Zurich (Ontario)

Zurich, is a village of about 1,000 people in Huron County, about 6 km inland from Lake Huron.

Understand

Zurich was founded in 1856 and is known for its Swiss heritage, reflected in some of the architecture.

History

Zurich was founded by Swiss immigrant, Frederick Knell, whom laid out the town site in 1854 and in 1856 was founded as Zurich. Knell established a post office, general store, grist mill and saw mill. Knell served for four years as the Reeve of Hay Township. By the 1860s, the population was approximately 300 people with many of them coming from Germany and Switzerland. By 1881 the population had increased to 600 and in 1996 the population was 845. In 1896, Zurich was incorporated as a Police Village by Huron County Council. In 1970, it became incorporated as a village. In 2001, Zurich was amalgamated into the Municipality of Bluewater. Beginning in the 1970s, many buildings in Zurich were constructed in a neo-Swiss style which is a white exterior with brown painted board outlines. When walking around Zurich, count how may you can find. The early German and Swiss bricklayers and builders had a distinctive style of laying bricks which can be seen in many of the older brick homes in Zurich and area. They laid decorative raised brick borders at the eaves, fronts and corners of the buildings. How many houses in town can you find that have this detailing. Many of the unique features of Zurich’s downtown are the commercial building that have the “boomtown fronts”. As old Western movies, the buildings have modest frame structures with grand front facades. These buildings date back to the founding of the village and many have retained the heritage features today.

Get in

From London, Zurich is 68 km, or about an hour's drive north on Highway 4, then west on Regional Road 83, and north on Regional Road 2.

Get around

There are taxi services available from nearby Grand Bend.

See
  • Hay Township Hall, 10 Victoria Street
  • St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Goshen Street South - home of one of the last Centennial Clock Towers that is operational. You can hear the bell on the hour.
  • Klopps Conservation Area
  • Historical Buildings & Architecture
  • St. Joseph Beach

Do
  • Zurich Bean Festival. Annual festival since the 1960s, now held on the fourth Saturday in August each year. Local and guest musicians, wonderful vendors, the Wrench Benders Custom Rod and Antique Car Show, live action Cattle Sorting, home cooked bean & pork chop dinner, carnival rides, and street market. (updated Jan 2018)
  • Bayview Golf Club, 72538 Bluewater Highway #21, ☏ +1 519-236-4030, . 9 holes walking/riding $25/$37; 18 holes walking/riding $40/$50; $5-20 discount after 1PM. (updated Jul 2018)
  • Town and Country Bowling, 38120 Zurich-Hensall Rd, ☏ +1 519-236-4923. W 9AM-9PM, Th-Su 1PM-9PM. 5-pin bowling. (updated Jul 2018)
  • All-in-Skate Park

Buy
  • Jerry Rader Home Style Catering & Market, 38110 Zurich Hensall Rd, ☏ +1 519-236-4039. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Take-out lunches, deli salads & meats, baked goods, frozen meals, giftware. Live entertainment and barbecue on Saturday 11AM-2PM. (updated Jul 2018)
  • Havasu Coffee Company, 17 Goshen Street North, coffee shop. Opened 2019.
  • B Creative Prints, Frames & Design Inc., 2-28 Goshen Street North, custom printing, framing and design services.
  • Blessings Thrift Store, community second-hand store and local food bank collection centre.
  • Zurich Home Town Grocer
  • Good Neighbours of Bluewater, Community Connection Centre, 1-28 Goshen Street North
  • Zielman's Goods & Gifts, Goshen Street North, local handmade goods, apparel, gifts and food items
  • Huron Ridge Greenhouses, Bronson Line

Eat

Drink

Sleep
  • Hessenland County Inn, 72981 Bluewater Hwy, Zurich, toll-free: +1-866-543-7736, . Expansive gardens, dining room serving European and local dishes, estate vineyard, accommodations and the Coach House reception hall. Hessenland’s barns offer boarding to horses, who are most frequently seen grazing in the 30 acres of pastures and fields surrounding the inn. (updated Jul 2018)

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