Solothurn

Solothurn is a town in Switzerland, in the Berne Region at the southern edge of the Jura Mountains, on the River Aare, the capital of the canton of Solothurn. It's also known as St. Ursen City, Wengi City, the City of Ambassadors. Some say it's Switzerland's most beautiful baroque city and the city of culture.

Understand
Pronounced like SOLL-Low-Toorn for English speakers, it is called Soleure in French and Soletta in Italian; the average visitor will not need to know these, but it might help to understand references or announcements.

With a population of 17,000, Solothurn is small even by the standards of Switzerland. The town and canton are traditionally Catholic, but not strictly so and the only concern for the average visitor will be if the shops are closed for a holiday. There are churches of various denominations in Solothurn.

Solothurn's history dates back to Roman times. As early as 350 BC the Romans built their "Castrum Salodurum", a bell-shaped walled fort. The remains can still be seen at Friedhofplatz and in Löwengasse.

Because the French ambassadors to Switzerland had their seat in Solothurn from 1530 to 1792, the city is also called "Ambassadorenstadt" ("city of ambassadors"). Solothurn still bears signs of the presence of the ambassadors and their lavish lifestyle. The name St. Ursen City recalls the legend of the two Roman legionnaires, Urs and Victor, who were beheaded in Solothurn due to their Christian beliefs. In honour of their martyrdom and the associated miracles, both were declared city saints. St. Ursen Cathedral dominates the city skyline and is its emblem. The third popular nickname Wengistadt refers to Niklaus von Wengi, a Catholic mayor of Solothurn in the 16th century who prevented a religious war between the Catholic and Protestant Solothurners, according to legend by standing in front of a cannon that was ready for shooting, declaring that he should be the first burgher to die if his fellow Catholics were willing to attack the Protestants. A large painting showing Wengi in front of the cannon is on display in the Altes Zeughaus military museum. Solothurners are very fond of the number 11. With 11 museums, fountains, chapels and churches, and a clock with a dial that only shows 11 hours, and there are numerous references to 11 in the design and construction of the cathedral. Not to mention the local beer called Öufi Bier ("Eleven Beer"). A possible reason for this is that Solothurn was the 11th canton to join Switzerland.

Solothurn is a German-speaking town but, as in the rest of Switzerland, communication in French and English is easy in the city centre. Solothurn is not a common destination for international tourists, but the presence of several international companies in the city and the area makes it common to hear English on any walk around the town.

Climate
Solothurn has a four-season climate typical to central Europe. Temperature in winter is usually around zero degrees, which means that snow can linger or melt away. Summers are warm with temperature in the 20s and increasingly in the 30s. The nearby Jura mountains are significantly colder than in the valley, with snow remaining well into spring.

During autumn and winter temperature inversions results in fog building up over the Swiss flatland. Whilst not the worst place for fog in Switzerland, it can still be bad and leave the city blanketed in a thick grey fog for days on end. Typically this period lasts from October to February.

By plane
Solothurn has direct hourly railway connections to Zurich Airport (1 hr 20 min) and Geneva Airport (2 hours). Basel EuroAirport is reached with changes at Olten and Basel SBB (1 hr 30 min). Bern Belp airport is also nearby (1 hr 20 min with train and bus), but offers only a limited selection of destinations (as of early 2020, mainly holiday destinations for Swiss tourists). Small Grenchen Airport is by far the closest (about 11 km from Solothurn city centre by road), but does not have any regular scheduled or charter flights. It is used for private transport, recreational flying and training.

By rail
Solothurn is well served by the Swiss Federal Rail (SBB) system. Intercity trains running along the southern foot of the Jura provide fast and direct trains along the east/west axis of Switzerland as far as Zürich, Rorschach, Lausanne, and Geneva. A direct connection to Bern is provided by the slower S-Bahn like RBS. Slower regional trains also run along the south foot of the Jura stopping at more points along the way (to Biel or Olten), into the Jura (to Moutier), and to the Emmental (Burgdorf and various stops on the direct BLS train to Thun). Solothurn station also functions as a hub for regional bus and tram transport in the city and greater region. Check the SBB website for timetable information.

By car
The E25 autobahn provides connections to other major cities in the country.

Underground car parks (Bieltor, Baseltor, Dornacherplatz) provide ample parking right next to the old town.

Get around
The town is small enough to be easily explored on foot. The old town is 500 m north of the train station, across the river. The best view when approaching the old town from the train station is attained by using the Kreuzackerbrücke foot bridge, not one of the larger bridges. For destinations outside of the town centre a number of regional bus/train/tram routes service the area, or a taxi rank can be found at the station.

See


There are a number of spots of interest a short walk or ride from the centre.



Recreation
In Solothurn Along the Aare

Other activities around Solothurn.

Weissenstein
The Hausberg (Home/local mountain) of Solothurn is Weissenstein. From the Kurhaus hotel/restaurant at Weissenstein itself there is a view over the Swiss plateau to the Alps, with the local peaks of Röti and Hasenmatt offering even more extensive views along the Jura and to the Vosges in France and Black Forest in Germany. With easy access and good views the mountain is a popular destination in the region, especially in winter when visitors can escape for the fog in the valley and enjoy sunshine and clear alpine views. At night three lights at the Kurhaus are turned on, creating an iconic symbol of Solothurn that can be seen from far away.

There are a number of restaurants along the ridge eg: at the cable car station the Kurhaus/Hotel Weissenstein offers table and self service food.

Getting to Weissenstein:
 * Postbus to Balmberg. A Postbus runs from Solothurn station to "Oberbalmberg, Kurhaus" on the Balmberg Pass roughly every 2 hours. It is much cheaper than the cable car. You can follow the paths to Weissenstein (1 hr, easy), walk back down to Solothurn via the ruined fortification at Balm (2 hr 30 min, easy), or walk along the ridge to the northeast (Fr. 14.80 adult return).
 * Drive. Visitors can drive up to and over the ridge on the Weissensteinstrasse running from Solothurn to Gänsbrunnen. The road is narrow and parking is limited at the top, the road is closed to traffic on Sundays and during the winter. Another alternative is to drive to the pass at Balmberg which offers more parking and the south side is kept open year round.
 * Hike. There are multiple paths leading up from all around the ridge. Signs lead from the center of Solothurn (4 hours).
 * Hike. There are multiple paths leading up from all around the ridge. Signs lead from the center of Solothurn (4 hours).

Hiking:

The ridgeline is relatively flat allowing for easy hikes, those looking for a challenge can push out further along the ridge or take the steeper routes up or down from the ridge.
 * An easy and popular family friendly walk is taking the relatively flat 40-minute walk along the ridge to the restaurant at Hinterweissenstein.
 * The highest point of the Weissenstein ridge is Röti (1395m) which has full panoramic views of the region, reached by a 40-minute gentle uphill walk from the Kurhaus to the east.
 * The "Planetenweg" (planet walk) starts with the Sun at the Kurhaus and carries on to Pluto close to Grenchenberg to the west. The highest point in all of the canton of Solothurn, Hasenmatt (1444m) is also reached by walking into that direction, with different paths leading to the summit (about 5km from the Kurhaus, depending on the route).

Mountainbiking:
 * A downhill trail runs from Nesselboden (the middle cable car station) down to Oberdorf. Bikes can be carried up on the cable car.
 * Chasseral–Weissenstein Bike - Stage 2, Sonceboz–Solothurn.

Winter sports:
 * The path to Hinterweissenstein is turned into a prepared path, with snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing options along the ridge. The Weissensteinstrasse (on both the north and south sides) is turned into a sledging track. There are ski lifts at Balmberg and Grenchenberg, the pistes are small and limited compared to the Alps but they are very practical for visiting when in Solothurn.

Other activities:

Events and festivals
Solothurn has a number of annual festivals and events. Check the relevant websites or the official city website for the exact dates, which vary by year.



Shows and theaters


There are also a number of small cinemas showing a mixture of mainstream films and special interest. Most mainstream Hollywood films are only shown with German dubbing, anyone wanting to see films in English may have to go to Biel/Basel/Bern instead.

Buy
As with most other cities in Switzerland, store opening and closing hours in Solothurn are strictly regulated. All stores, including supermarkets, close by 18:30 from Monday to Friday (except those located in the main railway station). An exception is on Thursdays when they can remain open until 21:00 in Solothurn, and on Friday when the Ladedorf shopping centre in nearby Langendorf is open until 21:00. However, most shops in Solothurn close now already by 20:00 on Thursdays. On Saturdays shops close by 17:00 (often 16:00; but 18:00 in the Ladedorf shopping centre). On Sundays all stores are closed, except for those in the main railway station which are open 7 days a week until 22:00. In addition many of the smaller and independent shops are closed on Mondays.

A number of mainstream and specialised shops can be found in the old town. The largest and more mainstream shops are on the Hauptgasse and Gurzelngasse, with smaller shops scattered around the lanes and squares.



There are no supermarkets in the old town but a number of medium sized supermarkets are a short walk outside. Coop and Migros supermarkets can be found between the Bieltor and Solothurn West. Aldi at Dornacherstrasse 26-28 by the main station. And Lidl at Werkhofstrasse 29d to the north of the old town.

There is a small Coop and Avec at the main station. These offer a limited range of products, but are open everyday and for longer hours than the other shops.

Larger retailers and retail parks can be found outside on the town edges.

Eat
Solothurn has a surprisingly large number of restaurants for such a small town. Italian and Swiss are the most common, with a few Thai restaurants being the more exotic options. There will always be a table free somewhere, but it is recommended to reserve if you want to eat at a particular restaurant on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.

A local speciality is Soledurner Wysüppli (Solothurn wine-soup) which can be found at many restaurants in the town, there is also Solothurner torte, a dessert with cream sandwiched between two biscuits. You're bound to like this if you like the Luxemburgerli of Sprungli in Zurich.

Those spending a long period of time in Solothurn can purchase a voucher booklet Zwei für Eins (two for one) which runs from October to October and offers two one for select meals/drinks at a number of businesses in the area.

Budget
Kebab shops and similar cheap take-aways are doted around the town.



Drink
Solothurn has a number of local drinks to try. The main local brewery is Öufi who do a range of beers (and even a whisky) that can be found in bars and shops around the town, the smaller Wyssestei and Buechibärger beers can also be found in local shops. Whilst Solothurn does not have any vineyards itself the town has an agreement with nearby Le Landeron resulting in Domaine de Soleure wine, again this can be bought in shops around the town.

Bars
A number of bars are gathered on the riverside in the old town (Landhausquai). The area is very popular, with a nice atmosphere and live music on Thursdays/Fridays in the summer. Even during the winter you will find lots of people sitting outside with a drink when the sun is shinning.



Sleep
There are a large number of hotels and guest houses in and around the old town. Reserving early is recommended during events such as the film or literature festivals.

Stay safe
Solothurn is a very safe place with very low crime levels in general, and no scams or crimes targeted at tourists.

In the event of medical emergencies, the nearest emergency room (Unfallzentrum) is at the Bürgerspital Solothurn, and the emergency telephone numbers are the same as in the rest of Switzerland (112 as general emergency number; 117 for the police, 118 for firefighters, 144 for an ambulance).

Go next
With a relatively central location on the transport system much of Switzerland can be reached within a few hours from Solothurn, offering a wide range of day trips or destinations to move on to.

Towns and cities:


 * Basel
 * Berne
 * Biel
 * Geneva
 * Lausanne
 * Lucerne
 * Neuchâtel
 * Spiez
 * Thun - A lakeside town with old town and a castle. 1 hr 7 min, change at Bern.
 * Zurich

Travel into the Alps takes 1½-2 hours by car or train with the closest options in the Berner Oberland being:


 * Interlaken and the Jungfrau region.
 * Kandersteg.

The Jura mountains are much closer and offer a number of scenic and recreational options. The Jura can be accessed directly from Solothurn (such as Weissenstein or with the train to Moutier) or via connections at other towns along the Geneva-Zürich trainline.


 * Saint-Ursanne - A small but very beautiful medieval village on the river Doubs.
 * From Biel connections can be made to access areas such as Mont Soleil, or the watchmaking towns of la Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle.
 * Val de Travers. Noteworthy sights are the Gorges de l'Areuse and the Creux du Van. It is also the home of Absinthe with several manufacturers and museum. Connection at Neuchatel.
 * From Yverdon-les-Bains there are connections up to the caves at Vallorbe and the Val de Joux.

Another option is the Emmental region. Rolling forested hills, giant farmhouses, close up alpine views. Getting in and about by car or public transport can be a little slow due to the limited Infrastructure but is worth it.


 * Hiking. The prominent lookout from Napf.
 * Emmentaler Show dairy at Affoltern im Emmental, and the Kambly Experience in Trubschachen.
 * There are some towns with historic old towns: Burgdorf, Willisau.

ソロトゥルン