Wallisellen – Glatt, Local History and Moos

Wallisellen is a city and political municipality in the district of Bülach in the Canton of Zurich. A stay here offers a range of themes: its development from a village into a suburb, the Glatt shopping centre, the local museum, the “Moos” nature reserve and the sports facilities. The following sections explain how these options differ.

Urban Development and Local History

When the NOB railway line from Zurich to Wallisellen and Winterthur was inaugurated on 25 June 1856, Wallisellen gained a connection to the Swiss rail network through its station. Between the two world wars, the village developed into a suburb; in 2022, Wallisellen officially acquired city status. These milestones provide a brief timeline of the town’s development.

One specific historic building is the Doktorhaus. It was built in 1733 as a substantial inn. After the inn was sold to a doctor and several doctors had used it as a practice, it came to be known as the “Doktorhaus” (Doctor’s House). In 1976, the Doktorhaus cooperative renovated the building under a building-rights agreement; afterwards, it once again operated as the “Wirtschaft zum Doktorhaus” inn. The same building thus illustrates both its former function as an inn and its later use as a doctor’s practice.

Glatt: Shopping, Events and Dining

The Glatt shopping centre is part of Wallisellen’s urban commercial offering and is described as Switzerland’s largest shopping centre. In addition to shopping, it hosts seasonal events for all age groups. These include an augmented-reality game, a book festival and the annual Christmas carousel. The examples represent different types of events; individual programmes may change.

You can reach Glatt by taking S-Bahn line S8 or S14 to Wallisellen station. From there, it is a seven-minute walk to the entrance; alternatively, bus 759 goes directly there. Check the timetables before travelling. Glatt has restaurants and bars serving local delicacies as well as Mediterranean and Asian dishes. On the Globus Deli Tour, the route takes you through Globus Delicatessa, where you can discover and sample products. If you plan to take the tour, check the booking conditions in advance.

Local Museum: Exhibitions and Opening Hours

The Wallisellen Local Museum regularly presents temporary exhibitions on the history of Wallisellen and the former village of Rieden. Guided tours for groups of two to a maximum of 30 people are available by arrangement. The museum is open on the first Sunday of every month from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., except in August; admission is free. Check the museum calendar before travelling.

For travel to Wallisellen station, the museum lists S-Bahn lines S8, S14 and S19, tram line 12, and bus line 759. From there, take bus 771 to the Lindenplatz stop. These travel details differ from the connection to the Glatt entrance; check the timetable details for your visit.

“Moos” Nature Reserve

The “Moos” is a nature reserve covering just over five hectares. Its habitats include swamp forest, woodland edges, reed beds, peat moss cushions and open peat-cutting ponds. Here, the focus is on a landscape with a variety of wetlands and wooded areas, rather than on shopping or events.

Under the provisions of regulations adopted by the municipal council in 1958, access to the nature reserve is restricted. Follow the signs and observe the applicable access rules on site.

Sports and Recreation

Sportanlagen AG Wallisellen divides its offering into five areas: Water World, Wellness World, Mehrzweckhalle, Sportsworld and Winter World. The sports and recreation areas offer opportunities to swim, work out, relax and skate. You can choose between them based on which of these activities interest you during your stay.

The Aqua Fit classes at Water World Wallisellen are QualiCert-certified. If you plan to attend a class, check availability before your trip. This distinguishes this particular class offering from the facility’s other sports and recreation options.

Discover more destinations: Rafz, Zweidlen, Bülach, Opfikon, Lufingen, Bassersdorf, Höri, Kloten

Go to the main travel overview: Bülach.