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PlanetWare.com > Europe > Switzerland > Switzerland Tourist Attractions > Solothurn Tourist Attractions

Solothurn Attractions

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.
Read More Cathedral Treasury
(St Ursen Cathedral)
Read More St Ursen Cathedral
St Ursen is an Italian Baroque style Cathedral, located in the Old Town.
Blumenstein Castle and Historical Museum
North of the Solothurn Museum of Art is the Schloss Blumenstein Historical Museum, with collections of applied art (patrician domestic interiors of the 18th C.).
Address
Museum Blumenstein
Blumensteinweg 12
CH-4500 Solothurn
Switzerland
Hours
January 1 to December 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
January 2nd Holiday - Switzerland (January 2)
Swiss National Day (August 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday) - Christian (May 28)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Jesuit Church
In Hauptgasse, which runs between the Marktplatz, is the Jesuit church (1680-89) with an interior decorated with stucco work by Ticenese artists. In the cloister is an interesting lapidarium with Roman inscriptions.
Marktplatz
In the Solothurn Marktplatz is the 12th C. clock tower (Zeitglockenturm), with mechanical figures (1545) of a king flanked by Death and a soldier. Close by is the Mauritius fountain decorated with a figure by the famous master Hans Gieng of Fribourg.
Museum of Art
The Museum of Art, houses works by old masters (including a Madonna by Hans Holbein the Younger) and by 20th C. artists.
Address
Kunstmuseum Solothurn
Werkhofstrasse 30
CH-4500 Solothurn
Switzerland
http://www.kunstmuseum-so.ch
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close 12:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:00
Open 14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close 17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Tips
Donations are accepted.
Nature Museum
The nature museum Solothurn is a modern family museum, which exhibits animals, plants, fossils, rocks and minerals of the region.
Address
Solothurn Naturmuseum
Klosterplatz 2
CH-4500 Solothurn
Switzerland
http://www.naturmuseum-so.ch
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0010:00
Close 17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Old Arsenal
The Old Arsenal (Altes Zeughaus, 1610-14), northwest of the cathedral in Solothurn, houses the largest collection of arms and armor of Europe. The extensive arsenal has weapons and uniforms from the 16th and 17th C. to the present-day.
Address
Museum Altes Zeughaus
Zeughausplatz 1
CH-4500 Solothurn
Switzerland
Hours
March 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close12:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:00
Open13:0013:0013:0013:0013:0013:0013:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
November 1 to February 28
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday) - Christian (May 28)
St Mary's Church
On the western outskirts of Solothurn, St Mary's church (1953) has the largest stained-glass windows in the country (some 100 sq. m/1,076 sq. ft) by H. Stocker.
St Peter's Church
St Peter's chapel in Solothurn has been extensively restored. It contains the tombs of the Theban martyrs Ursus and Victor.
Town Hall
Almost opposite the Old Arsenal is the Solothurn Rathaus (Town Hall), of the 15th and 17th C., with a fine Renaissance doorway; in the north tower a cantilevered winding staircase dates from 1632.

Solothurn Surroundings

Read More Weissenstein (ski area)
Weissenstein is a popular ski area, at an elevation of 1,284 m.
Altreu (Stork Colony)
Not far to the west of the Weissemstein area at Altreu is the oldest and most well-known stork colony in Switzerland with at present over 200 wild storks.
Balsthal - Alt Falkenstein Local Museum, Switzerland
This popular tourist destination, Alt Falkenstein in Balsthal, houses a museum with a diverse collection of items. Highlights of the Alt Falkenstein Local Museum include arts and crafts, a ceramic collection, fossils, weapons and three rooms furnished in 18th and 19th century style.
Address
Alt Falkenstein Heimatmuseum
Einschlagweg 6
CH-4710 Balsthal
Switzerland
http://www.museum-alt-falkenstein.ch
Hours
April 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close12:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:0012:00
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Cost
AdultCHF 4.00
ChildCHF 2.00
All values are in Switzerland Francs
Tips
Discounts for schools.
Bellach - Local Museum, Switzerland
The local village museum in Bellach houses tools and agricultural equipment as well as a furnished kitchen and bedroom display.
Address
Bellach Dorfmuseum
Terrassenstrasse 35
CH-4512 Bellach
Switzerland
Hours
September 1 to June 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open15:0015:0015:0015:0015:0015:0015:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Tips
Also open by appointment.
Feldbrunnen - Village Museum
Tools, trades and a typical kitchen can be seen.
Address
Feldbrunnen Dorfmuseum
Biberiststrasse 40
CH-4552 Derendingen
Switzerland
Hours
May 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open14:3014:3014:3014:3014:3014:3014:30
Close16:3016:3016:3016:3016:3016:3016:30
Tips
Open first Sunday of the month. Also open by appointment. Donations in place of admission cost.
Feldbrunnen - Waldegg Castle
Schloss Waldegg is a center for culture which has communication between the regions of Switzerland as its aim. The museum depicts the history of the French embassy in Solothurn (1530-1792).
Address
Schloss Waldegg
Sälistrasse 125
Olten
CH-4532 Feldbrunnen
Switzerland
http://www.schloss-waldegg.ch
Hours
March 31 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
November 1 to December 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open10:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:0010:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Always closed on:
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday) - Christian (May 28)
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Transit
Feldbrunnen train station.
Grenchen - Art Gallery, Switzerland
Over 8,000 contemporary works of art including painting and sculpture by Swiss and international artists are on display at the Grenchen Art Gallery.
Address
Grenchen Kunsthaus
Freiestrasse 2
CH-2540 Grenchen
Switzerland
http://www.kunsthausgrenchen.ch
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosed14:0014:0017:0014:0014:0014:00
Close 17:0017:0020:0017:0017:0017:00
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Grenchen - Giuseppe Mazzini Memorial Room
Documents and texts commemorate Italian freedom fighter Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872) and his stay in the Bachtelenbad area.
Address
Mazzini-Gedenkstätte
Mazzinistiftung
Bachtelenstrasse 24, Postfach 664
CH-2540 Grenchen
Switzerland
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open16:0016:0016:0016:0016:00ClosedClosed
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Tips
Also open by appointment.
Halten - Local Museum, Switzerland
Halten has a small open air museum including textiles and trades implements.
Address
Einwohnergemeinde Heimatmuseum Wasseramt
Grossacher 11
CH-4566 Halten
Switzerland
Hours
May 1 to August 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open14:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:0014:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Tips
Also open by appointment.
Langendorf - Village Museum, Switzerland
The Langendorf Village Museum has temporary exhibits as well as a collection of Lenco production machinery.
Address
Langendorf Dorfmuseum
Heimlisbergstrasse 21
CH-4513 Langendorf
Switzerland
Hours
September 1 to July 15
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open15:0015:0015:0015:0015:0015:0015:00
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Tips
Contributions in place of admission cost.
Muhen - Straw House, Switzerland
A popular site in Muhen is the thatched roof or straw house that features a living room, bed chambers, a kitchen, ploughs, and tools for farming.
Address
Muhen Strohdachhaus
Leinstrasse 18
CH-5037 Muhen
Switzerland
Hours
Always closed on:
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Pentecost Monday (Whit Monday) - Christian (May 28)
Tips
Open, in season, on first and third Sundays of month, between 2 p.m. -5 p.m. Also open by appointment.
Mumliswil - Swiss Comb Museum, Switzerland
Combs and hair decoration made from horn and early plastic are included in this museum that outlines the history of the comb factory Muemliswil.
Address
Mümliswil Schweizer Kamm-Museum
Brüggliweg 724
CH-4717 Mümliswil
Switzerland
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
OpenClosedClosedClosedClosedClosedClosed14:00
Close 17:00
Tips
Also open by appointment. Contributions in place of admission cost.
Nesselboden - Planet Way
There are numerous walks along marked paths around the Nesselboden, of which the Planetenweg (Planet Way) is recommended. It represents on a scale 1 to 1 billion the distance between the sun and the planet Pluto. Other walks encompass the flora (Botanical Garden) and geology of the Jura.
Nidenloch (caves)
For safety reasons visitors to the "Nidenloch" caves must report to the Gasthaus Hinterweissenstein before and after visiting the caves. In the entrance are wire cable ladders; stout footwear is essential.
Schonenwerd, Switzerland
Schönenwerd is a village with a variety of buildings from different eras. The Paul Gugelmann Museum and the Bally shoe museum are highlights for visitors.
Schonenwerd - Bally Shoe Museum
One of the earliest collections of shoes and shoe related items can be found in Schonenwerd, west of Zurich. Housed in the 18th C. home of Mr. Bally who founded the company in the middle of the 19th C., it is one of the most important shoe collections in Europe.
Address
Schönenwerd Bally Schuhmuseum
Oltnerstrasse 6
CH-5012 Schönenwerd
Switzerland
Tips
Open, in season, on the last Sunday of the month, with guided tours at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Also open by appointment. Limited public hours.
Seewen - Museum of Musical Automatons, Switzerland
The Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments houses the collection of Dr. H.C. Heinrich Weiss-Stauffacher with over 500 mechanical instruments and orchestrions on display.
Address
Seewen Musikautomaten Museum
Bollhübel 1
CH-4206 Seewen
Switzerland
Hours
March 1 to November 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open11:0011:0011:0011:0011:0011:0011:00
Close18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
Cost
FamilyCHF 25.00
AdultCHF 10.00
Child 16 & underCHF 5.00
All values are in Switzerland Francs
Tips
Also open by appointment.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Wangen on the Aare (medieval castle), Switzerland
About 10km/6mi northeast from Solothurn is the medieval little town of Wangen, with a very well-preserved medieval center which is almost of a square design. The covered wooden bridge over the Aare was built in the 16th C. Worth seeing are the parish church of the Holy Cross and St Maria (1825; 14th and 15th C. frescoes) and the castle (restored 1680; Baroque ceiling paintings by J. Werners). The Gemeindehaus by the clock tower contains documents about the town's history and ceramics.
Wiedlisbach, Switzerland
The little picturesque town of Wiedlisbach was, like Solothurn, founded by the Counts of Fribourg (ca. 1280). A corner tower remains from the old fortifications in the "Hinterstädtli", and in St Catherine's chapel (Katharinenkapelle; 1338) there are Late Gothic frescoes. The Kornhaus contains a small local collection of ceramics, glass and tin from Bernese and Solothurn studios.
Wolfwil - Easter Egg Festival, Switzerland
This annual festival runs through the Easter season, usually in late March or early April.
Zeihen - Village Museum, Switzerland
Zeihen Village Museum houses a local history collection, footwear, and agriculture exhibits.
Address
Zeihen Dorfmuseum
Gemeindekanzlei
CH-5079 Zeihen
Switzerland
Tips
Open only by appointment.
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