In 1899, the Zurich merchant Abraham Weill Einstein initiated the oldest observatory in Switzerland, situated near Werdmühleplatz (Uraniastrasse).

[3] Its optical telescope measures twelve tons and was designed by Carl Zeiss AG in Jena, Germany, considered as a technical masterpiece.

The Zeiss telescope, still meeting today's demands, was dismantled in March 2006, and in Jena fully restored.

[4] Paid public tours can be found on clear weather from Tuesday to Friday, starting at 20:00 (8 pm).

At the same time, its location in the middle of the city of Zurich is a serious problem: light pollution allows restricted observations of few galaxies and nebulae.