Carolinum Zürich

The Carolinum (sometimes referred to as Prophezei or Prophezey) is a historic educational institution in Zürich, Switzerland, established in 1525. It originated as a transformation of the Latin school Prophezey into a training center for Reformed theologians, initiated by the reformer Huldrych Zwingli through a city council mandate on 29 September 1523. Lessons began on 19 June 1525. The institution was closely associated with the Grossmünster priory and its canons, and its name derives from Charlemagne (Carol or Swiss-German Karl). Over the centuries, the Carolinum expanded its curriculum beyond theology and classical languages. In 1541, a natural history department was created under Conrad Gessner; in 1731, a political science chair was established with Johann Jakob Bodmer; and in 1782, a surgical institute was added to train medical doctors. The financing of professorships depended on the benefices of the secularized canons of the former Grossmünster priory. After the abolition of the Chorherrenstift congregation in 1832, the building was sold to the Canton of Zürich. In 1849, the structures were widely demolished and replaced by Gustav Albert Wegmann's building in Romanesque Revival style. From 1875 to 1976, the building housed the Grossmünsterplatz schoolhouse of the girls' gymnasium (Töchterschule, today Kantonsschule Hohe Promenade). Since 1976, it has been leased to the Theological faculty of the University of Zürich. The present University of Zürich bases its tradition on the Carolinum and uses its former logo, the silhouette of the Grossmünster church. The building, located at Kirchgasse 9 at the Grossmünsterplatz square, is attached to the Grossmünster church on its eastern side. The cloister of the former Chorherrenstift Grossmünster, dating from the late 12th century, was dismantled and integrated into the new building in 1851. It now houses a permanent exhibition on Zwingli and other Reformation figures. The cloister was renewed in 2009, with its sandstone elements cleaned and the interior garden redesigned in cooperation with the ProSpecieRara foundation, inspired by Conrad Gessner. Grossmünster and Carolinum (Ehemalige Mädchenschule am Grossmünster) are listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance as a Class A object of national importance.

The Carolinum (sometimes Prophezei or Prophezey) is the predecessor educational institution of the theological faculty of the University of Zurich, established in 1525. As building, it is part of the former cloister of the Grossmünster Chorherrenstift in Zurich, Switzerland. Grossmünster and Carolinum (Ehemalige Mädchenschule am Grossmünster) are listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance as a Class A object. An institutionalized academic education in Zürich dates back to the medieval collegiate and city schools. In the late European Middle Ages, a Carolinum associated to the Grossmünster priory and its canons was mentioned. On occasion of the Reformation in Zürich, it even became an important rule for the training of prospective Protestant theologians. As other educational institutions, it is named after Charlemagne (Carol or Swiss-German Karl). The reformer Huldrich Zwingli initiated the transformation of the former Latin school Prophezey or Prophezei into a training center for reformed theologians, by a Zürich city's council mandate on 29 September 1523 AD; lessons started on 19 June 1525. The weekday lectures (Lezgen or Lectiones, literally: lessons) were free of charge for the interested people in urban and rural areas of the city republic of Zürich, by well-learned men. Heinrich Bullinger's Schola Tigurina may have influenced the education in many other institutions beginning in 1559. Bullinger's Schola Tigurina merged in the 18th century to the theological faculty and the upper secondary school in the then Carolinum been. The financing of the chairs respectively professorships was depending on the benefices of the secularized canons of the former Grossmünster priory. In addition to theological subjects and Classical languages, in 1541, the natural history department (Conrad Gessner) and in 1731 a political science chair (Johann Jakob Bodmer) was created, and in 1782 the surgical institute to train medical doctors. After the abolition of the Chorherrenstift congregation in 1832, the building was sold to the Canton of Zürich. In 1849 the structures were widely demolished and replaced by Gustav Albert Wegmann's building. The Grossmünsterplatz schoolhouse of the girls' gymnasium (Töchterschule, as of today Kantonsschule Hohe Promenade), an urban high school for girls, was established in 1875 and located in the building until 1976, when the Theological faculty of the University of Zürich moved in. The present University of Zürich bases on the Carolinum and uses its former logo, the silhouette of the Grossmünster church. The university claims to be established in the tradition of the canons of the Carolinum's institutions. The building is located at Kirchgasse 9 at the Grossmünsterplatz square – attached to the Grossmünster church on its eastern side – in the southeast of the Neumarkt respectively northwestern of the Münsterhof squares in Zürich. The cloister of the former Chorherrenstift Grossmünster, the chapter of Augustinian canons, dates from the late 12th century and was part of the canons (Chorherrenstift) which was dissolved in 1832, making way for the girls' school. The cloister was dismantled and integrated into the new building those reconstruction was based on the original elements of the architecture, but includes numerous interpretations by the architect. The cloister is also home to a permanent exhibition on Zwingli and other important people in the Reformation era. The cloister was renewed in 2009, its sandstone elements were cleaned, and the interior garden redesigned in corporation with the ProSpecieRara foundation. The compilation of the cultural and historical ornamental plants is inspired by the natural scientist and polymath Conrad Gessner who found his final resting place in the cloister. Gessner dealt inter alia with the elements of teaching, therefore the renewed courtyard garden is dedicated to the thema earth, fire, water and air, cultural-historical ornamental plants in the four beds, analogous to the Gessner-Garten in the Old Botananical Garden. After the abolition of the Chorherrenstift congregation in 1832, and to 1849 the structures were widely demolished and replaced by Wegmann's building in the Romanesque Revival style. The as of today faculty building was built according to the drafts Gustav Albert Wegmann from 1843 to 1849. The cloister was dismantled during the demolition, supplemented with many new parts and integrated into the new building in 1851. The Grossmünster church building is owned by the Canton of Zürich, and the annex building being the former cloister, however, is in the property of the city of Zürich. It is leased to the Theological faculty of the University of Zürich since 1976.

• 2009

  Cloister renewed; sandstone elements cleaned and interior garden redesigned with ProSpecieRara.

• 1976

  Theological faculty of the University of Zürich moves into the building; it is leased to the faculty.

• 1875

  Grossmünsterplatz schoolhouse of the girls' gymnasium (Töchterschule) established in the building.

• 1851

  Cloister dismantled, supplemented with new parts, and integrated into the new building.

• 1849

  Structures widely demolished and replaced by Wegmann's building in Romanesque Revival style.

• 1843

  Construction of the new faculty building according to drafts by Gustav Albert Wegmann begins (completed 1849).

• 1832

  Abolition of the Chorherrenstift congregation; building sold to the Canton of Zürich.

• 1782

  Surgical institute established to train medical doctors.

• 1731

  Political science chair created with Johann Jakob Bodmer.

• 1559

  Heinrich Bullinger's Schola Tigurina may have influenced education in many other institutions.

• 1541

  Natural history department created under Conrad Gessner.

• 1525

  Lessons start on 19 June at the Carolinum.

• 1523

  Zürich city council mandate on 29 September initiates transformation of the Latin school Prophezey into a training center for Reformed theologians.

Historic educational institution and predecessor of the University of Zurich's theological faculty

1. 1Carolinum, Zurich - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Carolinum Zürich - Wikidatawikidata.org