City: Solothurn

Ask a Solothurner about the "holy Solothurn number 11". You'll be told that in 1481 Solothurn became the eleventh canton to join the Swiss Confederation. Or that this splendid baroque city contains eleven churches and chapels, eleven historic fountains and eleven towers. St. Ursen Cathedral boasts eleven altars and eleven bells and its imposing staircase leading down from the main portal is divided into flights of eleven steps. Stroll through the picturesque old town. Everywhere you'll encounter the "Eleven(s)".

The city oldest structure was built in the first half of the Twelfth Century. Construction of the clock storey in 1467 and installation of the astronomic clockworks with the famous astronomy clock dial in 1545. Below this group of figures: the knight, death and between them a "Mannli", the King of Fools. Since 1545, the Grim Reaper has turned over his sand dial at the top of every hour. "The glass is full" as he nods his bald pate toward the knight, the symbol of a life of power. The clockworks were built by Lorenz Liechti and Joachim Habrecht. Below it are the two city patrons from 1583 Urs and Viktor.

The Landhaus on the Aare River was the landing site for wine shipments in earlier times. In 1955, it burned down to the foundation walls and was subsequently reconstructed. The town council hall is home to a large, three-coloured sgraffito by Hans Jauslin along with episodes from the history of Solothurn. Apollo and the Muses by Maurice Barraud and Three Women, a bronze by Oscar Wiggli, are found in the hall.

The Museum contains works by old masters including the "Solothurn Madonna" (1522) by Hans Holbein the younger, the "Virgin with Strawberries" (1425) by the Frankfurt "Garden of Paradise" master, as well as works by Asper, Bock, Byss and Ribera.19th C.: Landscapes and works by Buchser, Fröhlicher, Disteli, Anker.20th C: Works by Amiet, Barraud, Berger, Gubler, Hodler, Giacometti and others up to and including contemporary Swiss art.

The collection on the ground floor consists of firearms and accessories. 1st Floor: Weapons (cutting/thrusting weapons and old firearms; 2nd Floor: The famous collection of more than 400 pieces/suits of armour. Including highly decorative armours, costly items of Burgundian booty (Grandson, 1476), the valuable necklace of Michelle of France (15th C.) and the St John and St. George banner (15th C). 3rd Floor: One of the most comprehensive collections of uniforms in Switzerland.

Here you'll find lots of interesting and easy-to-follow information, models, slide and film shows. And because you can not only look but also touch and take an active part, the museum is a valuable experience, particularly for children. Three storeys of exhibits on indigenous fauna, flora, minerals, fossils and stones.The fossilised turtles from Solothurn and the starfish from Weissenstein are of international importance. Three aquariums reproduce the habitats of stream, river and pond.

Built in the 18th century, Blumenstein Castle has been the home of the Solothurn Historical Museum since 1952. The ground floor gives an insight into the life of an 18th century patrician family. The first floor contains the new historical exhibition, documenting the various epochs in the history of the city and region.