Gänsbrunnen: Nature Trails and Cultural Heritage in the Solothurn Jura

Location and landscape

Gänsbrunnen is a locality in the municipality of Welschenrohr-Gänsbrunnen, in the Thal district of the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland. It lies at 731 m above sea level and 8 km northwest of Solothurn as the crow flies. A scattered settlement, it is situated in a valley basin of the Bantlibach stream, at the western end of the Jura valley running from Balsthal and at the northern foot of the Weissenstein range. In the valley basin, the Bantlibach and Rüschbach streams join to form the La Raus. It flows northwest through the Gänsbrunnen gorge towards the Birs. The description of the locality thus brings together a valley basin, a Jura range and the course of a waterway.

Building history and fortifications

The parish church of St. Joseph was built in 1626–1628 as a post-Gothic mountain chapel. Together with the rectory, it forms a picturesque group of buildings on a north-facing slope of the valley.

Another aspect of the locality’s history is the Gänsbrunnen barrier. It is of national importance and protects the north portal of the Weissenstein Tunnel as well as the narrow passage north of the village. The Solothurn Jura Fortifications Association regularly offers public guided tours; additional opening times are available on request. If you plan to take a tour, check the dates with the association. On one of the association’s public guided tours, you can learn about the barrier; hikes, by contrast, follow their respective waypoints.

Hikes and nature experiences

The hike from Gänsbrunnen to Oberdörfer starts at Gänsbrunnen station and passes military bunkers. On the ridge, the route reaches a picnic spot and continues past the Backihaus to Oberdörfer. If you plan to use the picnic spot, check the applicable rules on site; they may change.

The King’s Tour on the Juraweg Thal leads from Gänsbrunnen to Balsthal along the second Jura range. It follows official hiking trails and is marked with Juraweg stickers on the trail signposts. The Oberdörfer Trail starts at the station, passes military bunkers, crosses the ridge and continues past the Backihaus to Oberdörfer; the King’s Tour follows official hiking trails from Gänsbrunnen to Balsthal along the second Jura range and is marked with Juraweg stickers on trail signposts. Check trail conditions before setting out.

The “Husi’s Journey” nature trail is signposted from Gänsbrunnen and has 14 well-marked stations. The approximately one-hour hike passes through forests and meadows. Allow around one hour for “Husi’s Journey.” At the end of the themed trail is the Subigerberg bird-ringing station; access to the visitor centre is seasonal. If you plan to visit the visitor centre, check whether it is accessible before your visit. During a bird-ringing session at Subigerberg, you can watch the ringers at work and perhaps release a bird yourself.

Discover more destinations: Balsthal, Welschenrohr.

Return to the main travel overview: Thal.