Ehemaliger Wehrturm Hardturm

The Hardturm is the only coat-of-arms emblem of a Zurich guild that is still preserved in its original, three-dimensional form. It stands directly on the bank of the Limmat in the west of the city of Zurich and is today surrounded by the Limmatwest large-scale development built in 2000. The exact origins of the Hardturm are not fully clarified, but it is assumed that it was erected in the 12th century to guard the river crossing. The name "Hard" derives from a medieval term denoting a large forest area.

The first documented mention of the Hardturm occurred in 1336, when the Zurich city government was overthrown, with the merchants among the losers and the craftsmen on the winning side. In 1343 the Hardturm, including its associated footbridge, was destroyed by a flood and subsequently rebuilt. At that time the mighty residential tower was owned by the Manesse family, who assured the city that they would always keep the building and the bridge in the Hard in good repair.

Subsequently, in 1352, the footbridge was deliberately destroyed by the Zurichers and never rebuilt, which led to a loss of the Hardturm's strategic importance. After the Reformation, the complex passed into private ownership and was used over the years by wealthy city families as a country estate. In the 17th century the tower was remodeled by its residents in the style of the time, resulting in the addition of four delicate oriels.

Since 1882 the Hardturm has been owned by the worsted spinning mill Schoeller & Co. Zürich; in 1974 it was transferred to Schoeller Hardturm AG and finally sold in 1995 to Hardturm Immobilien AG. Between 1997 and 1999 it was extensively renovated in order to preserve the original construction and create modernized living spaces. Since October 1999 the Hardturm has been rented to two private households and remains an important part of Zurich's city history.