Open farmland, narrow gorges and a Jura ridge with sweeping views: Solothurn brings together a variety of landscapes. The canton extends across parts of the Swiss Plateau and the Jura. Its highest point is the 1,445-metre Hasenmatt, a spot on the Jura ridge near Selzach. Those looking to combine nature and culture will also find striking traces of the past here – from dinosaur tracks to Baroque buildings.
Landscapes of open spaces and gorges
The Witi protected zone is characterised by open farmland and provides a habitat for numerous birds and brown hares. In Thal Nature Park, the wildlife and plant life of the Solothurn Jura are as much a part of the area's character as its importance as a nearby recreation and holiday destination for nature lovers, hikers and bikers. Wolf Gorge offers a very different landscape: it is a cantonal forest reserve with high, partly overhanging rock faces, caves and eroded formations.
The Herbetswil Wolfsschlucht bus stop is located at the entrance to Wolf Gorge. From the Wolfsschlucht postbus stop, it is about a 45-minute walk to the picnic spots in the gorge's caves. The walking time gives you a concrete guide when planning this excursion.
Hiking routes for different time frames
The Thal Wood Trail brings art and nature together: artistic installations draw on the forest and wood as a natural material, with play areas and barbecue spots for families. The trail is open year-round, five kilometres long, rated easy and takes about two hours to walk. Starting points are Balsthal, St. Wolfgang and Holderbank SO. This makes it easy to distinguish the route from the Via Surprise: this circular hiking route is divided into six daily stages and passes through the Solothurn and Basel-Landschaft Jura.
The Weissenstein also offers hiking trails of varying difficulty. Panoramic paths open up views across the Swiss Plateau and, on clear days, as far as the Säntis and Mont Blanc. Hikes from here head towards Grenchen or through the forests of Thal Nature Park. Which option appeals to you depends on whether you are looking for a clearly defined loop, a multi-day route or a choice of different trails and views.
For excursions to the second Jura range, the NaturparkBus runs on two routes from Balsthal in 2026. From Good Friday, 3 April, to 1 November, it runs every Sunday and on public holidays. It stops at central starting points and outside six mountain inns. Check the timetable for your planned travel dates before setting off.
History to see and discover
Near Lommiswil, you can view dinosaur tracks from a safe viewing platform; information panels provide additional context. The quarry itself is closed because of the immediate risk of falling rocks. You can reach the tracks on foot from the «Im Holz» railway station or the valley station of the Weissenstein cable car. The Solothurn–Moutier railway takes 14 minutes from Solothurn to these stops; check the timetable before travelling.
The Neu-Falkenstein ruins also combine a historic site with a specific visitor experience. They are freely accessible year-round, and you can climb the tower. From the ruins, the view extends across Thal Nature Park; several barbecue areas and places to sit are available. The castle was probably built in the early 12th century. In the 13th and 14th centuries, it served as a fiefdom for the Counts of Falkenstein and Bechburg.
In the city of Solothurn, history comes into view in a different way: the car-free old town preserves historic monuments, museums and remarkable Baroque buildings. These include romantic little lanes with old cobblestones and St. Ursus Cathedral, considered the most significant Swiss building of early Neoclassicism. It was built from light-coloured «Solothurn marble». Its treasury houses a large collection of artistically accomplished gold- and silversmith work.
City discoveries and regional finds
The Solothurn Museum of Natural History presents animals, plants, rocks and fossils from the surrounding area. Notable examples include 150-million-year-old fossilised turtles from the city's quarries, starfish from the Weissenstein and dinosaur tracks from Lommiswil. Animals and objects on open display may be touched – a different way to encounter natural finds than viewing the tracks in the quarry.
If you would like to get to know everyday life in the Solothurn region, the weekly market offers another perspective: every Saturday morning, agricultural produce and culinary specialities from the region are on sale. A trip through Solothurn thus brings together nature watching, hiking trails, history and local products as distinct discoveries.
Discover more destinations: Lebern, Wasseramt, Gäu, Olten, Dorneck, Thierstein, Solothurn, Gösgen, Thal, Bucheggberg, Etziken.
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