Solothurn

Solothurn combines Italian charm with French splendour and the down-to-earth attitude of the German-Swiss. 

From the time of the Reformation until the late 18th century, it was the city where the French ambassador was stationed by the Kings of France, and some of the architecture still testifies to this era of diplomacy. Churches, city gates and towers all bear witness to a stately tradition. Ecclesiastical buildings of European significance such as the St Ursus Cathedral and the Jesuit church are located within a perimeter that can be easily covered on foot. 

The number 11 – a core part of the city’s identity – is omnipresent. Solothurn has 11 churches, 11 museums, 11 fountains, for example. The myth of the number 11 stems from a legend. It was said that the inhabitants of Solothurn lived glum lives. The sound of laughter was never heard. So the kingdom of the elves decided to dispatch 11 little elves to the city, all dressed as children, to show the people how they too could be happy. Since that time, laughter and merriment have been common in the city.