Secret Giacometti-Halle in Zurich Police Station – A FREE Hidden Gem
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Did you know that one of the best FREE things to do in Zurich is hidden away inside Zurich Police Station?
Now, I know that the police station is the last place that you would want to spend your holidays, but hear me out.
Zurich Police Station, or Amtshaus I, has one of the prettiest police stations, painted by the famous artist Augusto Giacometti.
The Zurich Giacometti-Halle was commissioned to brighten up the dark, austere hallways and is painted in all sorts of colourful flowers.
Locals call this “Blüemlihalle”, or the little flowers hall, and it was one of the best things I did in the city.
All you need is to bring some form of ID to go inside, and it’s free of charge.
Here is how to see the secret Giacometti-Halle in Zurich and the story behind this gorgeous artwork.
Who was Augusto Giacometti?
Augusto Giacometti was a Swiss painter from Stampa, Graubünden, and was born in 1877. He studied at the Zurich University of the Arts.
The Giacometti name was big in the art world, and there is an entire dynasty of Giacometti artists.
This includes his cousin Giovanni Giacometti and sculptor Alberto Giacometti.
Throughout his life, he was a prominent painter of the Art Nouveau and Symbolism movements.
He was also one of the first abstract painters to work with stained glass, murals, and posters.
You’ll see many of his stained glass window pieces in Zurich’s famous churches like the Grossmünster and Fraumünster.
Plus, he was commissioned to paint the famous “Blüemlihalle” frescoes on the vaulted ceiling of Zurich Police Station.
History of the Giacometti-Halle in Zurich Police Station
Swiss architect Gustav Gull, creator of the Swiss National Museum, was commissioned to convert an old orphanage into the Zurich police headquarters.
The vaulted ceiling of the orphanage cellar was preserved as the entrance hall of the station. But it was rather austere, dark, and gloomy.
So, the city held a competition in 1922 to paint the entrance hall.
The goal was to brighten up the space but also provide much-needed work for local artists.
Augusto Giacometti won the competition by a mile and wanted to paint warm-toned red and orange frescoes with a floral design.
Not only that, but he also wanted to paint stone masons, carpenters, magicians studying science, and astronomers gazing at constellations.
It took two years to paint and was completed in 1925. It was then extensively restored in 2019.
Today, it is considered an important national artwork that the locals call “Blüemlihalle” or a hall of little flowers.
How to visit the Zurich Giacometti-Halle
If you want to see this fabulous vaulted fresco, then it’s very easy to do at Zurich Police Station.
It’s open every day of the week and is completely FREE.
The only catch is that you need to remember to bring a form of ID with you. You can’t enter the police station without it.
When you arrive, explain to the security officer that you would like to see the Giacometti murals. You will then need to deposit your form of ID.
I had my passport with me, and I really didn’t like the fact that it was held hostage and stuck on the desk while I was visiting.
But, hey, at least you know it will be as safe as possible; it’s at the police station after all (eep).
Where is Zurich Police Station?
The Zurich Police Station is made up of multiple buildings, but the Giacometti-Halle is located in Amtshaus I.
This is on Bahnhofquai Street, which is less than 2 minutes’ walk from the Zurich Central Station.
If you’re using the city trams, it would be easiest to alight at the central station and then walk over to the police station.
Zurich is a very easy city to explore on foot. The police station is only an 8-minute walk from Lindenhof Hill.
It’s also only a 15 minutes walk from the Fraumunster/Grossmunster area.
Zurich police station opening times
When planning your visit to the Giacometti Murals, it’s always best to check when the Zurich police station will be open.
As a government building, it is open daily, but the public can only enter in a short window in the morning and afternoon.
The frescoes are available to visit Monday – Sunday from 9 am – 11 am and then from 2 pm to 4 pm.
Exploring the Zurich Giacometti Murals
When you enter the Giacometti Murals, the colours and the patterns will take your breath away.
You can admire the vaulted ceilings and see all the little flowers, symbols, and geometric shapes.
Plus, on every wall, you’ll see workers like stonemasons and carpenters. Also, scientists studying the moon and stars overhead.
There are some free leaflets provided in both German and English at the back that provide more information.
This will give you an overview of Giacometti and the commissioning of his artwork.
It’s a small space, and you only need around 15-20 minutes to explore. But don’t be surprised if you spend even longer, as it’s breathtaking.
You’re allowed to take as many photos and videos as you like. But remember, it’s a police station and working office, so be respectful.
Looking for more things to do in Zurich?
Zurich is a fabulous city that has many highlights to explore, and I would recommend paying a visit to the Altstadt (Old Town).
You can stroll along the Limmat River to see the historic buildings, and you may spot a swan or two swimming by.
Here, you can find many famous churches like the Fraumünster, Grossmünster, and St Peter’s Church.
A great place to watch the world go by is to have a drink at Storchen Zürich.
They have a riverside bar that provides amazing views of the Grossmünster and their very own riverboat port.
Take a stroll down the colourful street of Augustinergasse or end your day with a sunset view from Lindenhof Hill; it provides a great panorama.
One of my favourite hidden gems is the B2 Hotel Wine Library, a bar that houses 33,000 books. It is also home to the Hürlimannbad Spa.
Or, why not indulge in some Swiss chocolate? The Lindt Chocolate Factory is popular. Here, you can learn how they make their amazing chocolate.
Related Post: The Best Things to Do in Zurich
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Save the Zurich Giacometti-Halle for later
