Discover Olten: Old Town, museums and writers’ trail

Olten is a small town in the Swiss Plateau and the centre of a thriving urban agglomeration. There are several possible focuses for a stay: the historic Old Town, museums covering the history of the city and canton as well as natural history, or the Swiss Writers’ Trail. If you’re looking for a hotel in Olten, these interests can help you define the purpose of your trip more clearly.

Old Town and museums

Olten’s historic Old Town has an extensive pedestrianised area with numerous cafés, restaurants and shops. You can also explore the Old Town through its architectural and urban history. 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. This sequence makes the change in its historical function visible, without having to combine different periods into a single story.

A guided tour of the historic Old Town includes stories about the medieval town tower, the Old Wooden Bridge built in 1803 and the magnificent Rathskeller. The latter was a stable for guests dating from the 19th century. If you’re planning a guided tour, check the current booking conditions in advance.

The “Haus der Museen” (House of Museums) comprises the Olten Natural History Museum, the Olten Historical Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the Canton of Solothurn. Its subject matter ranges from archaeology in the canton and the history of the city and canton—from their beginnings to the present day—to natural history and biodiversity at local, regional and cantonal level. The Archaeological Museum presents a wide range of artefacts from 80,000 years of history. The Historical Museum features interactive exhibits as well as audio and video documents.

The Olten Art Museum has a collection of Swiss art of significance beyond the region. Its Disteli Collection in Olten comprises more than half of the artist’s surviving body of work. Olten therefore offers a range of perspectives side by side: archaeological periods, the development of the city and canton, nature and Swiss art. This can help you decide which museum or museum topics you’d like to make the main focus of your stay.

Literature, tours and special dates

The Swiss Writers’ Trail offers a standard route with eight stops, which is said to take around 45 minutes. The trail is open and free to walk at any time, 365 days a year. It also has around 70 listening stations with QR codes; each story lasts two to four minutes. This means that following a route of a set length and listening to individual short stories are two distinct aspects of the literary experience. If you’re planning your stay around a schedule, these details can help you decide whether to include the Writers’ Trail as a separate activity.

“Zwergliführungen” (little-ones’ tours) are held at the Olten Natural History Museum for children up to four years old and their accompanying adults. Check the tour dates before your trip. This is particularly helpful if a specific date is important to your plans.

City history and the region

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. Its railway station is considered an important Swiss rail hub. Rail lines to Zurich, Basel, Bern and Lucerne meet here; all four cities can be reached by train in under 30 minutes. If a particular connection is important to your travel plans, check the timetable.

Beyond the city, the Olten region offers a variety of landscapes: Jura pastures, 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 means your trip can focus on anything from urban history and culture to the region’s landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Kappel, Hägendorf, Gretzenbach, Schönenwerd.

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