Solothurn’s mystical gorge - the Verenaschlucht
Overview
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Hint
Intro
The Verenaschlucht, a gorge just to the north of Solothurn is a highly atmospheric place. In addition to visiting the St. Verena hermitage, it’s well worth continuing along one of the oldest Ways of the Cross north of the Alps to reach Kreuzen.
For the citizens of Solothurn, a walk along the steep, forested Verenaschlucht is a favourite outing. The gorge is named after St. Verena who, according to legend, dwelt in a cave here. Starting out from St. Niklaus, a parish that neighbours Solothurn, you follow an idyllic stream – the Verenabach – until you reach the St. Verena hermitage (Einsiedelei). A couple of steps take you up to a chapel, the St. Verenakapelle, part of which is built into the rockface. The loggia with its generously dimensioned arches forms a kind of nave. A second chapel is dedicated to St. Martin and dates from the 12th century; it juts out into the gorge at right-angles to the stream. Its plain exterior conceals an impressive altar in the choir, around which stand four statues. The ensemble is completed by the shingle-roofed hermit’s refuge with its delightful garden.
Another interesting feature is the Way of the Cross. Laid out in 1613, it is one of the oldest on the north side of the Alps. It was carefully restored in the year 2000 and is now called the “Meditationsweg” (meditation path). The 14 stations of the cross take you from St. Niklaus church up to Kreuzen, a 17th century religious settlement located in a forest clearing. The largest building here is a chapel in the late Gothic style with a steeply pitched gable roof, which contains a recreation of the Holy Sepulchre in its choir. In front of it is a drinking fountain and trough, behind which are two cottages with rendered facades and hipped roofs.
To the south-east of Kreuzen, and situated on the Way of the Cross, is the Wenigstein, a large glacial erratic. This granite boulder was erected in 1813 to commemorate the siege of Solothurn by the Austrians. Now a peaceful spot, the area around the Wengistein used to be a busy excursion destination.
Trip tip
A leafy trail from the St. Niklaus bus stop leads up through the Verenaschlucht to the hermitage in about 20 minutes. After the exertions of the walk, you can obtain refreshments at Restaurant Einsiedelei. Those seeking a more demanding hike might wish to ascend the Weissenstein, which takes just under three hours.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
