Beginning on January 13, 2025, crucial renovations and repairs will be made to the outside of the Grossmünster in Zurich. The entire facade of the city’s most iconic landmark will be shrouded in scaffolding by 2026.

Grossmünster in Zurich to undergo major renovations

In a statement, the construction department of Canton Zurich confirmed that major renovations will be carried out on the outside of the Grossmünster, starting on January 13 and lasting up to four years. After repairs to the interior of the church from 2022 to 2024, which restored several wall paintings and improved safety features on the well-worn steps up the site’s towers, the focus of the work will now move to the exterior of the building.

Having been completed over 1.000 years ago on the commission of the Holy Roman Emperor, the largest church in Zurich is showing its age. The department wrote that all of the stone facade needs to be renovated, alongside structural defects like rotting sill beams, rafter bases, roofs and turrets. 

They argued that if they do not put in the work now, they will be sucked into an endless cycle where the church is never completely free of scaffolding - unacceptable for a site which attracts around half a million visitors every year. The work itself will try to use as much of the original material as possible, at a cost of around 32,5 million francs.

Grossmünster to be shrouded in scaffolding for two years

The work on the outside of the Grossmünster will begin on January 13, when scaffolding will be erected on the eastern and southern facades of the church. From the beginning of 2026 to the end of 2027, the entirety of the building including its three towers will be completely covered in scaffolding, though visitors will still be able to access the inside of the church.

Finally, at the beginning of 2028, workers will turn their attention to the south and northwest facades. If all goes well, the church should be fully restored by the end of 2028.