Discover Fehren

Fehren is a political municipality in the district of Thierstein in the canton of Solothurn, Switzerland. The village lies at an elevation of about 587 m above sea level on a hill on the northern foothills of the Mettenberg, on a slope descending towards the Laufen Basin. Location and local attractions may play a role in choosing a travel destination.

Walking and jogging in Fehren

Fehren has three public walking and jogging routes ranging from 4 to 8 km in length. They pass through forests and over the hills of the municipalities of Fehren, Breitenbach, Büsserach and Meltingen.

The routes’ starting and finishing points are easily reached by PostBus via the Post or Steinenbühl stops. Check the timetable before travelling if you would like to combine your tour with a PostBus journey. This lets you include connections to the starting and finishing points in your plans.

Landscape and orientation

Fehrenchänzeli offers beautiful views of the Laufen Basin. The oak tree on the eastern hill is considered a landmark of Fehren.

The municipality includes part of the northern Jura. To the east, it extends as far as the Ibach; a gorge-like valley lies there between Mittlerberg and Eichlenberg. The Ibach is an unspoilt stream in the Schwarzbubenland region of the canton of Solothurn. Alluvial areas, springs and diverse habitats provide valuable refuges for flora and fauna. On 18 September 2025, WWF and the River Pearls Association presented Fehren and other municipalities with the Ibach’s nomination for the River Pearl PLUS label.

Church and protected local landmarks

Fehren is home to the modern Church of St. Ottilia. The former chapel was built in 1902 and dedicated to Saint Ottilia. In Fehren, St. Ottilia is associated both with the name of the modern church and with the dedication of the former chapel built in 1902; these are two different buildings.

The village fountain on Brunngasse and the Steinenbühl stone cross on Hauptstrasse are also named local landmarks. Both are protected at cantonal level.

Municipal area and date of visit

In 2014, 53% of the municipality’s area was agricultural land and 30% was forest and woodland. Fehren lies about 6.5 km east-southeast of the town of Laufen as the crow flies. The reported land-use shares can be compared directly: in 2014, agriculture accounted for 53% and forest and woodland for 30%; the difference between these two shares is 23 percentage points.

The annual Banntag was scheduled for Ascension Day, 14 May, in 2026. As the date is tied to Ascension Day, it changes from year to year. If you would like to plan your visit around the event, check the date for the year in question.

Discover more destinations: Erschwil, Nunningen, Bärschwil, Himmelried, Beinwil

Return to the regional travel overview: Thierstein.