The debating house "Charlemagne" serves as a platform for the exchange of opinions and is a socio-cultural meeting place in Zurich's old town: under one roof, we unite subject areas as broad as social and political diversity. The rooms, steeped in history, and the inner courtyard are open to the public on four floors. The permanent exhibition "It's a... Women's Women's World!" complements the uniquely designed rooms and honours 13 women artists and their works. Under the motto "as brutally local as possible", we serve our guests the culinary diversity of Zurich producers in the bistro.
"Charlemagne" is an offer of the Social Services of the "City of Zurich", located in the department of Social City Life.
Visitors* with an impairment please call 044 415 68 68.
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Our Events
Karl der Grosse
The demonisation of elderly women
We are familiar with witches from children’s books, puppet theatres and radio plays – often depicted as old women, sometimes ‘good’, sometimes ...
11.11.2026
19:00
Karl der Grosse
Land sufficiency: How much is enough?
How much land does a person need to live comfortably? What criteria do different stakeholders use to quantify land sufficiency? Which approaches promise ...
12.11.2026
18:00
Livestream
Karl der Grosse
Whose cosmos? Perspectives on existence, hope and the incomprehensible
Space confronts us with a fundamental question: how do we, as human beings, situate ourselves within a universe that is larger, older and more ...
17.11.2026
19:00
Karl der Grosse
How does film change the world – and ourselves?
How does reality become cinema? Through whose eyes do we see a story? And how can film bring experiences to life for us? The multi-award-winning filmmaker, ...
19.11.2026
20:00
Karl der Grosse
To what extent does (or did) the spirit of the age shape science and philosophy?
People deal with differing viewpoints in different ways. Do science and philosophy – which, at least in part, lay claim to objectivity – take a ...
20.11.2026
14:00
Karl der Grosse
And they spoke in a thousand languages…
Certainly, speaking could bring people together across linguistic boundaries. But does the willingness to talk to one another and engage with the unfamiliar ...
