Solothurn lies on the southern edge of the Jura, where the Aare flows through an old glacial moraine. The old town stands on such an end moraine, while the terrain rises gently to the north and south. The Weissenstein, just under five kilometres away, is a well-known local mountain thanks to its cable car.
The city borders Bellach to the west, Langendorf and Rüttenen to the north, Feldbrunnen-St. Niklaus to the east, and Zuchwil and Biberist to the south.
The earliest traces of human presence date from the Middle Stone Age, but its actual foundation as the Roman vicus Salodurum falls in the first quarter of the first century. At that time, a bridge and a harbour were built here to connect Aventicum and Vindonissa. Later, the town became the seat of French envoys, earning it the nickname “Ambassador City.” It is also known as the “City of St Ursus,” after its patron saint.
The old town is mainly shaped by Baroque architecture and is considered one of the most beautiful in Switzerland. The Ursus Cathedral houses the remains of St Ursus, a legendary martyr. The Stone Museum preserves Roman inscribed stones that once lay in the cathedral’s foundations. The town combines historical depth with a picturesque riverside landscape and the nearby Jura mountain.
