Good to know
Things that you need to know before coming to the event.
In Brief
MWC’s “The Courage to Love” event will happen in the old city of Zürich. All locations are within walking distance from each other and the main train station.
Activities will take place from 11:00 to 19:00, including the closing worship, that will start at 17:00 and will be livestreamed.
You can join the event at any time of the day. Registration is not required. For those who would like to participate in the 11:00 activities, we recommend arriving in Zurich at 10:30 or before.
Upon your arrival in Zürich participants are welcome to pick up a copy of the event program with a city map at one of the information-stands (Zurich Main Station, Grossmünster). Everyone will also receive a sticker so that participants can recognize each other in the city.
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Questions
Still have questions? If you’ve reviewed our Good to Know section and the program section and still have questions, please contact us here.
Program
We recommend that you study the online program schedule and choose your preferred activities before arriving in Zürich. You will enjoy the day more that way.
Changes to the program times or venues will be announced on this website.
All ages
The program is geared to all ages. Different parts of the program will be of interest for different people. You can participate on your own or as a group. Children can participate in the activities with their parents.
Information
There are two MWC information desks, one in the main hall of the train station (“Zürich Hauptbahnhof”) and another one in a tent next to the Grossmünster.
A check-in for the event is not necessary. We recommend that you get an event map for the day at one of the two information desks upon arrival.
Anyone with questions about the event or in need of assistance can contact one of the information desks or ask one of the numerous volunteers, wearing distinct T-shirts, present at all venues.
Arrival
We recommend that you arrive by public transportation. You can reach the venues in 10-15 minutes on foot from the main railway station. You can also take a tram to get to the venues.
Hirschengraben / Seilergraben - tram 3 and 31
Grossmünster at Limmatquai – tram 4 and 15
Daypass is 9.20 CHF
Tour-bus parking is available close to the main train station, Sihlquai Ausstellungsstrasse 15 8005 Zürich.
Car parking is available at Urania-Parking at Uraniastrasse 3. Day parking is 45.00 CHF
Cost
The one-day “The Courage to Love” event in Zurich is free of charge, but not free of cost. You can express your gratitude by giving a donation to MWC.
Interpretation
The event languages are English, French, Spanish and German.
The panel discussion, historical walking tour, story trail and worship service will be accessible in all four languages.
Everyone will need to check out headsets for the panel discussion, as there will not be a stage language. English will be the stage language for the worship service at the Grossmünster; French, Spanish and German speakers will need to check out headsets. Be prepared to leave a personal ID card or 20 CHF/Euros/Dollars, to receive headsets, which will be returned at the end of the service.
The worship service will also be livestreamed to three other locations that can accommodate more people with interpretation into a single language: German (Predigerkirche); Spanish (Freie Evangelische Gemeinde); French (Friedenskirche)
Workshops will be available in up to two languages.
Please check the announcements.
Meeting Others
You will meet many people from around the world attending the event in the streets of Zürich, in workshops, concerts, exhibits or at the MWC Café, located at the Helferei.
MWC Café
The MWC Café at the Helferei is the community hub, where you can buy a cup of coffee or eat your own packed lunch while meeting others who came to Zürich to remember 500 years of Anabaptism. Here you can also view an exhibit of 100 years of MWC and connect to wifi.
Venues and Accessibility
All locations are within walking distance from each other and the main train station.
Most meeting places are wheelchair accessible except for the Friedenskirche, where access includes a set of stairs.
Livestream
The closing worship service at the Grossmünster will be livestreamed. The link will be provided here.
The panel discussion and concerts will be filmed and shared on the MWC website at a later time.
Washrooms
Washrooms can be found at various event locations. There are also a number of public toilets.
Photos
Smile – you may be on camera. You acknowledge that people are using video and photographic cameras at the event and that your image may be captured on video or in photographs, which may subsequently be displayed or disseminated without your consent or payment of compensation to you and you release MWC from any legal liability for such filming, photographing or dissemination.
Please inform MWC Communications if you do not wish for your image to be used in MWC materials.
To share your photos from your own camera for use by MWC Communications, please send to photos@mwc-cmm.org.
First Aid
A first aid station is located at the Helferei in the Oskar-Farner-Saal. An event emergency phone number will be announced here closer to the event. The public emergency number is 144.
Internet
Wifi is available at the MWC Café.
If you plan to use the data on your phone, be sure that your provider includes Switzerland.
Souvenirs
Since 29 May is a public holiday, many of the stores in the city centre will be closed. However, stores close to the train station will likely be open.
Typical souvenirs like chocolates, postcards, wooden toys, Swiss knives and more are available at the Tourist Information inside the Züricher main train station or at the two stores of Heimatwerk at Uraniastrasse 1 and Bahnhofstrasse 2.
Accommodations
Those who will be coming for the Zurich event are expected to find their own accommodation.
Homestays are available through the website Täufer Willkommen:
“Swiss Christians warmly welcome Anabaptist visitors to the land of their origins. As a sign of fellowship in Christ, we offer guest rooms in the weeks around Ascension and Pentecost.”
Weather
The temperatures in May can be anywhere between 10°C and 30°C. It can be sunny or rainy. Check the weather report a day or two before the event and be prepared for anything!
Food
Food options for the day.
The event will take place in the city center of Zürich. You will be able to find your own food options among the restaurants and cafés in the city. You can also buy food items at the supermarket next to the train station or bring your own picnic, water bottle and coffee cup to save the environment. In addition MWC has arranged several options to buy street food.
At Zwingliplatz with two Swiss pasta options, vegetarian or with meat. At the courtyard of the Central Library/Predigerkirche with grilled sausage and potato salad Each meal costs CHF 15.
The restaurant Time Out is offering a three-course lunch menu for event participants, including water and coffee/cake, for CHF 35. Those who wish to dine at Time Out must reserve a table by the end of April. There is space for 60 people, register early!
The Reformed Church is generously offering an ice cream cart, which will be stationed in the Predigerkirche courtyard. Around 1,000 portions of ice cream will be distributed free of charge to the attending guests of the anniversary event! Those who bring their own picnic can eat it at the MWC Café (Helferei), where coffee, tea, and cold drinks (0,5l) will be available for CHF 3 each. The MWC Café is a place to meet other event participants or visit the exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the MWC.