the Confederation. 1515: Battle of Marignano shift in federal policy of expansion. 1536: Bern is expanding its territory from the Vaud. 1564: Berne must return areas on Lake Geneva. 1653: Peasants' War 18th century: "Golden Age" for the city and state of Bern 1749: An uprising of the townspeople is depressed, the Bernese aristocracy politically in charge. 1798: French occupation, destruction of the Old Bern, Helvetic Republic. 1803: Bern is reunited with the Oberland, mediation constitution by Napoleon. 1848: Switzerland is on a new constitution for the state and determines capital Bern. 1851: The economic crisis is leading to unrest in the upper country, and many farmers are emigrating to America. 1852: beginning of railway construction. 1896-1912: Construction of the Jungfrau railway through the Eiger and Mönch. 1917: Bern exceeds 100 000 in the population.

Wakers · #3 29.06.2012, 20:50

How would that work? Every embassy would have to move.

Besides, it really sucks when a capital is at one end of the country (I know, being from England - having London basically get all the money while the places in the North get a tiny fraction is not good).

Medea Fleecestealer · #4 29.06.2012, 20:54

Well, they're also talking of building a new Federal Parliament building too which would cost millions. 3 possible sites earmarked already.

Sbrinz · #5 29.06.2012, 20:57

	Quote:	Medea Fleecestealer
	Well, they're also talking of building a new Federal Parliament building too which would cost millions. 3 possible sites earmarked already.

There is plenty of room on the Bundesplatz for expansion.

Wollishofener · #6 29.06.2012, 22:19

Let's get out of the cities and move the Capital to a place between Bern, Zürich and Luzern, which means Ort+Schloss HABSBURG

quark · #7 29.06.2012, 22:48

	Quote:	Wollishofener
	Let's get out of the cities and move the Capital to a place between Bern, Zürich and Luzern, which means Ort+Schloss HABSBURG

What about having it at the geographic centre of Switzerland:

Sachseln, Obwalden for capital!

Bucentaure · #8 29.06.2012, 22:49

	Quote:	jrspet
	... http://www.capnetswiss.com/479183/245839.html ... 1690 - 1700: With 120,000 inhabitants, almost overcrowded... ...

I see that Zurich up from the Middle Ages has never been a small town,

however, if those given figures (which would make ZH one of Europe's biggest cities, alongside London, Paris, Milan, Naples, Rome and Constantinople, outstanding all others) were correct and considering ZH being a pole of immigration +- up from that period of time,

one could expect ZH city alone to have some 10 million of inhabitants nowadays.

However, if I had to choose a Swiss capital, my vote goes to Milan.

Wollishofener · #9 29.06.2012, 23:27

	Quote:	quark
	What about having it at the geographic centre of Switzerland: Sachseln, Obwalden for capital!

Well I carefully chose a point outside of the Sonderbund ! And in a Canton which is BOTH Catholic and Protestant. Which has a strong industrial basis but also lots of agriculture. And OUT OF THE ALPS with its narrow and critical traffic connections but NOT near to the border as Basel, Zürich and Geneva. As soon as people really trust Germany and no German minister speaks about sending his cavalry, THIS remarkable building could be the new centre of the Federal government

eddiejc1 · #10 30.06.2012, 01:43

Nobody disputes that Zurich is the financial capital of Switzerland, much as New York is in the United States. But unless there have been a rash of diplomats or ambassadors complaining about going to Bern instead of Zurich, why change the capital NOW?

Phil_MCR · #11 30.06.2012, 01:55

keep bern as the capital, unless you want the banking industry to have an even cosier relationship with politicians.

AbFab · #12 30.06.2012, 05:32

It would make Trivial Pursuits easier...

prof. taratonga · #13 30.06.2012, 07:05

	Quote:	Wollishofener
	Well I carefully chose a point outside of the Sonderbund !

The capital can stay as it is, I just want the flag of the Sonderbund:

Wollishofener · #14 30.06.2012, 10:26

	Quote:	eddiejc1
	Nobody disputes that Zurich is the financial capital of Switzerland, much as New York is in the United States. But unless there have been a rash of diplomats or ambassadors complaining about going to Bern instead of Zurich, why change the capital NOW?

In case of most embassies, there is an embassy and its consular section plus the "official residence" of the ambassador in Bern, and some consulates in places like Geneva, Basel, Zürich and Lugano, but nobody cares where the private defacto residence of the ambassador actually is. They can have their private residence in the Zürich area or in the Geneva area. Bundesräte usually have an "emergency cabin" in Bern but commute daily between their residence and the Capital.

Alright, if you take the railways-schedules and structures as criteria, the Federal Capital of Switzerland needs to be relocated right immediately to OLTEN, which is THE centre of Switzerland, with the rail-lines from Zürich, Basel, Luzern and Geneva/Bern all going through the place, and the highways from all sides merging either a bit east or a bit west of that unique place

HatersGonnaHate · #15 30.06.2012, 10:39

My A-hole is roughly the middle point of my body but that does not mean it should be the capital

Olton just like my A-hole is a shit hole so Zurich should be the capital.

Wakers · #16 30.06.2012, 17:35

I find Bern to be a much nicer city than Zürich. To the point where I'm making excuses to go to Bern and making excuses to avoid anything in Zürich.

Wollishofener · #17 30.06.2012, 18:41

	Quote:	Wakers
	I find Bern to be a much nicer city than Zürich. To the point where I'm making excuses to go to Bern and making excuses to avoid anything in Zürich.

The old city of Bern is charming, and unique in its medieval splendor

And its rather reluctant inhabitants are exceedingly friendly

and the city has some most positive restaurants !

Wakers · #18 30.06.2012, 19:16

	Quote:	Wollishofener
	The old city of Bern is charming, and unique in its medieval splendor And its rather reluctant inhabitants are exceedingly friendly and the city has some most positive restaurants !

Yes, exactly. Zürich is pretty overcrowded and the restaurants are obscenely expensive yet offer very little in terms of service or food (for the most part) that make the cost justifiable.

And the people (in general, of course)..

HatersGonnaHate · #19 30.06.2012, 20:38

	Quote:	Wakers
	I find Bern to be a much nicer city than Zürich. To the point where I'm making excuses to go to Bern and making excuses to avoid anything in Zürich.

People from unknown places like (wherever you are from) don't get to have a say

Zurich is a happening place. Does not matter if you are into bankers or hookers, everyone is serviced nicely here.

Wakers · #20 30.06.2012, 20:42

	Quote:	HatersGonnaHate
	People from unknown places like (wherever you are from) don't get to have a say Zurich is a happening place. Does not matter if you are into bankers or hookers, everyone is serviced nicely here.

Or indeed, getting your car set on fire