Olten combines urban history with a diverse range of cultural attractions: the House of Museums brings together archaeology, history and natural history, while the Old Town and the Swiss Writers’ Trail offer further ways to explore. As a small town on the Swiss Plateau, Olten is also the centre of a thriving urban agglomeration. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the city’s attractions and the landscapes of the surrounding region.
Museums: Archaeology, History and Art
The “House of Museums” comprises the Olten Natural History Museum, the Olten Historical Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the Canton of Solothurn. Its exhibits range from archaeological finds from the canton, to the history of Olten and the canton from its beginnings to the present day, to natural history and biodiversity at the local, regional and cantonal levels. The Archaeological Museum presents a wide variety of artefacts from 80,000 years of history. The Historical Museum features interactive stations as well as audio and video documents.
The Olten Art Museum offers a distinct focus: its collection of Swiss art is significant beyond the region. The collection also includes the Olten Disteli Collection, which comprises more than half of the artist’s surviving work. For art lovers, this offers another reason to consider Olten as a cultural destination, alongside its archaeological, historical and natural history attractions.
Old Town and Town Tower
Olten’s historic Old Town has an extensive pedestrian zone with numerous cafés, restaurants and shops. The Town Tower was built in 1521 by Konrad Gibelin of Solothurn as the bell tower of the former town church. After the dilapidated church was demolished in 1844, the tower remained as a clock and bell tower. The building therefore offers a way to trace different periods in the city’s history.
A guided tour of the historic Old Town tells stories about, among other things, the medieval Town Tower, the magnificent “Rathskeller” and the Old Wooden Bridge. The Rathskeller was an inn dating from the 19th century; the Old Wooden Bridge was built in 1803.
Literary Walk and Activities for Young Children
The Swiss Writers’ Trail offers different ways to enjoy stories as you go. Its standard route has eight stops and takes around 45 minutes. The trail also features around 70 listening stations with QR codes; each story lasts two to four minutes. The Writers’ Trail is open to walk at any time, free of charge, 365 days a year. When planning your time, you can choose between the approximate duration of the standard route and the short stories at the listening stations.
There is also a specific activity for toddlers: the Olten Natural History Museum offers “Zwergliführungen” (little dwarf tours) for children up to four years old and their accompanying adults. Check the dates before your trip so you can plan for the activity accordingly.
City History, Railways and the Region’s Landscapes
Olten developed in the Middle Ages at the site of a bridge over the Aare and grew rapidly in the 19th century as a railway town. The station is considered a major railway hub in Switzerland and lies at the junction of the railway lines to Zurich, Basel, Bern and Lucerne. These cities can be reached by train in 30 minutes. Check the timetable for your specific travel date.
The region’s landscapes extend beyond the cityscape, too. The area around Olten features Jura pastures, idyllic Aare river beaches, deep gorges, rushing water and mountains with panoramic views. Scenic spots in the region are easy to reach by e-bike or under your own steam. This adds another way to experience the area to the city-focused attractions, without prescribing a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Kappel, Gretzenbach, Schönenwerd, Hägendorf
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