Solothurn

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Coordinates: 47°13′N 7°32′E Coordinates: 47°13′N 7°32′E

Solothurn
Canton	Solothurn
District	Solothurn
Coordinates	47°13′N 7°32′E
Population	15,137   (December 2004)
Area	6.29 km²
Elevation	430 m
Postal code	4500
SFOS number	2601
Mayor	Kurt Fluri
Website	www.stadt-solothurn.ch
Twin towns	Heilbronn (Germany), Cracow (Poland), Le Landeron (Switzerland)
Solothurn

The city of Solothurn (German: Solothurn (help·info), French: Soleure, Italian: Soletta) is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Architecture 3.1 Main sights 4 The Number 11 5 Sister cities 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Geography

Solothurn is on the Aare river, at the foot of the Jura mountains.

[edit] History

The city was founded around 14-37 AD by the Celts, and was later a Roman stronghold (castrum) under the name of Salodurum. Its strategical importance lay in the position at the approach to the Rhine from southeast.

In the Middle Ages the settelement grew around the remains of the Roman fortress and the religious house of St. Ursen, founded in the 8th century. In 1127 it was acquired by the dukes of Zähringen, and became a free imperial city in 1218 when that dynasty extinguished. After the alliance with Berne in 1295, it became part of the Swiss Confederation. In 1382 the Habsburgs attacked it, involving Solothurn in the battle of Sempach. By the treaty of two years later, the Habsburg renounced to all claims to the territory of the city. The latter was expanded by acqusition of neighbouring lands in the 15th century, roughly up to the today's canton area.

In 1481 it obtained full membership in the Swiss Confederation, and in 1530-1792 it was the seat of the French Ambassador to the Swiss. On October 15, 1817 - Tadeusz Kościuszko, the national hero of Poland and United States died in Solothurn and was initially interred at the local cemetery.

In 1828 Solothurn became the seat of the Bishop of Basel.

[edit] Architecture

The city calls itself Switzerland's largest Baroque City. The old town was built between 1530 and 1792 and shows an architectural combination of Italian Grandezza, French style and Swiss ideas. In 2004, it had a population of 15,137.

In 1980, Solothurn was awarded the Wakker Prize for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage.

[edit] Main sights

• Old town
• Clock tower (Zeitglockenturm,12th century)
• Cathedral St. Ursus (1762-1773). It was begun by Gaetano Matteo Pisoni and completed by Paolo Antonio Pisoni. The interior has stuccoes by Francesco Pozzi and canvasses by Domenico Corvi.
• Church of the Jesuits (Jesuitenkirche, 1680-1689)
• The Verena Gorge and the Hermitage
• Waldegg Castle
• Landhaus
• Museum of the Old Arsenal (1609-1614), housing the most ancient collection of armor in Europe.
• Besenval Palace
• Gate of Bienne
• Gate of Basel
• Weissenstein mountain

[edit] The Number 11

Solothurn has a special affinity to the number eleven. The Canton of Solothurn was the eleventh to become part of the Swiss Confederation. There are eleven churches and chapels, as well as eleven historical fountains and eleven towers. The St. Ursus cathedral has eleven altars and eleven bells, and the stairs in front of the cathedral have levels between every eleven steps.

A local brewery has named itself Öufi, which is Swiss German for eleven, and produces a beer with the same name.

[edit] Sister cities

• Heilbronn, Germany, since 1981
• Cracow, Poland, since 1990
• Le Landeron, Switzerland, since 2003

[edit] See also

• Solothurner Literaturpreis

[edit] External links

• Official site (German)