Olten’s historic old town – surprisingly attractive
Overview
-
Hint
Intro
Olten is located directly on the River Aare and boasts a very beautiful historic old town district with an extensive pedestrian zone. Numerous cultural institutions, a lido, cafes, restaurants, ice cream parlours and an attractive and diverse mix of shops are the perfect places to relax and unwind.
Olten’s historic old town is full of surprises, with around 30 sights to be discovered. Above all, the old bridge dating back to 1803, the Rathskeller with its beautiful, frescoed facades, and the magnificent city tower. Tours are offered to the public on a regular basis. There are over 20 themes for private groups to choose from.
The city on the Aare has a lot to offer in terms of culture: Five museums, four cinemas, three theatres, countless small and medium-sized venues, and many established events: the Olten Cabaret Days, the International Photo Festival Olten (IPFO), the Olten Book Festival, the Olten Dance Festival or the Swiss Writers’ Trail as a permanent installation with over 70 audio stations. This trail is free and accessible at any time of day, 365 days each year. There are audio tours by 24 authors, including Alex Capus, Franz Hohler, Pedro Lenz, Patti Basler, Lisa Christ, Kilian Ziegler and Peter Bichsel. There’s no other place like it in Switzerland.
The activities on offer are complemented by the wonderful, natural surroundings. Olten is embedded between the arc of the Jura mountains and local mountains Born, Engelberg and Säli: a huge recreational area right on the city’s doorstep.
More information at: Olten tourist office
General information
| Season |
All year
|
|---|---|
| Time required |
4 to 8 hours (full day)
|
| Suitable for |
Families, Groups, Individual, Couples
|
| Weather |
Indoor and outdoor
|
| Category |
Culture, Education, Urban
|
