Location: Solothurn
Top Things to do in Solothurn
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Top 10 Things to do in Solothurn, Switzerland
Solothurn (German: Solothurn pronounced [ˈzoːlotʊrn] ( listen); French: Soleure [sɔlœʁ]; Italian: Soletta [soˈletːa]; Romansh: Soloturn) is a town, a municipality, and the capital of the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. It is located in the north-west of Switzerland on the banks of the Aare and on the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains.
Restaurants in Solothurn
Overall Ratings
5 based on 293 reviews
EXPLORE, THINK, ESCAPE! Du bist mit deiner Gruppe in einem Raum eingesperrt und hast exakt 60 Minuten Zeit zur Flucht! Vollig auf euch gestellt musst ihr Raume erkunden, Verstecke und Geheimturen aufspuren und mit List und Neugier den Sinn hinter geheimnisvollen Gegenstanden, Geraten und Zeichen herausfinden. Nur so wird euch die Flucht gelingen.
Reviewed By Marcella C
I had the great opportunity to visit Adventure Rooms in Solothurn. As we arrived they had everything prepared and we had a very warm welcoming speech. Great place, great people, great games! One of the best adventure rooms I know so far so don't miss out. I just loved their passion to details in each of the rooms. Thumbs up!
2. St. Ursen Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 164 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
The St.Ursen Cathedral sits magnificently above a wide flight of stairs in the center of Switzerland's 'Most beautiful Baroque Town', as Solothurn is regularly called. The staircase is flanked by big Fountains in Roman style, while the facade is adorned with columns and statues.
The whole ecclesiastical building is a late 18th century work by two related architects from the Ticino, who had once gotten their training in Rome. It is an example for the transition of Late Baroque to the more symmetrical and austere Neoclassicism, a style which has been applied here for the first on a church in Switzerland. This can be seen not only on the facade, but also in the interior, which is all kept in white and has a much more restrained ornamentation than for example the not far from here, 'Jesuitenkirche', which had been built 100 years earlier in the style of the then blooming High Baroque and thus has a very opulent stucco decoration.
Entrance to the church is from the smaller arched gate to the left and it is open daily from 8 am to 6.30 pm.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
Reviewed By Pechfoodlover - Canberra, Australia
This walk was recommended by the staff at the Kunstmuseum in Solothurn and we weren't disappointed. The walk through the forest was lovely and there were various points you could stop and meditate or pray along the way. When you finally reach the end of the walk there is a tiny cottage and church and a little cave also containing some religious symbols. There is also a cafe nearby for refreshments.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By Ted F - Dallas, Texas
Right in the heart of old town Solothurn, this church stands unassumingly scrunched between adjacent buildings. Go inside and it is another story altogether. I don't want to give it away and make your discovery less exciting, so let's just say that if you are in the area, this should be on your bucket list. When we visited, the church was undergoing some repairs and renovations. A few pews were being removed for repair and the front of the sanctuary was under 9 stories of scaffolding. Still this place was terrific!
5. Solheure
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By EDLichtenstein - Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
Very nice inside, the atmosphere is decent, and there's places to chill out outside along the river. Drinks seemed expensive, even for Switzerland. These sorts of places are made better by the company you bring with you. ;)
6. Old Arsenal Museum (Altes Zeughaus)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
On the small 'Zeughausplatz' square, not far from the St.Ursen Cathedral and even closer to the former 'Ambassadorenhof' is this impressive building, which architectonally is somewhat incongruous with the rest of the old town and its predominant baroque character. The four storey high house with a rust colored facade, a saddle roof, many small windows and arched gates, is the place, where the city of Solothurn used to house its armory. The construction is by now over 400 years old, but has naturally been restored.
When the 'Zeughaus' got out of use as an arsenal it was turned into a museum for old weaponry. Now on the groundfloor can be seen cannons, on the first floor all kind of other weapons, on the second floor a whole army of armors and a group of figures depicting a wellknown event in the history of Switzerland: The 'Tagsatzung von Stans' of 1481 in the presence of St.Nikolaus von der Flüe. The top floor is reserved for special exhibition.
There is an entrance fee and to go the upper floors one can use the old stone spiral staircase or new elevators.
7. Municipal Fine Arts Museum (Kunstmuseum Solothurn)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
In a grand neoclassical building of the beginning of the 20th century - outside the former city walls - is housed the Art Museum of Solothurn, which thanks to the contributions by wealthy local donors, has plenty of interesting paintings to look at.
The regular collection is on an upper floor, while the halls on the ground floor are reserved for temporary Exhibitions of usually Swiss artists. In the so-called 'Sammlung' are to be found among the old masters two paintings, which are considered to be the most valuable of all: 'The Madonna in the middle of the Strawberries' by an unknown artist of about 1425. Fun to see a strawberry field as a background to an otherwise very holy picture. The other famous picture here is the 'Solothurn Madonna' by the master painter Hans Holbein Jr.
Very present in other rooms are the wellkown Swiss painters Ferdinand Hodler, especially with his 'William Tell', then the local artist Cuno Amiet with several works. There are paintings (and some sculptures) by the brothers Giacometti, by Frank Buchser, one by Albert Anker and others.
Private local sponsors have also contributed to a painting each of Vincent Van Gogh, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne and more.
There is no entrance fee, but a voluntary contribution is very much requested, which has to be put into a machine by wellknown Swiss artist Jean Tinguely. Once the donation is received the complex machine - in typically Tinguely fashion - will shake and move and make sounds.
8. Zeitglockenturm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By saronic - Zurich, Switzerland
In Switzerland the common Clock Tower, as could be found in many countries since the Middle Ages, was sometimes called 'Zeitglockenturm' (Time Bell Tower). The most famous is the one in the city of Berne, usually known under its Swiss German name 'Zytglogge'.
The 'Zeitglockenturm' of Solothurn though is a great attraction as well, a dominant feature of the very atmospheric historical center of the town. It is on the 'Hauptgasse', the main street, and faces the 'Marktplatz' (market square). Very close by is the 'Jesuitenkirche'. Built in the 12th century it is today the towns oldest building.
A most interesting feature of this tower is the almost 500 years old and still functioning 'Astronomical Clock'. An information board gives explanations about its functioning. Further up on the tower is a 'Glockenspiel' with automata figures (a knight, a king and the reaper), who move on the full hour. Even higher is another clock, which can be seen from far away.
9. Solothurn Stadtfuehrungen mit Marie Christine Egger
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Ischifamily - Solothurn
This women also does tours "from the old days" and then she's dressed up like they were then. Then she pretends she's that person. She knows a lot about Solothurn. Those "old days tours" are very interesting and lots of fun too. And of course you get to know a bit about the city.
10. Naturmuseum Solothurn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
A museum for nature The Solothurn Natural History Museum will awaken your interest, enthusiasm, understanding and love for nature. It has exhibits of animals, plants, rocks and fossils from the area around Solothurn and will give you information on current topics through attractive special Exhibitions. Unique features are the 150 million-year old fossilized turtles from the town’s quarries, the wonderful star sh from Weissenstein and the famous dinosaur footprints from Lommiswil.
Reviewed By Claudia Z - Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Have come here since my childhood. A nice natural history museum, not huge, but with lots of interesting artefacts and well illustrated. Free entry, but you can feed the raven at the entrance with coins, he will speak then and you help the upkeep of...MoreThank you for the positive comment. For one floor, all texts are available in english and french. For the other floors, translations will probably follow.
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