Aarau - Main Sights

The well-preserved old town of Aurau, built on a prominent rocky hill above the Aare, has many gabled houses with carved decoration (ornamental and figured) on the roofs and painted shingle fronts. The Rore tower (1240) is the oldest part of the Rathaus (Town Hall), which was enlarged about 1520 and remodeled in Baroque style in 1762. The Late Gothic parish church (Stadtkirche: Protestant), a pillared basilica, was built in 1471-78. Both these buildings are in the Halde, the best-preserved old street in the canton, with houses ranging in date from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Here, too, is the Upper Tower (Oberer Turm, 1270). Its clock dates from 1532 and still strikes daily. On the south side of the tower is the painting "Dance of Death" by Felix Hoffman. The Schlössli was originally a castle keep (11th century). The Grossratsgebäude, seat of the cantonal parliament, is the finest Neo-classical building in Aargau (1826-28). From the new bridge over the Aare (Neue Aarebrücke,1949) there is a fine view of the old town. Also of interest are the Municipal Museum (Stadtmuseum Alt-Aarau) in the castle (opening hours given), the Art Gallery, the Aargau Museum of Nature and local interest and the Crime Museum, opened in 1992.