Solothurn
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| Population | 15,881 (Dec 2009)[1] | |||||||||
| - Density | 2,525 /km2 (6,539 /sq mi) | |||||||||
| Area | 6.29 km2 (2.43 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 430 m (1,411 ft) | |||||||||
| Postal code | 4500 | |||||||||
| SFOS number | 2601 | |||||||||
| Mayor | Kurt Fluri (as of 2008) FDP/PRD | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Bellach, Biberist, Feldbrunnen-Sankt Niklaus, Langendorf, Rüttenen, Zuchwil | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Heilbronn (Germany), Kraków (Poland), Le Landeron (Switzerland) | |||||||||
| Website | www.stadt-solothurn.ch SFSO statistics |
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  Solothurn
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The city of Solothurn (German: Solothurn, French: Soleure, Italian: Soletta, Romansh: Soloturn) is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.
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History
This Celtic settlement was renewed around AD 14–37 by the Roman emperor Claudius, and became 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 settlement grew around the remains of the Roman fortress and the religious house of St. Ursen, dedicated to Ursus of Solothurn, 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 Bern in 1295, it became part of the Swiss Confederation. In 1382 the Habsburgs attacked the city, involving Solothurn in the Battle of Sempach. By the treaty of two years later, the Habsburgs renounced all claims to the territory of the city. The latter was expanded by acquisition 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.
Rock band Krokus was formed in Solothurn in 1974.
Geography
Solothurn is located in the north-west of Switzerland on the banks of the Aare and on the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains.
Architecture
The city calls itself Switzerland's most beautiful 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.
Main sights
- Besenval Palace
- Cathedral St. Ursus (1762–73). 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, 1680–89)
- Clock tower (Zeitglockenturm, 12th century)
- Gate of Basel
- Gate of Bienne
- Landhaus
- Museum of the Old Arsenal (1609–14), housing the most ancient collection of armor in Europe.
- Old town
- The Verena Gorge and the Hermitage
- Waldegg Castle[2]
- Weissenstein mountain
The number 11
Solothurn has a special affinity for 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
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Solothurn is twinned with:
Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, since 1981
Le Landeron, Switzerland, since 2003
Partnerships
See also
- Solothurner Literaturpreis
External links
- Solothurn tourist office D/F + (English)
People
- Ursus of Solothurn († ca. 303), saint of the city
- Urs Graf der Ältere (1485/90–1529)
- Gregorius Sickinger (1558–1631), artist
- Georg Gotthart († 1619), peot (Verfasser von drei Theaterstücken)
- Johann Rudolf Byss (1660–1738), painter
- Georg Gsell (1673–1740), painter
- Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746–1817), Polish hero; lived in exile in Solothurn
- Robert Glutz von Blotzheim (1786–1818), writer
- Konrad Josef Glutz von Blotzheim (1789–1857), priest
- Charles Sealsfield (1793–1864), writer
- Franz Krutter (1807–1873), writer, politician
- Otto Frölicher (1840–1890), painter
- Conradin Zschokke (1842–1918), ingenieur
- Cuno Amiet (1868–1961), painter
- Richard Flury (1896–1967), componist
- Max Kohler (1919–1999), painter
- Herbert Meier (* 1928), writer
- Martin Oeggerli (* 1974), fine art artist TEM
- Otto F. Walter (1928–1994), writer
- Urs Jaeggi (* 1931), sociologist, painter, artist
- Schang Hutter (* 1934), sculptor
- Peter Bichsel (* 1935), writer
- Walter Bloch (* 1943), philosopher and writer
- Walter Schenker (* 1943), painter
- Anton Mosimann (* 1947), famous cook
- Chris von Rohr (* 1951), rock star
- Alexander Popov (* 1971)
References
- Bibliography
- B. Amiet, H. Sigrist, Th. Wallner: Solothurner Kantonsgeschichte, 3 volumes
- U. Wiesli: Geographie des Kantons Solothurn
- Notes
- ↑ Swiss Federal Statistical Office, MS Excel document – Bilanz der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung nach Kantonen, Bezirken und Gemeinden (German) accessed 25 August 2010
- ↑ http://www.planetware.com/solothurn/feldbrunnen-waldegg-castle-ch-so-sw.htm
- ↑ "Kraków otwarty na świat". www.krakow.pl. http://www.krakow.pl/otwarty_na_swiat/?LANG=UK&MENU=l&TYPE=ART&ART_ID=16. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
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