Solothurn (French Soleure), capital of the canton of the same name, lies astride the river Aare at the foot of the Jura hills. Numerous Renaissance and Baroque buildings bear witness to the one-time splendor of the town, which in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries was the residence of the French
ambassadors to the Confederation.
The number 11 is significant for Solothurn. It was the 11th canton to join the Confederation in 1481, there are 11 churches and chapels, 11 historic fountains and 11 towers. St Ursen Cathedral has 11 altars and 11 bells and its staircase is divided into sections each with 11 steps.
The town of Salodurum ranked with Trier in Germany as one of the oldest Roman settlements north of the Alps. In A.D. 303 two members of the Theban Legion, Ursus and Victor, were martyred here. Solothurn joined the Swiss Confederation in 1481.