Olten

The charming small town of Olten is centrally located at the southern foot of the Jura Mountains on the Aare River, between Solothurn and Aarau. Thanks to its central location in the Swiss Mittelland, it is a popular venue for conventions and conferences. The unspoiled natural beauty of the nearby Jura Mountains also makes the area an attractive destination for leisure activities.

Olten is located at the intersection of the north-south Basel-Chiasso and west-east Geneva-St. Gallen rail lines. The national highway interchange is also located in the immediate vicinity. Olten, situated in the canton of Solothurn, is renowned for its central location. Thanks to its excellent accessibility, the city became a popular location for industry and commerce early on.

The Swiss Writers’ Trail will surprise you with around 70 audio stations, the Quai Cornichon with 33 cabaret gems, an interactive puzzle booth, and the Christian Schenker Family Tour. It invites you in a very special way to stroll, listen, marvel, and linger. Take your time and let the wonderful stories in Olten inspire and enchant you.

Christian Schenker’s family tour features nine entertaining songs and two exciting stories. Children receive a discovery map with counting puzzles for lots of fun. At the end of the tour, when you bring the answers to the Tourist Center, all children will receive a nice reward. We invite young and old alike to smile, laugh, and reflect!

The historic old town center is well-preserved. Particularly popular here are the car-free pedestrian zones with their stunning buildings and attractive shopping opportunities, the various museums, the vibrant music scene, and the extremely diverse cultural and cabaret scene.

Numerous excursions, hikes, and bike tours heading toward the Jura Mountains and along the Aare River lead into a surprisingly unspoiled natural landscape with open deciduous forests. After a climb—for example, through the famous “Tüfelsschlucht” gorge—up to the Allerheiligenberg and on to the Belchen, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the Mittelland. The region’s many steep Jura cliffs, climbing walls, and quarries also attract ambitious sport climbers to the area.

If you’re looking for something exotic, you’ll find Switzerland’s largest Thai temple complex in nearby Gretzenbach. Between Olten and Aarau, there’s a beautiful 18-hole golf course for golf enthusiasts. The solar-powered bobsled track in Langendorf on the Upper Hauenstein is perfect for children and the young at heart. In Langenbruck and on several other slopes in the Jura Mountains, small ski resorts operate in winter when there is enough snow. However, the Jura Mountains are primarily a popular cross-country skiing destination in winter.

Brochure: Swiss Writers' Trail
Swiss Writers' Trail Brochure (French)

Route Map: Swiss Writers' Trail
Route Map for the Swiss Writers' Trail (French)

Olten Region Activity Map

For more information in French, please visit their French page.